Windy City may favour Blitzbokke
by Brenden Nel 08 December 2011, 19:11
The Blitzbokke are determined to ensure that their home tournament in Nelson Mandela Bay will be a memorable one that they can win.
After some disappointing results in the Gold Coast and Dubai, coach Paul Treu will be working hard to ensure that consistency isn’t a factor when he hopes to raise the level of the sport at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens tournament.
But in a way, he might have a trump card up his sleeve as the “Windy City” was besieged this week by gale-force blustery weather and inclement overhead clouds.
The weather factor might not have such a big say in the tournament, but for Treu’s side – one which prides itself on direct rugby rather than relying on flair – the shift in weather patterns may well play into their hands.
It would be wrong to forget the impact that IRB Sevens Player of the year Cecil Afrika will have on the side. Reunited with his halfback partner Branco du Preez, Afrika is once again over his injury and set to make his mark on the tournament.
This, coupled with the tactical approach likely by the Blitzbokke, and factoring in the weather and wind, may well be the Blitzbokke’s best counter as they look to outsmart the opposition over the next two days.
One thing is sure: the Blitzbokke will have learnt their lessons in more than one way.
Firstly their demolition job on New Zealand in Dubai will have taught them that they can beat any team when they click on both attack and defence.
TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Then their fallibility will be drummed into them by their losses to Fiji in the Gold Coast, and to France in Dubai, ensuring that by the time they take the field in Port Elizabeth they will definitely take nothing for granted.
Afrika’s ability to turn nothing into tries, his excellent chip and chase and his vision in getting his teammates into space will add a massive dimension in attack for the Blitzbokke, something they will need against the likes of Kenya, Canada and finally the team they lost to in the Plate final – Australia.
But that is only phase one, and as Dubai showed, a good day one is nothing without an equally good day two.
The Blitzbokke will need to be at their best over two days, and the challenge will be there with the unwavering support of their home crowd, and the pressure that goes with it as well.
The windy city may blow up a storm for the Sevens over the next 48 hours, but Treu and his charges will know that while they have Afrika back on their side, they will need to create a bit of a storm of their own this weekend.
One that their home crowd will cheer all the way.
PLAYING SCHEDULE (all games live on Supersport, all times are SA, CAT, GMT+2)
11.37 Fiji v Portugal
11.59 Wales v Zimbabwe
12.21 England v USA
12.43 Argentina v Samoa
13.05 France v Scotland
13.27 New Zealand v Morocco
13.49 South Africa v Canada
14.11 Australia v Kenya
14.43 Fiji v Zimbabwe
15.05 Wales v Portugal
15.27 England v Samoa
15.49 Argentina v USA
16.11 France v Morocco
16.33 New Zealand v Scotland
16.55 South Africa v Kenya
17.17 Australia v Canada
17.49 Portugal v Zimbabwe
18.11 USA v Samoa
18.33 Scotland v Morocco
18.55 Canada v Kenya
19.32 Fiji v Wales
19.54 England v Argentina
20.16 France v New Zealand
20.38 South Africa v Australia