Blitzboks want final fling in Paris to be memorable
South Africa can still win this season's overall campaign if they walk away with the French title and Fiji slip up.
Neil Powell, head coach of South Africa, after the Rugby 7’s semi final match between South Africa and Fiji on day 11 of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Robina Stadium on April 15, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images)
The hallmark of the Springbok Sevens team in the World Rugby Sevens Series was one of consistency, which saw them playing in all nine semi-finals thus far – the only team to do so – and Blitzbok coach Neil Powell is looking for more of the same in Paris this weekend.
The 2017/18 season comes to a close at the Paris Sevens on Saturday.
“We have standards which we are proud of, and it is up to us to make sure we maintain it this weekend,” said Powell.
“Our aims for this weekend are clear – we want to leave nothing out there, bring the energy, keep the focus and trust the process.
“We are also proud of our consistency. It was great to reach nine semi-finals out of nine, but this is the final hurdle for us. We need to go out and make it happen though, no one is going to do it for us.”
The South Africans trail Fiji by seven points and can still win the series if they are victorious in Paris and the Fijians fail to reach the semi-finals.
That mission for the Blitzboks starts in Pool B against Scotland, followed by matches against Russia and Canada.
“It is a tough pool and we will have to play well to make it to the quarter-finals,” said Powell.
“Knowing the Scottish and their character, they will be coming for us. They did not play well in London, so they will be determined to improve on that showing. Russia plays good basic rugby and beat Scotland last weekend.
“The last one against Canada will be very physical. They are capable of beating any of the teams on the circuit as they have shown in the past.”
