fbpx

South Africa Rugby Team Favorites To Win Wellington Sevens

South Africa Rugby Team Favorites To Win Wellington Sevens

From South China Morning Post

The imposing South Africans, with their rock-solid defence, are being targeted as the team to beat when the New Zealand round of the IRB Sevens World Series gets under way in Wellington on Friday.

South Africa, coming off back-to-back titles in Las Vegas and Port Elizabeth, lead the series by one point over perennial pacemakers New Zealand, going into the fifth of nine rounds.

While New Zealand have traditionally reigned with a mix of guile and speed, South Africa have brought a new element to rugby’s short-form game this year, which will make its debut at the Olympics in 2016.

“The physicality that the South Africans bring, they’re not top of the series for no reason.”

“They pride themselves on defence, they’re very, very good in that area,” said Simon Amor, coach of the Wellington defending champions England.

When they won in Las Vegas two weeks ago, South Africa conceded only 14 points in the whole tournament.

Read more at South China Morning Post