Powell’s last dance will add extra edge to RWC Sevens

Cape Town has become a popular stop off on the international Sevens circuit but there will be a different vibe when the Rugby World Cup Sevens is contested at DHL Stadium from Friday through to Sunday.

When the World Sevens Series event is played in December it is a celebration of the start of the summer holiday season in the Cape, with fans joining in the fun and the seasonal vibe. When last we saw a Cape Town Sevens before the cut-off before the pandemic, the Faf de Klerk South African flag speedo was much in vogue for some and members of both sexes were happy to expose some skin as they joined in the festivities.

That won’t be the case this weekend as the Cape winter is still very much present, and we could even see some rain on Sunday, which is finals day. The potential difference in the weather though won’t be the only point of difference with the annual event. The format also contrasts markedly from what we have become used to in the World Series.

For a start, there isn’t the same Pool format, with the Blitzboks and the other top men’s teams only playing once on day one. The Blitzboks will be up against the winner of a game earlier in the day between Chile and Germany in the round of 16 at the conclusion of Friday’s play. While the proceedings get underway early in the morning, those who want to see the Blitzboks play will have to wait until 19.03.

It is a similar story on day 2, with the competition proceeding on a strict knock-out basis from the end of the first day, and the Blitzbok quarterfinal scheduled for late on Saturday evening. That could be a high pressure period of action, with no-one wanting to see the hosts knocked out of the competition before the showpiece day of the tournament on Sunday.

The word pressure just about sums up what makes this tournament different from the annual Cape Town Sevens. For there is plenty of that on a Blitzbok team that was denied the World Series title through their poor performance in Los Angeles a few weeks ago and which, although they did win the Commonwealth Games title in July, has perhaps fallen a bit short when it comes to prestigious showpiece one-off events, such as Rugby World Cups and the Olympics.

Neil Powell has enjoyed a stellar nine year career as Bok Sevens coach, but his players will desperately want him to sound off with the crowning achievement of lifting the World Cup trophy before he departs for Durban and his new life as the Cell C Sharks’ Director of Rugby. And the failure in Los Angeles two weeks ago will only add to that motivation as well as the attendant pressure.

There does need to be some perspective put on that failure, as the Blitzboks went in with a weakened and young team. Several of their stalwarts are back now and the squad has the strong look it took into their winning effort in the Commonwealth Games.

Of course there is also the women’s version of the World Cup taking place parallel to the men’s event, although the pressure on the Bok women won’t be quite as intense as it will be on the men as there is less expectation.

Friday’s play starts at 08.45 with a men’s pre-round of 16 clash between Ireland and Portugal and will be concluded with the Blitzbok game against Germany or Chile at 19.03, while Saturday sees an 08.15 start with games between losing teams from the first day, and will be concluded with the Championship Men’s quarterfinal at 22.33, which is expected to feature the Blitzboks.

Day 3 is similarly long, with play starting at 08.30 and the Championship final scheduled for 20.54, in other words just before 9pm on Sunday night. It will be the 52nd match to be played in the space of the three days so there’s going to be a lot to watch.

If the Blitzboks get through their Saturday night quarterfinal their semifinal will be at 12.35 on Sunday.