The Blitzboks will be looking to claim a gold medal when the 2018 Commonwealth Games Sevens kicks off on Friday the 13th of April.
Neil Powell’s Blitzbokke will be looking to go two places better then they managed at the Olympics when the Commonwealth Games Sevens gets underway this Sunday. The South Africans come into this one as hot-favourites with the ‘books but will need to be wary of the Fijians who claimed the Hong Kong Sevens title last weekend.
Commonwealth Games Sevens | Friday 13 April – Sunday 15 April | Skilled Park
To Win Outright
South Africa 7/4 | New Zealand 3/1 | Fiji 3/1 | England 11/2 | Australia 8/1 | Canada 25/1
Contenders
South Africa
They may come into this one off the back of a 26-24 semi-final defeat to Fiji out in Hong Kong but the Blitzboks are favourites for the title for right reason. The 2016/17 World Series winners currently top the pops in this year’s series.
The South Africans head into this one as reigning Commonwealth Games Champions having won the 2014 addition, which was held out in Glasgow, Scotland. They have a vastly experienced squad who are more than capable of defending their title.
New Zealand
The Kiwis are the most successful side in the history of the games having claimed 4 titles. Their last victory came in Dehli in 2010, however, and they went down to the South Africans in the 2014 edition.
The New Zealanders have been playing good rugby this year with their revamped squad putting in far superior performances to the one that turned out in 2016/17. They currently lie third on the HSBC standings and are tipped to improve on their Olympics Games showing where they bowed out to surprise package, Japan.
Fiji
The reigning Olympic Champions and last week’s series stop winners, Fiji, will be looking to claim yet another gold medal for their fellow countrymen on the ting Pacific Island when they take to the field this weekend. The men from the Pacific have never won a Games with their best results coming in 1998 and 2002 where they finished as runners-up.
They have been in relatively good form during the HSBC Sevens Series, winning the Hamilton, Vancouver, and, most recently, the Hong Kong legs. They are certainly worth a punt at 3/1!
Verdict: Fiji 3/1
They despite their poor ‘Games’ record, my money is on Fiji claiming the honours here. They seem to have clicked in recent weeks and look the form team headed into this one.
