Preview: World Series, Round Four
South Africa will step into the backyard of arch rivals New Zealand, determined to entrench their first place on the Sevens World Series standings.
However, being beaten on home soil is an ignominy the All Blacks don't suffer too often.
For added spice throw in the likes of Fiji, Australia, Argentina, England and Samoa – a recipe for sheer exhilaration.
The Wellington leg is Round Four of the Sevens World Series – with Kyle Brown's BlitzBokke (with 59 points) holding onto an eight-point lead over Fiji, New Zealand and further four points behind and Australia just one behind the Kiwis.
South Africa will look to take a step closer to a second series title – their only win so far having been in the 2008/09 season. The All Blacks have won 12 of the 15 titles on offer since 1999/2000 – with Fiji (2005/06) and Samoa 2009/10) the only other winners.
Their mission this weekend is to build on their good momentum which saw them capture successive tournament titles in Dubai and Port Elizabeth last December.
Blitzbok coach Neil Powell said his charges are ready to face a tough two-day assignment on Kiwi-soil.
"Although we won the previous two tournaments, we all know it will require another tremendous effort to get through the pool stages in Wellington,"Powell said.
"We want to focus on our tournament goals and those are to be consistent and to reach the knockout stages."
Apart from the crucial Series points on offer at the Wellington Sevens, the 16 competing nations will also resume their battle for the top four spots as the fight for Olympic qualification intensifies.
Only the top four teams on the final standings in May will qualify automatically for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
The hosts and defending champions New Zealand come into the tournament in the wake of the late withdrawal of star player Tim Mikkelson through injury.
However, coach Gordon Tietjens remains as optimistic as ever.
"It's the toughest tournament to win for us, there is all that added extra pressure," said Tietjens.
"South Africa had it in Port Elizabeth, and we had it here last year when we won it.
"It is certainly pleasing from a support point of view, but there is that added pressure not only to perform but everyone wants a bit of the team on the field.
"If you'd asked me which player I would dread to lose during or leading into a tournament it would be Tim Mikkelson, just an outstanding individual and outstanding player, I really feel for him. In saying that it can happen, but it provides another player with an opportunity."
Tietjens' men are searching for their first Cup title of the season, a season which also doubles up as an Olympic qualifier – an interesting prospect for all involved.
"Our aim is obviously still to win a 13th World Series," added Tietjens.
"We know it is going to be tough as you always have to start well and we would have liked to have started a bit better. But we are not far off and a good performance here backed up in Vegas will put us right back in the reckoning.
"In amongst that we want to be in the top four, that is huge for us, because qualification for the Olympics is very much on the agenda for us. Each one of our players dreams of being there and this is their real opportunity.
"They have an opportunity ahead of the others expressing their interest to be involved in the Olympics. I have expressed an interest in the current All Blacks, but I have put a number of tournaments next to their name if they are interested to be involved in the series.
"Once I get those answers there will be players involved in four, players involved in six tournaments next season."
Pools:
Pool A: South Africa, United States, France, Japan
Pool B: New Zealand, England, Canada, Papua New Guinea
Pool C: Australia, Fiji, Wales, Portugal
Pool D: Argentina, Scotland, Kenya, Samoa
Schedule: Day One – Friday, February 6:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus 13 hours)
South Africa v France (12.00)
United States v Japan (12.21)
Australia v Wales (12.42)
Fiji v Portugal (13.03)
Argentina v Kenya (13.24)
Scotland v Samoa (13.46)
New Zealand v Canada (14.08)
England v Papua New Guinea (14.30)
South Africa v Japan (14.52)
United States v France (15.14)
Australia v Portugal (15.36)
Fiji v Wales (15.58)
Argentina v Samoa (16.20)
Scotland v Kenya (16.42)
New Zealand v PN Guinea (17.04)
England v Canada (17.26)
France v Japan (17.48)
South Africa v United States (18.10)
Wales v Portugal (18.32)
Australia v Fiji (18.54)
Kenya v Samoa (19.54)
Argentina v Scotland (20.16)
Canada v Papua New Guinea (20.38)
New Zealand v England (21.00)
Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Nick Briant (New Zealand), Ben Crouse (South Africa), Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Anthony Moyes (Australia), Matt O'Brien (Australia), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
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Kyle Brown on NZ
Looking back – PE Sevens!
