This past weekend was the first time Blitzbok Muller du Plessis left South African shores.
His destination was Dubai and what he brought back wasn’t a gold medal, with the Blitzboks losing to England in the quarterfinal, but Du Plessis’s seven tries was the most at the showpiece.
Of the Dubai Sevens and his achievement, he tells the Daily Voice: “It was my first time overseas - it was such a great experience.
“You don’t get the opportunity that often. It [scoring the most tries in the tournament] is amazing - all the credit has to go to the team.
GROWING: Muller du Plessis for the Junior Springboks. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
“They make it easy [for me] and it gives me great confidence heading into the next tournament to know that I got some game time and that I’m growing with every game.”
The next tournament on the Sevens Series schedule is the South African leg at Cape Town Stadium this weekend.
Having disappointed as a team in Dubai, Du Plessis and his teammates want to set the record straight in their own backyard.
He says: “We didn’t start as well as we’d like, but we finished well. So we can take some positives out of that. We just have to focus on doing the basics well.”
At the age of 19, Du Plessis is still a rookie in the team.
TEACHER: Neil Powell. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
And he says the experience of being in coach Neil Powell’s squad has already taught him so much.
He adds: “I enjoy every moment, this is a family [and not just a squad] - it’s about more than just rugby. What we do off the pitch contribute to what we’re doing on it and I learn so much from it in my personal life as well.”
The brother of former Stormers player JP, Du Plessis’s believes the Blitzboks won’t focus on their opposition too much in this weekend’s home tournament.
With Dubai champions New Zealand drawn in their pool, Du Plessis concludes: “It’s not about who you play against.
“We have to give our best against every single team we play. We just have to focus on the processes.”