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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a disappointing display a week ago at the Hamilton Sevens in New Zealand, South Africa’s senior men’s Sevens side had little time to wallow in self-pity.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Hamilton, Sandile Ngcobo’s men finished in uncharacteristically low joint-seventh place after </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-22-missed-tackles-and-lost-opportunities-blitzboks-new-zealand-hoodoo-persists/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">losing to Ireland</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the playoff for fifth place.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, as they faced fellow Africans Kenya in their opening Pool B encounter on Friday morning — the South Africans hit the ground running. The Springbok Sevens brushed aside their opponents during a comfortable 31-5 win.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They notched up five tries in the process, with Shilton van Wyk grabbing a brace.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the side’s skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi — the result was key after the team’s shortfalls in New Zealand — which has </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-19-blitzboks-look-to-end-hamilton-drought-this-weekend-without-stalwarts/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">never been a happy hunting ground</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the team.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1542613\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TL_1980136.jpg\" alt=\"Shaun Williams, Blitzboks\" width=\"720\" height=\"470\" /> Shaun Williams of South Africa during the match between South Africa and Kenya on day 1 of the HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on 27 January, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo: David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We did put some pride back in the jersey with that performance, and we needed to. But we are never happy with any mistakes in our game and there were some today,” the captain said after the Pool B clash at Allianz stadium.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will have a good look at those and see how we can cut the errors out before we face Uruguay tomorrow morning.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, the clash against the Uruguayans will not be a walk in the park especially if the South Africans don’t eliminate some of the errors they made against Kenya.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soyizwapi, who is playing in his 45th World Sevens Series tournament for South Africa, said they conceded too many penalties — something they need to eliminate against the South Americans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They are fresh on the series and pretty hungry to make an impact,” Soyizwapi said of the South Americans — who sit 11th on the World Series standings.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They have also settled in after four tournaments and are getting used to the pace of the game, so it will not be an easy one. We are certainly not taking them lightly, it will not be an easy game, so we better be ready for that.”</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above advice is even more relevant for when the Blitzboks take on the imposing New Zealand a few hours after their tussle with Uruguay on Saturday. </span>\r\n<h4><b>Culture shock </b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the aftermath of their disappointing outing in New Zealand last time out, Blitzbok coach Ngcobo said the Achilles heel of his team was that they had not lived up to their “team culture.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the lead-up to the trip to Australia this week, the former Blitzbok player said his charges had been reminded of their responsibility and were invigorated in their quest to make amends.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1542588\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TL_1954620.jpg\" alt=\"Sandile Ngcobo, Blitzboks\" width=\"720\" height=\"474\" /> Head coach of the Springbok Sevens team Sandile Ngcobo, seen here during the Springbok Sevens team announcement at Southern Sun The Cullinan on 7 December, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our team culture is to never surrender and be dominant defensively, with each player executing at least an 80% tackle completion,” said Ngcobo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The guys were all reminded of that culture again and they are keen to uphold that this weekend.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven years ago, Ngcobo scored his first try for the Blitzboks at this tournament, but he insists that individual brilliance will not be the main thing for his squad.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, he feels they will require a squad effort in Sydney if they are to be successful and exorcise the Hamilton haunting.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The margins are small and tactics are also important, and one of those aspects is using the bench, or getting to apply scoreboard pressure,” he said. “That is why we are going to need everyone on the bench to make an impact as well and be able to make a difference.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa has won three World Series titles in Australia — in Adelaide in 2008 and 2009, plus one in Sydney back in 2017. They will be keen to have added a fourth by the culmination of this weekend’s action. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>The Springbok Sevens squad:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan Oosthuizen - 36 tournaments, 174 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impi Visser - 25 tournaments, 129 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zain Davids - 36 tournaments, 181 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James Murphy - 12 tournaments, 52 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) - 44 tournaments, 232 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christie Grobbelaar - 11 tournaments, 54 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shaun Williams - Eight tournaments, 40 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Masande Mtshali - Three tournaments, two matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shilton van Wyk - Eight tournaments, 45 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darren Adonis - 10 tournaments, 44 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dalvon Blood - Four tournaments, 21 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaiden Baron - One tournament, five matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ricardo Duarttee - Three tournaments, 17 matches</span>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a disappointing display a week ago at the Hamilton Sevens in New Zealand, South Africa’s senior men’s Sevens side had little time to wallow in self-pity.