‘We have a slogan of adapt and execute. It is nothing new to the squad. In fact, we first used it when the pandemic was causing great uncertainty about tournaments and training programmes’ says Blitzbok coach.
STARTING your international coaching career at a venue where your country has never lifted the silverware is one thing, succeeding a legendary coach after a decade is another.
Throw in some tropical storms that suspended training sessions, a strict tournament hotel bubble and having to wait till 24 hours before kickoff to know whether anyone in the squad delivered a positive Covid test.
And for good measure, a new qualifier of the World Rugby Sevens Series as your first opponent on the opening day.
Embracing challenges the key for #Blitzboks in @OfficialHK7s series opener says @SticksCaleb on coaching debut: https://t.co/z11TORP6Vd#BlitzIgnite@WeBuyCars_SA pic.twitter.com/4lSaun0Hih
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) November 3, 2022
Come today and the kickoff of the Hong Kong Sevens and you will find new Springbok Sevens coach, Sandile Ngcobo, rushing towards those uncertainties, not hiding from it, with the Blitzboks squad following his lead as they embrace whatever challenge comes their way.
The 33-year-old Ngcobo says: “We have a slogan of adapt and execute. It is nothing new to the squad. In fact, we first used it when the pandemic was causing great uncertainty about tournaments and training programmes.
“We are still applying that principle and here in Hong Kong, it proved handy as we were thrown some curve balls. We did not allow those to bother us, the team just adapted and I really believe they will execute at the tournament.”
The Blitzboks kick off their new era against Uruguay at 12.05pm on Friday, before taking on Great Britain (7.10am) and France at 11.05am in Pool B on Saturday.
