Thank goodness for the SA Sevens team!
At a time when all of South Africa is pretty much fed-up with the administration - because of their lack of urgency in dealing with the Springbok coaching situation - Neil Powell and his Blitzboks have given rugby fans plenty to cheer about.
And how Powell and Co deserve every hand-clap and pat on the back. They have been sensational this season, winning three tournaments - in Dubai, Wellington and Sydney (this last weekend) - and playing in the final at home in Cape Town, where they lost to England.
The Blitzboks are runaway leaders atop the standings with six rounds to go, and if they continue to play the kind of rugby they’ve produced in the past four tournaments there’s every chance they’ll win the trophy at the end of the season.
South Africa’s Sevens team have become a truly wonderful unit under Powell’s guidance and it is surprising to think back to when he took over from Paul Treu how many rugby fans queried the decision by the South African Rugby Union. Treu had done an exceptional job with the Blitzboks, but they just never seemed to reach their pinnacle, but it was still a major shock when Powell replaced the long-serving Sevens boss at the end of 2013.
It is a decision though that has borne fruit for South African rugby and there is now no doubt the SA Sevens team are one of this country’s best exports. They play hard but fair rugby, they are representative of the whole of South Africa and they entertain fans across the globe - and they win.
Players who would probably never have made an impact in the 15-man game have become household names and superstars and Saru and Powell and all involved in the management of Sevens rugby seem to discover and produce magical players year in and year out; many of them unheard of to the average, weekend rugby-watcher.
It will be interesting to now see how Powell’s men go without the services of stars Seabelo Senatla and Kwagga Smith, who will - for the time being - give up on Sevens to focus on becoming 15-man stars, too. Both men have played a key role in getting the team to where they currently are in the world game, but will play no further part this season.
There is no doubt Powell will miss the duo, perhaps try-machine Senatla more than Smith, but then the BlitzBoks have shown they’re far more than one or two players. More interesting to watch though will possibly be the performance of the duo in Super Rugby over the coming months.
It’s one thing moving from 15s to Sevens, but the other way round is far more challenging. Smith though, while small, has shone for the Lions on the flank in Currie Cup rugby and there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to make an impact in Super Rugby, while Senatla’s pace and skills could just be the tonic the Stormers need. Let’s just hope he sees enough ball to make an impact.
Super Rugby is just under three weeks away ... so for now let’s savour the success of our Sevens superstars.