Blitzboks on winning high

BLITZBOKS skipper Philip Snyman was one of 16 captains lined up on the Cape Town Stadium’s roof for a photo shoot yesterday‚ and on Sunday he and his team hope to raise it with another home World Series victory.

The Blitzboks‚ series champions and hot favourites on home soil‚ will go into this weekend’s second leg of the 2017-18 HSBC World Series high on confidence and form after winning in Dubai last weekend.

New Zealand showed a return to form with their first final appearance since the 2015-16 season in Dubai last week‚ while Fiji and England also caught the eye.

Those three teams will be better after removing the off-season rust in the desert heat while Australia‚ Kenya and Scotland will also be dangerous.

With the tournament sold out for months already‚ the Blitzboks can expect massive support from the 110 000 crowd over the two days.

As defending champions and winners in Dubai‚ they come into the tournament under pressure to please their home crowd.

But it is something they are embracing rather than shying away from.

They are drawn in Pool A alongside Kenya‚ Russia and France.

The Blitzboks have met Russia 18 times and won all 18 clashes, while in 48 meetings with France the home team have lost only six.

Against Kenya‚ South Africa’s record is also impressive, with 44 wins in 50 meetings against only five losses and a draw.

One of those wins was a 48-5 victory in Dubai last week.

“It’s lekker to come to Cape Town as winners‚” try-scoring legend Seabelo Senatla said.

“We only get to play at home once a year so our goal is obviously to give the fans what they want – the trophy.”