Sebastiaan Jobb will return to Blitzboks action after almost two years while Tristan Leyds is fit and ready for duty at next week’s Vancouver leg of the World Sevens Series.
The duo have been recalled to the Blitzbok team for the fourth tournament of the 2024-25 season after head coach Philip Snyman named his group of 13 players on Thursday.
Jobb replaces the injured Zain Davids and Leyds comes in as playmaker in place of Dewald Human from the squad that finished fourth in Perth last month.
Jobb made his debut in Hong Kong in 2023 and played in Singapore a week later in his only two tournaments to date, while Leyds starred for the Blitzboks in their tournament victory in Cape Town in December before picking up a hand injury that ruled him out of the Perth tournament.
The Blitzboks won at BC Place in 2019 and 2021 and Snyman is confident his tweaks will deliver similair results.
“Both Tristan and Sebastiaan will add to the dynamics of the squad and I am know they will be very competitive in their pool matches against New Zealand, Ireland and Australia,” he said.
“Sebastiaan’s inclusion is well deserved as he worked very hard over the last couple of months. In fact, he was already close to selection for the Olympic Games last year. He was unlucky with untimely injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he is ready to play.”
The 25-year-old Jobb has played for the Junior Springboks and Vodacom Bulls in the Currie Cup earlier in his career and Snyman said the fact that he replaces Zain Davids, a forward, points to a tactical change in their approach for the Canada event: “We will play on an artificial pitch, where the game will be faster, and Sebastiaan’s pace will be a huge factor.”
The Blitzbok coach is also excited about the energy and skill set that come with Leyds’ inclusion: “He had two very good outings in Dubai and Cape Town and slotted right back in. Tristan comes in for Dewald Human, who has now played three tournaments on the trot and deserves a bit of a rest.”
Blitzboks’ Pool B fixtures (SA times):
Friday, 21 February: v New Zealand (10:02pm)
Saturday, 22 February: v Ireland (3:29am), v Australia (9:14am)
Blitzboks squad for Vancouver: Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser (co-captain), Ricardo Duarttee, Ronald Brown, Selvyn Davids (co-captain), Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, Sebastiaan Jobb, David Brits, Zander Reynders, Tristan Leyds.
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/blitzboks/blitzboks-get-timely-boost-for-vancouver-challenge/
