Veteran playmaker Justin Geduld has emphasised building on the Blitzboks’ strong track record in Dubai, while leveraging past learnings for success this weekend.

The SA team arrived in the desert yesterday for the opening tournament of the 2023-2024 sevens season.

“We normally do well here and that takes us into the Cape Town tournament with good momentum, so that was a double gain for us,” Geduld said.

The new season usually brings with it a couple of new faces, but also new focus, the 30-year-old added.

“We know what to do and that helps,” he said. “One of those is to make sure we remain focused on what we need to do as a team. Our final preparations on this side need to be clear and we need to be sharp, then the focus on what to do on match days will be easy.”

The Blitzboks are aiming for an 11^th tournament win in Dubai, but Geduld knows that will only be achieved if they stick with their own processes.

Ready for a brand new season 🇿🇦

The @SVNSSeries returns this week and the #Blitzboks are ready for action 🔥
#PoweredByUnity @WeBuyCars_SA pic.twitter.com/zlfGnOdkUk

— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) November 28, 2023

“We are not looking at other teams and what they are doing,” he said. “We have learnt in the past that if we stay within our structures and do that well, we have good results. That is what we will be looking for again.”

Geduld, who is the most experienced member of the Blitzboks squad and will play in his 55^th tournament, last travelled to Dubai in 2020 and said it is good to be back.

“It remains one of my favourite tournaments and that is the same for most of the squad. We travelled well overnight and will now look to get set in and start the preparation.”