Springbok Sevens aim to end season on high note
The Springbok Sevens will be aiming to end the season on a high note, starting with the penultimate tournament of the HSBC Sevens World Series in London this weekend.
Organisers of the Emirates Airline London Sevens are aiming to attract a record crowd of 100 000 spectators to Twickenham on Saturday and Sunday, which should provide a spectacular backdrop to the two days of thrilling rugby action.
South Africa, Series champions two seasons ago, made a slow start to the season but the team has been on an upward curve since they lifted the Las Vegas crown, followed by good showings in Hong Kong and Adelaide.
The Springbok Sevens are currently fourth on the log with 92 points. New Zealand look on course for another Series title and the Kiwis are leading the standings with 134 points, followed by England (121) and Samoa (100).
Kyle Brown, the Springbok Sevens skipper, said his team will definitely look at maintaining their upward curve in London.
“We had a slow start but found our rhythm in Las Vegas and ever since that victory, we have been playing very good Sevens rugby. Our main focus will be to maintain that form and to end the season as high as possible on the log,” said Brown.
SA Sevens coach Paul has included uncapped teenager William Small-Smith in his 12-man squad and the former schoolboy star will make his long awaited international debut at the home of English rugby.
Not for the first time this season, South Africa found themselves again in the company of powerful Fiji in Pool C, which also comprises of European qualifiers Russia and Portugal.
Cecil Afrika has been in superb form this season and playmaker is the leading point scorer with 309 points behind his name, including 34 tries – the most by any player in Series so far. His combination with nippy Branco du Preez has been one of the outstanding features of the team this season and the South African fans will be hoping to seem more of their exciting play in London and next weekend in Edinburgh.
Supersport will broadcast all the action live from Twickenham, starting Saturday from 11h15 on SS 6 and Sunday from 11h15 on SS1 & CSN.
The Springbok Sevens Pool C matches on Saturday:
12h14: SA vs. Russia
15h23: SA vs. Portugal
19h44: SA vs. Fiji
The Springbok Sevens squad for London and Edinburgh:
Chris Dry, Kyle Brown (c), Frankie Horne, Neil Powell, Boom Prinsloo, Branco du Preez, Paul Delport, Cecil Afrika, Sibusiso Sithole, Steven Hunt, Bernado Botha and William Small-Smith.
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