By Adnaan Mohamed
The early Cape Town light had just begun dissolving the mist over Table Mountain when the Blitzboks filed through the airport doors, the weariness of a long Dubai flight etched into their shoulders. But in the middle of the group, Ricardo Duarttee walked with the quiet intent of a man who’d already circled one date in bold red: Cape Town Sevens weekend.
Dubai may have left them with a fifth-place finish and a few unwelcome scratch marks, but the sweepers and speedsters of South Africa’s Sevens squad are not known for dwelling on bruises. The moment their plane hit the tarmac, the city’s salty summer breeze felt like a second chance.
“We regrouped on Sunday already after the disappointment of Saturday, as one could see on our day two results,” Duarttee explained, the memory of a tough pool still lingering.
“It hurts that we dropped results to Fiji and Argentina in our pool, but we came back on Sunday to get some belief back.”
Belief – South African rugby’s most renewable resource – will matter again this weekend when the Blitzboks step into DHL Stadium, a venue Duarttee speaks of the way some speak of childhood playgrounds.
“Cape Town is just such a special place to play at. There is a massive feeling of excitement for the weekend.”
The Blitzboks hoisted the Cape Town trophy last year, only the second time since the tournament moved south in 2015, and no one in green and gold is in the mood to wait another eight years for the next.
“We certainly do not want to wait that long again, in fact, the squad will be very determined to right the wrongs from Dubai,” he said.
For Duarttee, statistics and score tallies don’t define their mission. Emotion does. Connection does. And the home crowd with the sea of flags, the hum of vuvuzelas, the familiar roar matters more than any number on the scoreboard.
“We play for the love of the game, for the passion we have for it and this weekend, we get to play in front of family, friends and loyal supporters.”
Pool of Death
This year’s pool is ruthless: New Zealand first, then the familiar bruises of Fiji, rounded off by Great Britain. But to Duarttee, that’s the perfect storm.
“What an opportunity this will be for us to rectify the mistakes and show what we are capable of, especially in front of a proper crowd to cheer us on. I cannot wait for Saturday, it is going to be a huge day.”
He didn’t end the conversation so much as issue a call to arms.
“We need to put some pride back in the Springbok Sevens jersey and where better that right here. There is no place like DHL Stadium on the weekend of the Cape Town Sevens.
“We need our supporters to come and celebrate our only opportunity to play at home with us. See you there.”
