Blitzbokke aim to break NZ drought
Kyle Brown will lead a South African team that will be aiming for their first tournament title in 10 years in New Zealand, when the fourth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series kicks off in Wellington on Friday.
The Blitzbokke last won the Kiwi title a decade ago when current coach, Paul Treu, was still playing.
Brown and his teammates will look to turn the tables on their Kiwi hosts who beat them in a thrilling Cup Final at the first SA Sevens – staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in December.
South Africa is currently third on the Sevens World Series log with 48 points, just three behind joint leaders Fiji and New Zealand. They will again pin their hopes on the dangerous halfback combination that includes IRB Player of the Year Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez.
Brown and veteran Frankie Horne are the two main forward stalwarts.
Stephan Dippenaar will make his debut in the New Zealand capital while Cornal Hendricks will make only his second Bok Sevens tournament appearance following his debut in Port Elizabeth.
Following their last-minute victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, New Zealand were drawn in Pool A as the top seeds alongside Samoa, Scotland and Japan. All Black wing Hosea Gear has been selected to play for the hosts in the fourth round of the World Series.
Fiji, Wales, Argentina and Tonga are grouped in a very strong Pool C while resurgent France, Australia, Canada and Kenya will battle it out for two Cup qualifying spots in Group D.
South Africa: Chris Dry, Frankie Horne, Boom Prinsloo, Cornal Hendricks, Kyle Brown (captain), Branco du Preez, Bernado Botha, Paul Delport, Cecil Afrika, Steven Hunt, Mark Richards, Stephan Dippenaar.
