LEYDS IS READY TO STEP UP DOWN UNDER

TRISTAN Leyds wants to turn Perth upside down at the Australia leg of the SVNS series die naweek.

The 28-year-old Kapenaar is expected to step into the main playmaking role in the absence of Selvyn Davids, Dewald Human and Ronald Brown.

Maar Tristan, who got married in December last year, is nie bang nie and said: “They have been in those roles for five, six, seven years and they have really excelled in that, so stepping into the breach is huge, but I love the new challenge.

“There were extra leadership duties that came my way especially on this trip, but I would not want it any other way. It is part of growth and I am all for it.

“Hopefully I can do justice to that this weekend especially. I have grown as a Blitzbok player over the seasons, and I am coming to grips with the demands of the world series. Even some of my opponents teams remarked on my improved fitness.”

Perth is a special place for the Leyds brothers, with Tristan making his Blitzbok debut there in 2024, while older brother Dillyn moved to Western Australia a decade earlier to kickstart his senior international career.

Tristan added: “I was happy with my debut; it was a good place to run out for my country and represent them and I thought it went well.

“Sadly, I missed out last year due to injury, but I am ready to go and give it my all this weekend again.”

Tristan promised Siviwe Soyizwapi’s manne will be good value for money this weekend: “We have the team to get the job done.”

South Africa kick off their campaign against Spain at 5.58am on Saturday, before tackling Argentina at 9.14am and Fiji at 12.52pm in Pool A.

The Blitzboks are third on the season standings – six points behind leaders Fiji, with New Zealand in second.