Dubai reboots Sevens glory search for Powell

The Blitzboks will head into this weekend’s Dubai Sevens series filled with confidence as they kickstart a new World Series season after winning a severely shortened World Series earlier this year.

While New Zealand and Samoa may not be in Dubai because of Covid restrictions, the Blitzboks are likely to face off with their old rivals and Olympic champions Fiji as well as several other threats on the weekend.

The tournament is run on the same basis as the Olympics, with three pools of four teams making up the dozen participants, and even here it won’t be easy for Neil Powell’s side.

Given that it is Powell’s last season with the side, he will be hard at work to finish off on a high note and that starts in Dubai.

With experience returning in the form of Branco du Preez and Impi Visser, Powell has had the luxury of picking two uncapped players in Shilton van Wyk and Tiaan Pretorius for the tournament.

Du Preez is currently the Blitzboks’ most capped player with 75 tournaments behind his name, which include 380 matches and a total of 1 355 points. Visser has played in 12 World Series tournaments to date.

Five players who were in action in Canada, were not available due to various injuries – Angelo Davids, Sako Makata, Darren Adonis, Dewald Human and James Murphy – while Justin Geduld, Lubabalo Dobela, Qamani Kota, Mfundo Ndhlovu and Latica Nela were not considered as they are still busy with injury rehabilitation after missing the North American trip.

The Blitzboks won both tournaments in Canada to win the “crown” but without several top countries it won’t be something they will brag about too much.

For now, it is more about getting back into the groove and ensuring that competition is as fierce as it was pre-Covid times for the squad.

The first tournament in Dubai – which is the start of the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – will be held behind closed doors on 26-27 November, followed by a second event on 3-4 December with fans in attendance at The Sevens Stadium.

The Blitzboks’ pool is also a tough one - opening against a tricky Irish side before games against Japan and Great Britain with pool winners qualifying and only the best second placed side making the semifinals.

As they saw at the Olympics, one bad game could be very costly and the Blitzboks know they will need to be switched on from the first whistle.

Blitzboks games

(All games live on SuperSport, all times CAT, GMT+2)

7.30am SA v Ireland

11.22am SA v Japan

2,38pm SA v Great Britain.