Rugby

All Blacks back, Blitzboks ‘must prove it wasn’t a fluke’

You are currently viewing All Blacks back, Blitzboks ‘must prove it wasn’t a fluke’
JC Pretorius

New Zealand-based rugby writer Sam Smith says the Blitzboks have to prove their two-tournament unbeaten run and Sevens World Series title is “no fluke”.

This, with the All Blacks Sevens side making their long-awaited reappearance this weekend when the Singapore Sevens starts on Saturday.

Sevens superpowers Samoa and Fiji will also be back after missing the last two events, as well as all of last year’s circuit, due to travel restrictions.

Smith, a RugbyPass.com columnist, attributes the SA Sevens side’s recent success to the standard of their opponents in the absence of the Kiwis and Fijians.

“While it would be impossible to undermine the impressive performances of the Blitzbokke in the long-running absence of their fiercest rivals, this weekend’s tournament now gives South Africa the opportunity to prove that their title last year was no fluke,” Smith writes.

“New Zealand and Fiji, meanwhile, will be out to remind the world that the Blitzbokke were just keeping their seats warm.

“While form and performance can fluctuate from week to week and competition to competition, it’s worth looking back at last year’s rescheduled Olympics Games to get a feel for how the three top sides in the world might fair in Singapore.

“Although South Africa topped their pool at the event, they were hounded out of the tournament in the quarter-finals by Argentina, while New Zealand and Fiji went on to duke it out in the final.”

The Blitzboks kick off their campaign in Singapore against Canada on Saturday (6.34am), before facing Kenya (9.40am) and the USA (1.33pm) to complete the action in Pool A.

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