Change in format brings more jeopardy to Cape Town Sevens
A change in format for the Cape Town Sevens tournament this weekend means jeopardy is very real and there will be no place for slip-ups as quarterfinals have been abolished and only the pool winners will advance to the semifinals on day two of the competition.
The massive change, said to be implemented for player welfare in back-to-back competitions, sees pools limited to three teams and not four as normally the case.
With no back door to get to the semis, this mean sides will need to win both their games to advance.
And that makes things extremely difficult in a high-pressure environment where one slip-up can be severely costly for teams this weekend.
Hey, fancy another one? 🤩
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 2, 2024
Still not over Dubai and we’re coming straight for you Cape Town 🇿🇦#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSCPT pic.twitter.com/cKO5qqS9dk
The Springbok Sevens side, who finished sixth in Dubai last weekend, relinquishing their title for the first time in six years, are drawn with two tricky sides in Argentina, who won the SVNS series last season and Ireland, who have beaten the Blitzboks before.
According to a source, the format in Cape Town, which features four pools of three teams, has been introduced following consultation with stakeholders, including teams, and is based on player welfare considerations.
It will be implemented for the second rounds of ‘back-to-back’ events, so in Cape Town and Singapore, which are played on the weekends immediately following the events in Dubai and Hong Kong respectively.
The competition format is optimal for a two-day event, which allows teams an extra day of recovery and preparation following the previous weekend’s event and subsequent travel.
The four pool winners will progress to the cup semifinals. The second placed teams will enter the 5th-8th place playoffs and the third placed teams the 9th-12th place playoffs.
Basically, more than ever it means every match counts.
This also means that Springbok Sevens fans will only see their team in action twice on day one, and a maximum of two matches on day two, something that is sure to be contentious with fans.
Dubai champions Fiji (men) and Australia (women) are in Pool A, with the respective runners up, Spain and New Zealand, headlining Pool B.
🏉 Coach’s Orders! 🗣️#Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman has one request: Come to the @CapeTown7s! 🌍🔥
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) December 3, 2024
Be part of the action and join the biggest party in town! 🎉 An unforgettable weekend of world-class rugby and entertainment awaits. 🌴
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HSBC SVNS CAPE TOWN POOLS
Women:
Pool A: Australia, Canada, Brazil
Pool B: New Zealand, Japan, China
Pool C: France, Ireland, Spain
Pool D: Great Britain, USA, Fiji
Men:
Pool A: Fiji, Great Britain, Uruguay
Pool B: Spain, Australia, Kenya
Pool C: Argentina, South Africa, Ireland
Pool D: New Zealand, France, USA
FIXTURES - Saturday, 7 December:
WOMEN
09h00: USA v Fiji
09h22: Ireland v Spain
09h44: Japan v China
10h06: Canada v Brazil
12h16: Great Britian v Fiji
12h38: France v Spain
13h00: New Zealand v China
13h22: Australia v Brazil
15h42: Great Britain v USA
16h04: France v Ireland
16h26: New Zealand v Japan
16h48: Australia v Canada
MEN:
10h38: France v USA
11h00: Australia v Kenya
11h22: Great Britain v Uruguay
11h44: South Africa v Ireland
13h54: New Zealand v USA
14h16: Spain v Kenya
14h38: Fiji v Uruguay
15h00: Argentina v Ireland
17h35: New Zealand v France
17h57: Spain v Australia
18h19: Fiji v Great Britain
18h41: Argentina v South Africa
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