HSBC 7's World Series: Can The Blitzbokkes Be Stopped?

Pic: World Rugby

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With the HSBC 7's world series set to kick-off once again in Las Vegas over the weekend, the question on everyone's mind is can South Africa's Blitzbokkes be stopped?

Sevens is a simple game –seven minutes a half and seven players a side on one full-size rugby pitch. The game is praised and loved for its unpredictability and uncompromising high paced action. Anything can happen at any time.

However, as 7s fans around the globe are looking forward to another back-to-back weekend of action in Las Vegas and a week later in Vancouver, the World Sevens Series leaders South Africa seem have certainly dominated this season thus far with three titles from four rounds.

Long Road Ahead

While South Africa’s 15-a-side team currently faces a bit of a crisis, the 7s squad is on track to win their second title after 2009. A series win would follow a frustrating run of finishing as runners up on multiple occasions. It has been a tough record for Neil Powell's men as they look to claim a long overdue title.

However, there are still a lot of matches to be played this season so the question is who can stop South Africa during the remaining six rounds. Their lead in the overall standings shows that it is going to be a massive task for any team to get in their way. South Africa leads the table with 85 points and has a comfortable 17 points lead ahead of second placed team England. Olympic Champions Fiji and New Zealand are currently sitting in third and fourth position respectively.

But with Fiji and New Zealand, both going through a bit of a restructure since the two Southern Hemisphere heavyweights appointed new coaches, it might take a while until they get back on the winning track.

Age Old Rivalry

England however have showed that they are capable of winning tournaments and even more important that they can beat the Blitzboks. Simon Amour’s side caused a massive upset earlier in the season when they beat the hosts in the final of the Cape Town Sevens.

England has developed into a top-class team following some disappointing seasons in recent years. The current squad is made up of up and coming young talents and very experience players. With Dan Norton aiming to become the All-Time try scorer and playmaker Tom Mitchell leading from the front, the team will remain a serious contender for at least a few more tournament wins, if not the big prize. Additionally, Team GB’s Olympic silver-medal win gave England a further confidence boost – and let’s not forget who they beat on their way to the final (yep, it was South Africa in the semi-final).

Missing Senatla

Pic: World Rugby

At the same time South Africa will play for the first time without their Superstar Seabelo Senatla in Las Vegas and it will be exciting to find out how they cope without him. The twenty-four-year old joined Super Rugby franchise the Stormers for the start of their new Super Rugby season.

Certainly this side has quality in all areas and it’s not just South Africa’s starting 7 which have looked so convincing thus far but also the bench which is unbelievably strong. The team has already scored a whopping 107 tries during the first four tournaments, which is fourteen more than closest rivals Fiji.

But Senatla is without a doubt the talisman for the Blitzboks. He scored the most points and tries for his team. Earlier this week, Senatla was nominated for the Springboks XV training squad, which just underlines his outstanding rugby skills. There is no doubt that he will leave a strong impression in the 15-a-side game as well.

With an England side that is hungry for their first-ever series win and a South African side that knows how to succeed but has to deal without their scoring machine, the next couple of weeks will be absolutely crucial in the race for the 17th World Sevens Series title.   

Sydney Sevens | Dream Team

Pic: World Rugby

After four tournaments the Blitzbks remain the dominating force of this season. In the replay of the Cape Town Sevens final, it was South Africa who managed to get away with the win over England this time. Consequently, the team consists of three 'Boks' as well as New Zealand's Tim Mikkelson and Fiji's Jerry Tuwai, who got once again selected for the Dream Team. Phil Burgess and Danny Barrett were the outstanding performers for their team and deserved a space in this illustrious squad.

1 - Justin Geduld (South Africa)	2 - Tim Mikkelson (New Zealand)	3 - Kwagga Smith (South Africa)	4 - Jerry Tuwai (Fiji)
5 - Phil Burgess (England)	6 - Danny Barrett (South Africa)	7 - Seabelo Senatla (South Africa))

Check out these amazing tries from the Sydney Sevens

Highlights | Sydney Sevens Day 2

Pic: World Rugby

They’ve done it again! South Africa underlined their hot-favourite status with the third tournament win this season, following a 29-14 win against England in the final of the Sydney Sevens.

The Blitzboks played in all four finals of the HSBC Sevens World Series 2016/17. They faced England for the second time in a final this season and while England managed to beat South Africa on their home ground in December, this time it was all about the men in green.  

