Philip Snyman hails Sebastiaan Jobb 'spark' as Blitzboks narrow the gap on Fiji

Sebastiaan Jobb emerged as the spearhead of a revitalised Blitzbok attack, with coach Philip Snyman hailing his "competitive excellence" after a triumphant weekend at the Perth SVNS.

Returning to the squad after more than a year’s absence, the 26-year-old speedster proved to be the catalyst for South Africa’s clinical rebound. Jobb finished the tournament as the Blitzboks' leading try-scorer with four touchdowns, including a crucial first-half effort in the 21-19 final victory over Fiji on Sunday.

His impact was felt most acutely during the knockout stages. In the semi-final against hosts Australia, Jobb showcased his blistering pace with a brace of tries, including a sensational 80-metre sprint that broke the game open. He then carried that momentum into the showpiece match against the Fijians, where his early try helped the South Africans race to a 14-0 lead.

“We talk about competitive excellence and Jobb is a good example of that,” Snyman said. “He brought a lot of energy and scored some crucial tries for us, while also making important tackles and turnovers.”

The victory was a vital response to a disappointing fourth-place finish in Singapore just a week ago. With key playmakers like Selvyn Davids and Dewald Human unavailable, Jobb’s return provided the necessary "spark" to the outside backs, allowing the new generation of players, such as Luan Giliomee and Renaldo Young, to find their feet under less pressure.

“If we can have three players in each position pushing each other, we will be in a good space,” Snyman added, noting that the increased competition for places is driving the team’s consistency.

The Blitzboks’ second title of the season leaves them just four points behind series leaders Fiji heading into the final North American leg. As the team prepares for Vancouver on March 7 and 8

 South Africa will face the All Blacks Sevens, Spain and Great Britain at BC Place Stadium for a spot in the semis in Canada.