The Cape Town Sevens will be played over three days for the first time this year.
Historically a two-day event, the Cape Town Stadium will now host the women’s tournament also meaning there will be an extra day of matches to play.
This decision has not gone down too well with everyone.
As for the players, they also have some adjustments to make.
PREPARING MENTALLY: Chris Dry. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Blitzbok forward Chris Dry explains: “Dubai was a good preparation for us [in terms of the three-day
tournament].
“We played three-day tournaments before in Las Vegas and Hong Kong.
“But having that prep week in Dubai was good for us. It is a big mental challenge as well, not just a physical challenge.
“Mentally, it’s a tough, but I think we’ve prepared well for what’s to come.”
FORGET: Blitzbok captain Siviwe Soyizwapi wants his side to focus on this weekends action. Picture: Kamran Jebreili/AP.
Dry’s teammate and local hero Seabelo Senatla also reveals that the three-day event will take some time to get used to.
Senatla says: “Sevens should be an impactful thing.”
South Africa captain Siviwe Soyizwapi, meanwhile, says his team has to forget about what happened in Dubai after claiming the first trophy of the season.
Soyizwapi says: “We are feeling very happy and excited but we’ve said that we will leave what happened in Dubai, in Dubai.
“We have another tournament
coming this weekend so the focus will be on the recovery and getting back to 100 percent.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/CapeTown7s?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CapeTown7s, to see for themselves what a Blitzbok training session is all about. @This_Kate @Percyoung @BrendenNel @fiekie7 @Anton_Taylor @MarnusKok
🎟 Tickets available at Computicket from R150. pic.twitter.com/yhUxsu5ZjU
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks)
“[The atmosphere] is always electric and the fans always come out each and every day, so there’s going to be a big buzz and we get goosebumps every time we run onto the field.”