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Hamilton, Sandile Ngcobo’s men finished in uncharacteristically low joint-seventh place after </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-22-missed-tackles-and-lost-opportunities-blitzboks-new-zealand-hoodoo-persists/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">losing to Ireland</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the playoff for fifth place.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, as they faced fellow Africans Kenya in their opening Pool B encounter on Friday morning — the South Africans hit the ground running. The Springbok Sevens brushed aside their opponents during a comfortable 31-5 win.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They notched up five tries in the process, with Shilton van Wyk grabbing a brace.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the side’s skipper Siviwe Soyizwapi — the result was key after the team’s shortfalls in New Zealand — which has </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-19-blitzboks-look-to-end-hamilton-drought-this-weekend-without-stalwarts/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">never been a happy hunting ground</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the team.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1542613\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542613\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TL_1980136.jpg\" alt=\"Shaun Williams, Blitzboks\" width=\"720\" height=\"470\" /> Shaun Williams of South Africa during the match between South Africa and Kenya on day 1 of the HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on 27 January, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo: David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We did put some pride back in the jersey with that performance, and we needed to. But we are never happy with any mistakes in our game and there were some today,” the captain said after the Pool B clash at Allianz stadium.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We will have a good look at those and see how we can cut the errors out before we face Uruguay tomorrow morning.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, the clash against the Uruguayans will not be a walk in the park especially if the South Africans don’t eliminate some of the errors they made against Kenya.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soyizwapi, who is playing in his 45th World Sevens Series tournament for South Africa, said they conceded too many penalties — something they need to eliminate against the South Americans.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They are fresh on the series and pretty hungry to make an impact,” Soyizwapi said of the South Americans — who sit 11th on the World Series standings.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They have also settled in after four tournaments and are getting used to the pace of the game, so it will not be an easy one. We are certainly not taking them lightly, it will not be an easy game, so we better be ready for that.”</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above advice is even more relevant for when the Blitzboks take on the imposing New Zealand a few hours after their tussle with Uruguay on Saturday. </span>\r\n<h4><b>Culture shock </b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the aftermath of their disappointing outing in New Zealand last time out, Blitzbok coach Ngcobo said the Achilles heel of his team was that they had not lived up to their “team culture.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the lead-up to the trip to Australia this week, the former Blitzbok player said his charges had been reminded of their responsibility and were invigorated in their quest to make amends.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1542588\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542588\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TL_1954620.jpg\" alt=\"Sandile Ngcobo, Blitzboks\" width=\"720\" height=\"474\" /> Head coach of the Springbok Sevens team Sandile Ngcobo, seen here during the Springbok Sevens team announcement at Southern Sun The Cullinan on 7 December, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our team culture is to never surrender and be dominant defensively, with each player executing at least an 80% tackle completion,” said Ngcobo.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The guys were all reminded of that culture again and they are keen to uphold that this weekend.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven years ago, Ngcobo scored his first try for the Blitzboks at this tournament, but he insists that individual brilliance will not be the main thing for his squad.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, he feels they will require a squad effort in Sydney if they are to be successful and exorcise the Hamilton haunting.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The margins are small and tactics are also important, and one of those aspects is using the bench, or getting to apply scoreboard pressure,” he said. “That is why we are going to need everyone on the bench to make an impact as well and be able to make a difference.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa has won three World Series titles in Australia — in Adelaide in 2008 and 2009, plus one in Sydney back in 2017. They will be keen to have added a fourth by the culmination of this weekend’s action. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>The Springbok Sevens squad:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan Oosthuizen - 36 tournaments, 174 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impi Visser - 25 tournaments, 129 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zain Davids - 36 tournaments, 181 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James Murphy - 12 tournaments, 52 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siviwe Soyizwapi (captain) - 44 tournaments, 232 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christie Grobbelaar - 11 tournaments, 54 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shaun Williams - Eight tournaments, 40 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Masande Mtshali - Three tournaments, two matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shilton van Wyk - Eight tournaments, 45 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darren Adonis - 10 tournaments, 44 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dalvon Blood - Four tournaments, 21 matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaiden Baron - One tournament, five matches</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ricardo Duarttee - Three tournaments, 17 matches</span>",
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Shaun Williams of South Africa during the match between South Africa and Kenya on day 1 of the HSBC Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium on 27 January, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo: David Van Der Sandt/Gallo Images)
Head coach of the Springbok Sevens team Sandile Ngcobo, seen here during the Springbok Sevens team announcement at Southern Sun The Cullinan on 7 December, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)