Rugby sevens star Rosko Specman is upbeat about the Blitzboks Olympic tournament opener against Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, promising Spec Magic is going to deliver.
The veteran player, the sole survivor of the outfit that took bronze at Rio 2016, along with coach Philip Snyman, is among a few Team South Africa competitors looking to ascend the Olympic podium after an eight-year hiatus, the national record for the longest gap between medals.
The others are track king Wayde van Niekerk, triathlete Henri Schoeman and swimming star Chad le Clos, who all last finished in the top three in Brazil, though London 2012 gold medallist rower John Smith is aiming at 12 years.
The Blitzboks have had a torrid time this season, finishing seventh overall at the world sevens series, a result that forced them into an unprecedented late Olympic qualifier where they managed to beat Great Britain to win their ticket to Paris.
Specman pointed out the Blitzboks and Ireland had won one match each in their last two encounters.
