Blitzboks give great joy

Q Pieter, Benoni

If you ignore the Lions’ success in Super Rugby, the last year or so has not been a good period for SA rugby. Last year, we only managed to win four out of 12 Tests under new coach Allister Coetzee. The way our Super Rugby teams – with the exception of the Lions – are playing this year, I’m not too sure if we will fare better in 2017, even against the ordinary French, who are ranked sixth in the world and one place above the Springboks. This is why the Blitzboks’ World Series title victory gives me great joy and hope. I know Fiji and New Zealand have dominated Sevens rugby for years, so can someone please let me know if South Africa have won the overall title before?

A

Trevor Stevens, acting editor

After last year’s disaster on the rugby field, Sevens rugby is certainly giving us much-needed hope. It is great to have world champions once again. New Zealand have dominated the Sevens circuit since its inception in 1999/2000, winning it 12 times. Fiji have won the world title on three occasions and SA have now won it twice, following their lone triumph in 2008-09. SA also have the most second place finishes behind their name, with seven runners-up spots. You are right, Hong Kong is SA’s hoodoo venue. South Africa have never won there. The best they have done is three runners-up finishes, including this year. SA’s most successful venues are Dubai – five wins – and Las Vegas – four. They have also won four times at home but the venue has changed between George, Port Elizabeth and now, Cape Town.