The Blitzboks will be looking to make it two wins from two starts when the 2019 Cape Town Sevens kicks off on Friday the 13th of December.
Neil Powell’s Blitzboks will be looking to put a three-season drought to bed when the Cape Town Stadium welcomes the Circuit this weekend. The host nation head into this one with every chance of ending this streak as they will be high on confidence after claiming the season opener out in Dubai.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Cape Town Sevens
Friday 13 December – Sunday 15 December
To Win Tournament Outright:
South Africa 9/10
New Zealand 11/4
Fiji 33/10
England 14/1
Australia 20/1
Argentina 80/1
Contenders
South Africa
2019 Cape Town Finish: Third
Pool Opponents: United States, Fiji and Japan
The Blitzboks welcomed a number of veterans back last weekend and their influence was paramount with Roskoe Speckman, in particular, having a blinder of a tournament.
Powell’s men made short work of all-comers ut in the desert last weekend as they topped their pool and then beat Argentina, Australia and New Zealand to take the first leg of the series.
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| Siviwe Soyizwapi was brilliant when skippering the side last week. Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports. |
Player to Watch: Justin Geduld
While he didn’t have as heavy an influence of the other elder statesmen, Geduld did his job well. His goal-kicking was solid and was a key role when it came to linking play. Expect another big tournament from him here.
Fiji
2019 Cape Town Finish: Champions
Pool Opponents: United States, South Africa and Japan
The Fijians will be rather annoyed with themselves having only managed to rack up an eighth-place finish out in Dubai. The islanders were on the wrong end of a shock defeat out in Dubai a 24-21 pool phase loss to Argentina seeing them miss out on the ‘Top 8’ for the first time.
Counting in Fiji’s favour this weekend is their solid record out in South Africa. The Fijians have won four of the 18 events staged in the Republic and head into this weekend’s tournament as reigning champions.
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| The Fijians will need to be better this week. Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports |
Player to Watch: Jerry Tuwai
The Fijians will need their go-to man here. While his dazzling skillset will be vital to their cause it’s his experience that will be most crucial.
New Zealand
2019 Cape Town Finish: Fourth
Pool Opponents: Argentina, Canada and Wales
The New Zealanders had a good start to the 2019/20 season finishing the season opener in third place. They actually looked good value headed into the final and had it not been for some errant handling they may well have beaten the South Africans.
Their record out in the Republic is not bad at all with the Kiwis having won ten of the 19 events staged in South Africa with their last victory coming two years ago.
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| New Zealand were solid enough last week but will be aiming for tournament honours in the Mother City. Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports. |
Player to Watch: Andrew Knewstubb
The man had a solid tournament out in Dubai ending with 25 points to his name. If he can replicate the same sort of tally, it will go a long way to seeing the Kiwis to a tournament victory.
Dark Horse
Argentina
Pool Opponents: New Zealand, Canada and Wales
2019 Cape Town Finish: Ninth
The Argentines were a bit of a surprise package out in Dubai knocking over the mighty Fijians and giving the South Africans a real run for their money in the quarter-finals. They looked a solid outfit and could be well worth a small bet, although, they will need to beat New Zealand in the pool stage if they are to have a chance.
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| Can the Argentinians build on last week’s performance? Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports. |
Verdict: South Africa @ 9/10
The Blitzboks have endured their fair share of struggles on home soil in the recent past but I’m pretty optimistic they’ll come good this year. They were a class apart in Dubai and should they replicate those performances, then we’re a likely to see a jubilant Cape Town crowd come the tournament’s close.
