TITLE DEFENCE
Blitzboks back to square one for Dubai kick-off
A year has passed since the best season in SA’s Sevens history began in Dubai and in the same city 12 months on the Blitzboks have hit the "reset" button as they begin their title defence. Neil Powell’s team started their historic run to the 2016-17 HSBC World Sevens Series title with victory in Dubai in 2016‚ which was the first of five tournament wins on the 10-leg circuit. But there is no more basking in the glory of what happened in the past. All eyes are on the future‚ which includes defending the Commonwealth Games title at the Gold Coast and trying to win a first-ever Sevens World Cup in San Francisco next July. In their precise preparations in Stellenbosch in the build-up to the season‚ the Blitzboks focused on their perceived weaknesses from last season‚ and honed their strengths. The first match in Dubai‚ starting on Friday‚ will be a good gauge of how much other teams have closed the gap. "Everybody wants to get better," said Powell. "Yes‚ we are champions‚ but that doesn...
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