Dylan Sage and Ryan Oosthuizen say the Blitzboks have to make use of every opportunity at the Cape Town Sevens this coming weekend.

The Springbok Sevens side has been drawn in the ‘Pool of Death’ alongside Fiji, the USA and Japan. Fiji and the USA, who failed to reach quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, finished last season as the Nos 1 and 2 teams in the World Sevens Series.

Sage, who will be back playing at the Cape Town Sevens for the first time in three years, says the tournament is very close to the heart of the Blitzboks and it’s a privilege and honour to play in front of their home crowd.

‘Cape Town is that one chance we get to play at home, and we need to use that opportunity. It is a great event, always a sell-out and the organisers always make sure that there are lots of things keeping the crowds entertained,’ Sage said.

‘The bodies are sore after Dubai and the long flight home, but being welcomed at the airport like we were with a band playing and fans waiting, and then having a good night’s rest at home are more than enough to perk you up again.

‘We have closed the door on Dubai and will start the week fresh. New challenges await in Cape Town. We have a tough pool and the teams will be coming for us, so will have to be ready for that.’

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Oosthuizen echoes Sage’s sentiments, saying that the Blitzboks will have put their success in Dubai behind them and start afresh when they reassemble on Monday in preparation for the Cape Town leg of the series.

‘We really enjoy the support from the people back home and playing in Cape Town is a great, because we can return the compliment,’ said Oosthuizen.

‘You need to be able to switch off and on again in the World Series. The Dubai event is gone, we did well and are happy about our performance, but now everyone starts at scratch again.’

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