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South Africa enjoyed a testing workout at the weekend at the Middelburg Sevens. The event was a one-day festival format that saw each side play a set of predetermined fixtures.

Paul Treu’s Boks enjoyed the freedom of testing combinations and new players at the weekend as preparations intensify for this weekend’s Singapore Sevens and the start of the IRB Sevens Series campaign in Dubai.

They started off with comfortable wins against the Blue Bulls (34-0) and Nashua (40-14), before being made to work much harder in the 17-7 win over the Pumas. They faced their biggest test against the Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs in their final game and the tightest game of the day they could only edge out their IRB Series opponents, 10-7.

It was a vastly improved showing from Zimbabwe since they last met South Africa a month ago where they were thrashed 61-14 at the Namibia Sevens.

Earlier in the day the Cheetahs had closed out tight wins against the Bulls (17-14) and Pumas (14-10) but finished their campaign with a 26-14 loss to a Samurai side.

Cheetahs’ manager Bruce Hobson was particularly happy with the results.

"The result against South Africa really showed we have improved looking at the fact that we have just been working for a month and if we get a lot of game time then we will develop much faster."

South Africa Universities was another side who enjoyed the festival going unbeaten with wins over Pumas (29-0), Nasha (17-5), and Namibia (38-5).

Middelburg Sevens Tournament Director, Jakes vd Merwe, was delighted with the event and stressed the teams enjoyed the variety of the event with the set fixture plans.

“The tournament has grown from 5 to 15 senior teams. With Paul Treu committing to next year, we would like to invite more international teams who can use this festival for preparations before the IRB circuit starts.

“Due to the exchange rate it can be a very exciting trip for overseas clubs. Women were also included for the first time and brought a different dimension to the festival”

Middelburg Sevens Results:

1. Middelburg High 2’s 50 - Botswana schools 5
2. Tornado’s 28 - Griqua Police 7
3. Blue Bulls 24 - Namibia 21
4. Pumas 21 - Zambia 14
5. Nashua 38 - Botswana 5
6. MHS 12 - Tornado’s 14
7. South Africa 34 - Blue Bulls 0
8. Pumas 10 - Zimbabwe 14
9. Nashua 5 - SA-Universities 17
11. Falcons 36 - Botswana 5
12. Samurai 7 - Namibia 35
13. Blue Bulls 14 - Zimbabwe 17
14. South Africa 40 - Nashua 14
15. Pumas 7 - SA-Universities 29
17. MHS 47 - Swaziland 0
18. Namibia 7 - Zambia 7
19. Zimbabwe 19 - Samurai 26
20. South Africa 17 - Pumas 7
21. Nashua 17 - Blue Bulls 24
22. SA-Universities 52 - Botswana 0
23. Falcons 24 - Namibia 12
25. South Africa 10 - Zimbabwe 7
26. MHS 20 - Goshawks (Zim B) 21
28. Zambia 25 - Falcons 12
29. Namibia 5 - SA-Universities 38
30. Pumas Women 41 - Botswana Women 5
32. Zambia 12 - Botswana 19