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South Africa are keen to continue their improved performances on the IRB Sevens World Series ahead of the next two tournaments that are fast approaching in Adelaide (19-21 March) and Hong Kong (26-26 March).   

Reigning World Series champions South Africa head to Australia hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins and are in Pool B with the in-form Samoa, winners of the first USA Sevens in Las Vegas two weeks ago, as well as France and Japan.

For the Hong Kong showpiece the Boks will be drawn in Pool F alongside two more African teams, Kenya and Zimbabwe, while Korea completes the pool line-up.
 

South Africa experienced an indifferent first half of the season, losing three Cup quarter-final clashes against Fiji and one against New Zealand, before clinching the Plate in Las Vegas for their best Series showing so far. They beat England and Fiji in the Plate semi-final and final respectively for their first trophy of the season.

The team returned home last week and enjoys a short break before resuming training on 1 March in Stellenbosch in preparation for the Adelaide and Hong Kong tournaments.

Youngsters the future

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu lost the services of many of last season’s championship-winning squad, while long-term injuries to Neil Powell, Paul Delport and livewire Renfred Dazel have robbed him of even more experienced players.

Mzwandile Stick, stand-in captain in place of the injured Delport, said the team is now determined to build on their performance in the USA.

“In Sevens you must always be prepared to start from afresh, because it is natural for players to move on to Super Rugby or our provincial teams. In saying that, it also opened the door to new guys like Cecil Afrika, Steven Hunt and Branco du Preez to come and show us what they’re capable of.

“Cecil has been outstanding so far, while the rest of the newcomers now all have experience of World Series action, which will only benefit us going forward.

“As a team we’re obviously not pleased with seventh place on the log and our overall performance so far. However, we are working very hard to eliminate those marginal errors and hopefully our Plate victory in Las Vegas will kick-start a better run of results for us,” said Stick.

South Africa lost the Hong Kong final last year against Fiji, while the Adelaide Oval is somewhat of a happier hunting ground of late for the Boks. Treu’s team defended their Adelaide crown successfully last season and will be aiming for more of the same in a month’s time.