Blitzbokke in it to win it

The buzz in the city has been clear to see, with tickets for both Saturday and Sunday sold out as coach Neil Powell's men look to win their third straight tournament on home soil. The Blitzboks are one of the favourites going into the second leg of the 2015-16 series with Fiji, England and New Zealand the other major threats, even though they lost in the quarterfinals in Dubai last week. South Africa are aiming for their third consecutive title on home soil after winning the last two in Port Elizabeth‚ but they will have to do it without current World Player of the Year Werner Kok and experienced play-maker Cecil Afrika‚ who are both out injured.

In Cape Town, South Africa are drawn in Pool B alongside last week’s finalists in Dubai, England, as well as Kenya and Zimbabwe. Brown said: “Nothing special is planned but there is a little more excitement bubbling under the surface than usual. “I’m keen to get on to the field to see how that plays out.”  And while it is shaping up to be a special weekend for Brown, he is underplaying his milestone ... like any good captain would. 

"I’m going to go and play some rugby … some good rugby, hopefully," Brown said."Nothing special, I feel like I’m just privileged enough to have played in this team for a long period of time and that’s special enough for me."\Brown did acknowledge that there was something different in the air this time around, though."I’m really excited. There’s a little more excitement bubbling under the surface than usual so I’m looking forward to getting onto the field and hopefully we can deliver the goods," he said.

On the face of it the Blitzboks have a favourable pool and should cruise into the last eight, but as last weekend showed, nothing is easy in Sevens any more. The US upset SA 21-19 in the quarterfinals last weekend and Kenya and England, in particular, could ruin the home team’s party if they are complacent or over -confident. South Africa and Kenya have met 42 times on the circuit,with the Blitzboks enjoying 37 wins and only four losses to the East Africans in that time. Against England the head-tohead is much tighter. In 62 clashes South Africa have won 33 and England 29 times. The last time they met was in April in the final of the Tokyo leg, which England won 21-14. “Our goal is always to top the pool after day one, but it won’t be easy because England, Kenya and even Zimbabwe will be tough,” Powell said.