Bookies back Blitzboks to defend Cape Town title

Cape Town - The Blitzboks are favourites to defend their Cape Town Sevens title this weekend, local bookmakers believe.

Neil Powell’s men started the 2016/17 World Rugby Sevens Series campaign on a high note when they beat Fiji 26-14 in the Cup final in Dubai last weekend.

The South Africans will also take confidence from the fact that they’ve won their home event for the last three seasons, with their 2013/14 and 2014/15 wins coming in Port Elizabeth before the event was moved to Cape Town last year.

Local bookmakers, Sportingbet.co.za, have made the Blitzboks 27/20 favourites to win this weekend's tournament.

The Fijians are next in line at 5/2, followed by New Zealand (13/2), England (10/1) and Australia (18/1).

For the Cape Town event, the Blitzboks have been drawn in Pool A alongside Australia, USA and Russia.

Pools for the Cape Town Sevens:

Pool A: South Africa, Australia, USA, Russia
Pool B: Fiji, France, Kenya, Japan
Pool C: England, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada
Pool D: Wales, Scotland, Samoa, Uganda

The top five log positions after the opening tournament:

1. South Africa 22
2. Fiji 19
3. England 17
4. Wales 15
5. Australia 13