after scoring a try during the match between South Africa and Japan at the 2020 HSBC Sevens at FMG Stadium Waikato on January 25, 2020 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
South Africa and Kenya were handed tricky assignments for the fourth leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Australia from February 1-2.
The Blitzboks were drawn with France, Argentina and Samoa in Pool B. Kenya’s Shujaa was drawn with World Rugby Sevens Series leaders and defending champions New Zealand, Fiji and Wales in Pool A.
Despite the failure in the Hamilton Sevens, South Africa is confident of progressing from the pool given its record against its opponents. The Blitzboks have won 45 out of 61 matches against Argentina, 52 out of 58 against France and 52 out of 79 over Samoa.
South African flanker JC Pretorius said that the squad had time to look at the small mistakes that cost them in Hamilton.
“Those small things broke our momentum though, so we need to fix that. It is the attention to detail that was lacking, so it is something we can sort before the weekend,” Pretorius said.
“We are pretty lucky as players in the Blitzboks team. We have a proven system and if everyone follows the processes, we are a very effective team. That will be the focus for the weekend, to just make sure you execute within your role.”
Kenya, meanwhile, last defeated New Zealand and Fiji in 2018 and lost Wales last year. Kenya has not defeated New Zealand in the last four matches and Fiji in the last six matches. Shujaa’s best finish at the Sydney Sevens was second place in 2009.
South Africa is currently second in the standings on 48 points, 15 points behind New Zealand, while Kenya is 10th on 25 points.
