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Brenden Nel
South Africa’s Sevens maestros may have to share the limelight this weekend with the new prospect of fifteens European action, but their games almost don’t overlap with any massive Champions’ Cup games this weekend.
And other than the tinkering of the World Cup format which made the World Cup Sevens in September a disappointment, the HSBC World Series resumes its normal format this weekend in Cape Town where the Blitzboks will face three pool games before a mega Sunday knockout round of action.
The tournament, which is three days because of the concurrent Women’s competition, sees the Blitzboks play Canada as the main game on day one, before two blockbusters during the day in Saturday action.
The Blitzboks will face Fiji in a morning showdown after the South Sea side disappointed in Dubai by not making the knockout rounds, with the game kicking off at 11:19am. They will then finish their pool with a 5pm kickoff, sandwiched between the European Cup games and just overrunning the DHL Stormers’ kickoff in Clermont, where they face dangerous France in their final pool game.
The Blitzboks, who won their fourth consecutive Dubai Sevens title, are considered fan favourites again and will be looking to back up the Dubai success with some more success at home.
The Women’s team have a tough pool, facing World Champions Australia, who also triumphed in Dubai in their first game on Friday before an evening kickoff against Ireland.
On Saturday it is Spain in their final game before their knockout rounds commence.
Saturday evening will host both the men’s and women’s quarterfinals with the first men’s knockout kicking off at 7:37pm.
Sunday’s semifinals in the men’s competition kicks off at 3:24pm with the Womens’ semis a bit earlier at 11:24am.
The final is scheduled for 7:26pm for the Women and 7:56pm for the men. – SuperSport
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