Rosko Specman backs Springbok Sevens

Rosko Specman is adamant the Blitzboks have the right mixture of youthful and experienced players to replicate past success.

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The Blitzboks made the perfect start to the sevens season when they were crowned champions in Dubai, but they bombed out at the next two tournaments — in Cape Town and Perth — and Specman feels those failures were down to lack of concentration.

“We’ve had an up and down season so far. When we enjoyed it and made it count, like in the tournament opener in Dubai, we were victorious. But in Cape Town and Perth, we did not get the results we had hoped for.”

The Blitzboks just came up short against Fiji in the quarter-finals in Perth and for Specman, it was a loss of focus at the wrong time that contributed to the 14-12 defeat.

“We played well in that game and could just as well have won it, but we lost concentration when it mattered,” the veteran said. “The margins on the circuit this season are very small and even the smallest mistake can be punished and cost you the game.”

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ROSKO SPECMAN FEELS BLITZBOKS ARE ON STEADY GROUND

Specman feels the lessons learned in Perth should be valuable for the team in Vancouver.

“Coach Sandile (Ngcobo) and coach Philip (Snyman) have a game plan worked out for every opponent and if we follow that through, the results will come.

“We saw that in Dubai, and I believe we can replicate that result here in Canada. We have a very experienced core of players, and we should be able to execute on the day,” the Blitzboks speedster said.

Never one to take a backward step when the going gets tough, Specman is keen to add his magic to the laid-out plans for the Vancouver Sevens.

“Our game plan will create space. Everyone must just understand that the ball will create the space, not the man and if we follow that there will be smiles all around at the end of the tournament.”

The Blitzboks have won the Canada Sevens three times and were runners-up twice since the first tournament in March 2016.