OPINION: Blitzboks must show Dubai win was no fluke

Fans call it the biggest party of the year but for the Blitzboks it’ll be all business when the third leg of the latest World Rugby Sevens Series kicks off in Cape Town on Friday.

And for a number of players the weekend provides an opportunity to redeem themselves following the Blitzboks’ poor showing the last time they ran out at the Cape Town Stadium, at the World Cup tournament just three months ago — a humbling defeat at the hands of Ireland in the quarter-finals.

Now under new leadership in Sandile Ngcobo, the Blitzboks have a chance to give the Cape Town fans what they missed out on in September — a win in the cup competition and the party they so craved back then.

Also, the Blitzboks haven’t won their home competition since 2015, so there’s a lot on the line this weekend.

And the good news is the Blitzboks, with a few new players in the mix, are in good form and pretty confident following their win just a few days ago in Dubai — a tournament they have dominated in recent years.

Top of points table

After a stuttering start to the new series and life under Ngcobo in Hong Kong where the Blitzboks beat Uruguay but lost to Great Britain, France, Fiji and Argentina, they hit back with a solid showing in Dubai by beating Kenya, Australia, Samoa, New Zealand and Ireland (to go with one defeat to Great Britain) to lift the trophy.

After two rounds the SA Sevens team sit at the top of the standings with 32 points, followed by Australia (also 32) and France (30).

Ngcobo’s men open their challenge with a match against Canada on Friday night (8.03pm) and then face Fiji (11.19am) and France (5pm) on Saturday before the late-night quarter-finals. It’s a tough group, but one the Blitzboks will be desperate to advance from to show their performance in Dubai was no fluke.

The SA Sevens women’s team are also in action in Cape Town with pool matches against Australia, Ireland and Spain to be played Friday and Saturday.

It’s a big weekend for South Africa’s Sevens teams and up to them to deliver the goods and provide the spirit the fans will need to make it party-time in Green Point.