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Blitzboks' remarkable recent record on home soil

Cape Town - The Blitzboks can make a real statement in terms of their 2016/17 Sevens World Series title credentials in Cape Town this weekend. 

Having won the first leg of the season in Dubai last weekend, coach Neil Powell's men are back on home soil where they will play in front of a packed Cape Town Stadium on Saturday and Sunday. 

Another victory here would set them up nicely as the season breaks for the festive period, and a look at recent history suggests that there is no reason why South Africa can't emerge victorious to sit pretty at the top of the World Series standings. 

The Blitzboks have won all of the last three Sevens tournaments hosted in South Africa. 

In 2015 - the first time the event was held in Cape Town - the Blitzboks bounced back from a 14-12 loss to Kenya in their tournament opener to go through the rest of the weekend undefeated. 

The previous year, in Port Elizabeth, the Blitzboks overcame England, Australia and then New Zealand in the knockouts to win in what would prove to be the last tournament - for now, anyway - at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

In 2013, also at the 2010 World Cup venue in PE, South Africa waltzed through a largely nonthreatening group including Canada, Kenya and Spain before seeing off Portugal, Argentina and New Zealand in the knockouts. 

It leaves the Blitzboks with an extremely proud recent history at home. 

Going back further than that, it is New Zealand who have dominated in South Africa. 

In the seven tournaments that came before those three recent Blitzboks triumphs, the All Blacks won a stunning six of them, while the Blitzboks won one. 

Blitzboks record on home soil:

Cape Town 2015 - Winners

PE 2014 - Winners 

PE 2013 - Winners

PE 2012 - Third

PE 2011 - Runners-up

George 2010 - Plate winners

George 2009 - Plate runners-up

George 2008 - Winners

George 2007 - Losing semi-finalists

George 2006 - Runners-up

George 2005 - Losing semi-finalists 

George 2004 - Plate winners

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