The South African Sevens team is looking to underline a period of total dominance with a fourth consecutive tournament win when they run out in Hong Kong on Friday morning. The Blitzboks are targeting the Hong Kong Sevens, the first event of the World Championships, with a well-rested squad and fresh ideas after a successful Sevens Series campaign.

The Hong Kong Sevens is the first of three World Championship tournaments.

The Series champions, the Blitzboks, are entering a new phase in the Sevens season with renewed determination, and veteran Blitzbok Zain Davids also points out that they start with a clean slate.

“We had our goals. We won the World Series, and that’s done. We can see on the log sheet that it is nil-nil, everybody is starting from scratch, and we all have our goal to perform in Hong Kong and do our best. We have the processes to go forward, we will take it hurdle by hurdle and be successful at the end of the tournament,” says Davids.

Davids missed the tournament wins in Vancouver and New York, but tasted success this season in Cape Town and Perth. He will be playing in his 58th tournament, and says rotating the squad helps to prolong careers and keep the Blitzboks ahead of the curve.

“I think Coach Philip has bigger plans for the squad. He knows what he is doing, keeping the guys fresh for each tournament. I think we are growing depth, and that’s what he wants,” he says.

The Blitzboks, the current standard bearers for the sport, are desperate to get a first win in Hong Kong, a tournament that embodies the ethos of sevens.

“I think Hong Kong, you can’t say it is like home, but the vibe, the stadium and many South Africans here make us feel at home. And you feel at home as well. The vibe is incredible and the guys love coming to Hong Kong,” adds David.

Winning in Hong Kong would be a full-circle moment for players like Davids. To win so much in the game, but not in Hong Kong, is all the motivation the Blitzboks need.

*This article was first published by SABC News