South Africa playing ‘mind games’ for Hong Kong Sevens
Blitzbokke hope psychologist Jannie Botha will help keep the side focused on winning showpiece tournament for the first time
Springbok sevens coach Neil Powell is hopeful his "shrink-wrapped" outfit can shake off South Africa's chokers' tag and win their first Hong Kong Sevens title on Sunday.
In an unprecedented move to lift the Cup for the first time, the Blitzbokke have brought sports psychologist Dr Jannie Botha, who has helped boost their mental game as they lead the Sevens World Series and stay on course to win an automatic berth at the Rio Olympics next year.
"He has been with us all season, but this is the first time he is travelling with us. We brought him to Hong Kong to keep reminding us what we need to focus on and keep the target of winning the tournament in our minds," said Powell.
I’m not trying to hide the fact that we have never won here, but hopefully with the help of our sports psychologist we can do it this time
Powell was yesterday reminded of South Africa's dismal record at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens by none other than countryman Pieter Schats, the chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union.
"South Africa have never won the Hong Kong Sevens and being a South African myself, I wish you all the best," Schats told Powell.
South Africa have played in three Cup finals in Hong Kong - the 2008 and 2009 Hong Kong Sevens and the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens. A player and captain of past teams who failed here, Powell didn't need any reminders and accepted that perhaps Hong Kong is a bogey tournament.
"We have won every other tournament in the series bar Hong Kong. I'm not trying to hide the fact that we have never won here, but hopefully with the help of our sports psychologist we can do it this time," Powell said.