The Springbok Sevens team are locked-and-loaded for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and they are confident that despite a difficult season in which they had to qualify, they can produce the goods when it counts most.

While the Olympics officially gets underway on Friday night, the rugby competition as well as the football starts on Wednesday already.

The Blitzboks, who won the bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, will look to get off to a flying start against Ireland.

The Irish have been South Africa’s bogey team on the Sevens World Series this past season, but the former Cheetahs and Griquas winger, Rosko Specman, said they are ready.

“Against Ireland it's always back-and-forth, and it's always the team that punches first,” said the player affectionately known as Specmagic.

“I think this time we have seen, they have given us a hard time throughout the season, but we have all the pictures now, we know what they're going to bring and how we can counter that. We understand what they're going to bring, and I think this team is ready.

“You will see in the first game there's energy - the coach has given us a nice plan to go up against Ireland. There's a big history, because it's from all the rugby codes, it's always a big thing.

“This time we will have the upper hand.”

The ever jolly and playful Specmagic added that South Africa will no doubt be behind them and he is ready to do what is does best, Specmagic.

“Our country will always be behind us because they like the energy that this team brings, and I know they will be awake when Specmagic is doing his thing. You know when Specmagic is there on the field, they know it's always a magic moment.”

Wednesday at 17:30 the Blitzboks face Ireland and at 21:30 they will be up against New Zealand.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport