Humble Blitzboks can taste elusive World Series title win
Neil Powell's men merely need to continue what they've done so well this season at this weekend's leg in Paris.
Rosco Speckman is back for the Blitzboks. Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP.
South Africa take to the Stade Jean-Bouin pitch in Paris this weekend in the knowledge that they could break Olympic champions Fiji’s hold on the World Rugby Sevens Series title.
Fiji have been crowned champions over the last two seasons, but go into the ninth and penultimate round of the series 25 points behind the Blitzboks.
With 22 points on offer for tournament winners, the scenario realistically means Fiji have to target wins in Paris and series-ender in London, on May 20-21, and hope South Africa fail to make the knockout rounds.
Added spice comes from the fact that the two sides could meet in the quarter-finals in the French capital.
“The anticipation of the Olympics was something different to the situation that we find ourselves in now,” said Blitzboks forward Tim Agaba.
“We are very mindful of our own processes and systems and what the job at hand is. There is no sense in getting ahead of ourselves.
“We will be focusing on what we need to do, game for game and tournament after tournament. We are treating all tournaments the same. The results then tend to look after themselves.”
Blitzboks will face Scotland, Japan and Canada in pool A, while Fiji were drawn with Australia, Samoa and Russia in pool D.
New Zealand will face the United States, Wales and Argentina in pool B, while host nation France are aligned with England, Kenya and Spain in pool C.
New Zealand touch down in Paris in the unusual position of having no tournament wins to their name this season.
A raft of injuries has seen All Black hopes repeatedly hit in the high-octane abbreviated game of rugby, but coach Scott Waldrom welcomes back experienced heads Joe Webber, Lewis Ormond and Sam Dickson for Paris.
The All Blacks Sevens are currently fourth in the standings.
“We are looking forward to upping our performance in the last two tournaments of the series,” said Waldrom.
“While we are placed fourth overall, our aim is to improve that ranking, and as always, win the next two tournaments.
“Paris is an opportunity for the team to play with the determination and consistency we know we’re capable of. When we are on our game we have beaten the teams ahead of us in the series standings.”
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