Shilton van Wyk is not easing his way into the SVNS series – he is charging straight for the top.
After back-to-back tournaments in Dubai and Cape Town to open the season, the Springbok Sevens speedster has made his ambitions unmistakably clear: he wants to play at all nine tournaments, and he wants to be the best in his position on the circuit.
“At the beginning of the season I told myself that the goal is to play at all nine tournaments,” he told RugbyPass. “I don’t want to just make the team, I want to play and be the No 1 player in my team. I want to be the No 1 centre on the series.”
That mindset has translated into sharp, fearless performances, particularly on home soil in Cape Town, where Van Wyk embraced the pressure rather than shrinking from it.
“I have to approach every tournament like it’s my last tournament. I have to take the opportunity with two hands and make the most of it. In Cape Town I definitely gave it a go. I just want to play rugby and make my family’s name proud.”
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The Blitzboks’ improvement from Dubai to Cape Town was evident, not just in results, but in their composure when the heat was on. Van Wyk highlighted the contrast, especially in their approach against Fiji.
“I think with Cape Town, we were a bit under the pump against Fiji, but at the end we just stayed composed and stuck to what worked for us. I think that was the difference between Dubai and Cape Town.
“In Dubai when things didn’t go as we planned it to go, things got worse and in Cape Town when things didn’t go our way, we stuck to what worked for us, were patient and went with the flow.”
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With Singapore next on the calendar, competition for places remains fierce, but Van Wyk believes the depth within the squad is a strength rather than a threat.
“It’s really exciting for everyone that’s in the squad. Everyone wants to play. Everyone knows what it takes. Our whole squad is ready to play and in Singapore there might be a few new faces, and they will get used to the circuit and play to the best of their ability.”
Photo: Martin Dokoupil/Getty Images
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