OPINION: Senatla must push for Springbok honours
Blitzbokke star Seabelo Senatla will leave Sevens to focus on the fifteen man game the rest of this season – and the Springboks should use him in 2017, writes GARETH JENKINSON.
At just 23-years-old, Senatla has had his name etched into the Springbok Sevens history books after breaking Fabian Juries’ try-scoring record. The Blitzbok speedster has scored 180 tries since he started playing on the Sevens circuit in 2013 – breaking the record in an amazingly short amount of time.
Alongside Lions flank Kwagga Smith, Senatla will play in his final Sevens tournament in Sydney this weekend before he links up with the Stormers ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season. He isn’t likely to feature in the remaining six legs of the Sevens Series this year and will be looking to sign off with a bang. We can expect a few more tries from the mercurial wing.
Senatla has a Commonwealth Gold medal to his name, as well as an Olympic Bronze, but he and most of the current members of the Blitzbok squad have not tasted a Sevens Series victory. The last and only time the Springbok Sevens won the Series was back in 2008.
While there must be a burning desire to stick it out and chase a Series Championship title, Senatla has committed to the Stormers’ Super Rugby cause and the Cape outfit will benefit hugely from his presence.
The speedster is no stranger to the fifteen man game, having played for the Cheetahs U19 and U21 sides as well as the Junior Boks back in 2013. He also has six Super Rugby caps and a Currie Cup winners medal from Western Province’s triumph in 2014.
Three years on the Sevens circuit has done wonders for the naturally talented Senatla. Gifted with outright pace, his speed and acceleration have a lot to do with the number of tries he’s scored on the Sevens circuit. Give the man enough space and he will outpace almost every player in the world.
While his speed is his greatest attribute, Senatla's work rate has improved over the seasons as well. He may not be the biggest player but he has worked hard on all aspects of his game.
There is nowhere to hide in Sevens and what defines the greats is their ability to contribute in all aspects of play. With so much space on the field – defence is arguably the most important aspect of the game.
Although he plays out on the wing, Senatla has not shied away from the physical stuff and has proven to be a phenomenal tackler. He is deceptively strong and gets stuck into rucks as well, making him a real all-rounder of the game.
The Blitzbokke put in the hard yards in the offseason and Senatla seems to have done his utmost to work out any weaknesses in his game. While his job is to score tries, he hasn’t shirked the added responsibility that Sevens demands.
That is why the Springbok coaching staff should keep a close eye on Senatla this Super Rugby season. He has all the attributes that have made Bryan Habana a legend of the game. What remains to be seen is whether he can produce stand-outs performances with less space and added responsibilities in fifteens.
As a wing, Senatla has to consider positioning and technical skills, like fielding and returning kicks for territory.
If he can master those aspects this year, the Springboks would do well to blood him in the Test arena sooner rather than later.
He is far too good a talent to be over-looked, and the Springboks need all the help they can get.