Once again it was Seabelo Senatla who led the team with an incredible performance throughout the past two days. This was the last tournament for the HSBC Player of the Final as Senatla will join Super Rugby franchise Stormers.

Tries from captain Philip Snyman, Senatla and Justin Geduld went unanswered in the first half plus another one from Geduld in the second half sealed the game early. England captain Tom Mitchell as well as Dan Norton scored in the second half but it was too little too late. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand beat Australia to claim bronze while Russia walked away with the Challenge Trophy in Sydney after beating France, 26-0.

After four rounds, South Africa leads the table with 85 points, followed by England (68 pts), Fiji (64 pts) and New Zealand (56 pts). 

The series now moves to Las Vegas next month for the fifth round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which again joins up with the women's series. 

Sydney Sevens Day 2 | Results

Cup Final | South Africa 29 - 14 England

Bronze Final | New Zealand 29 - 14 Australia

Challenge Trophy | Russia 26 - 0 France 

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Sydney Sevens | Results Day 2

Highlights | Sydney Sevens Day 1

Pic: World Rugby

Australia qualified for the Cup quarter-finals of the HSBC Sydney Sevens after a sunny first day of action, while England, Wales and New Zealand stayed unbeaten in the pool stage. 

The Australians will face Wales in just their second Cup quarter-final of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016-17. Wales topped their pool after a magnificent win against Fiji, thanks to a hat-trick from Morgan Williams.

England recovered well from last week’s disappointing performance. Three out of three wins, including one over series leaders South Africa and with Dan Norton becoming the second highest try scorer of all-time, England created a dream start to the tournament. They will face Argentina in the Cup quarter-finals on day two of the men's event.

New Zealand will play Fiji after they managed three victories against Scotland, Papua New Guinea and hosts Australia. USA will challenge South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals. The Americans lost to Russia in the opening game but won the remaining matches against Canada and Argentina.

Meanwhile, Kenya will play Russia, Scotland face Samoa, Canada meet Japan and France take on Papua New Guinea in the Challenge Trophy quarter-finals on Sunday.

Sydney Sevens Men's | Cup Quarter-Finals

ENGLAND v ARGENTINA

NEW ZEALAND v FIJI

USA v SOUTH AFRICA

WALES v AUSTRALIA 

Pic: World Rugby

While the men’s tournament continues on Sunday, the women’s competition finished with a breath taking final and a number of great surprises. Olympic Bronze winners Canada beat rivals USA 21-17 to claim their third tournament win, in front of a packed house at the Allianz Stadium. 

After a disappointing performance in Dubai, USA shocked New Zealand to reach the final, while Canada overcame top-favourites Australia 12-7 in the second semi-final of the day. 

Meanwhile, on a day of shock results, Brazil beat England 17-12 to claim the Challenge Trophy as New Zealand went on to beat their rivals Australia to claim the bronze medal on Saturday.

In the overall standings, New Zealand is now, with 36 points, four points ahead of Australia (32) followed by Canada (30 pts) and Fiji (24 pts). Click here for the full standings.

Sydney Sevens Women's | Results

Cup Final | USA 17 - 21 CAN

Bronze Final | NZL 19 - 0 AUS

Challenge Trophy | ENG 12 -17 BRA

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Sydney Sevens Men's | Results Day 1

Sydney Sevens Men's | Fixtures Day 2

Sydney Sevens Women's | Results Day 2

Highlights | Sydney Sevens Day 1 (Women's)

At the opening day of the Sydney Sevens, hosts Australia, Olympic silver medallists New Zealand and Russia remained unbeaten. The second round of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series kicked off early this Friday at the Allianz Stadium. 

England’s women disappointed on day one after they failed to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever. James Bailey’s team lost to Russia and USA in their respective Pool C and have to compete for the Challenge Trophy on Saturday. England will face Papua New Guinea in the early hours of the second tournament day.  

Ireland and Fiji both qualified for the quarter-finals together with France, New Zealand and Canada.  

Sydney Sevens Cup Quarter-Finals

New Zealand v France

Ireland v USA

Australia v Fiji

Russia v Canada

You can follow the Sydney Sevens women's tournament live here.

Quick Links

Sydney Sevens Women's | Results Day 1

Sydney Sevens Women's | Fixtures Day 2