Easy Gold Coast draw for Blitzboks

THE Blitzboks have been handed a comfortable draw for April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.

The defending champions‚ drawn in Pool A‚ will take on rising Sevens stars Scotland‚ Papua New Guinea and Malaysia‚ which is about as kind a group as it can be in the high-pressure event.

“It’s never going to be easy defending the title at the Commonwealth Games‚” Blitzboks head coach Neil Powell said.

“This season’s World Series has shown already that there is more depth‚ with three different winners in three tournaments.

“Every side is capable of winning a tournament because everyone is improving. Games these days are extremely competitive,” he said.

In the women’s event‚ South Africa have a tough draw in Pool A alongside New Zealand‚ Canada and Kenya.

ý Men’s pools for 2018 Commonwealth Games:

Pool A – South Africa‚ Scotland‚ Papua New Guinea and Malaysia

Pool B – England‚ Australia‚ Samoa and Jamaica

Pool C – New Zealand‚ Canada‚ Kenya and Zambia

Pool D – Fiji‚ Wales‚ Uganda and Sri Lanka ý Women’s pools: Pool A – South Africa‚ New Zealand‚ Canada and Kenya

Pool B – Australia‚ Fiji‚ England and Wales

The SA women’s team is: Nadine Roos‚ Eloise Webb‚ Unathi Mali‚ Rights Mkhari‚ Zintle Mpupha‚ Veroeshka Grain‚ Zenay Jordaan‚ Marithy Pienaar‚ Mathrin Simmers‚ Christelene Steinhobel‚ Chane Stadler‚ Zinthle Ndawonde. – TimesLIVE