The much-anticipated return of the HSBCWorld Sevens Series is just around the corner with the Sydney leg kicking off on Friday the 26th of January.
The 2017/18 HSBC Sevens Series has already thrown up a shock result with New Zealand claiming the Cape Town leg back in mid-December. The Blitzboks will still be smarting from witnessing the New Zealanders lift the title in 'Bok country, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the particular memory will fuel South Africa's finest Sevens exponents when they take to the Allianz Stadium this Friday.
Sydney Sevens | Friday 26 January - Sunday 28 January | Allianz Stadium
To Win Tournament Outright
South Africa 19/20 | Fiji 33/10 | England 15/2 | New Zealand 28/10 | United States 33/1 | Australia 22/1 | Samoa 100/1 | Scotland 100/1
The Challengers
South Africa
Pool Opponents: England, Spain, and Papua New Guinea
Cape Town certainly didn't go according to script for Neil Powell's men, who were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament by New Zealand at the semi-final stage. The defeat would have been gut wrenching for arguably South Africa's best performing sports side, as it was the second successive year in which they failed to produce the goods in front of a full house at the Cape Town Stadium. Neil Powell isn't a multiple series winning coach for nought, however, and he will most definitely have his charges firing on all cylinders in 'The Land Down Under'.
Powell will need to use all the knowledge he's picked up at sports psychology seminars as his side have been handed a rather stiff draw alongside England, Spain, and Papua New Guinea. And whilst the latter two are unlikely to trouble the Blitzboks, England could pose a real threat to their aspirations of topping the pool.
Player to Watch: Seabelo Senatla
He's due a big tournament after having a rather sedated start to the season. This is set to be the flyer's penultimate tournament of the year with the Super Rugby season fast approaching his start. He has a handy track record out in Aus, and the hard surface on offer at the Allianz should allow him to flourish.
Fiji
Pool Opponents: New Zealand, Samoa, and Russia
Cape Town once again was a nut the Fijians failed to crack despite impressing early on. They did a similar routine out in Dubai where they looked all-conquering up until they reached the business end and were knocked out by the Blitzboks. It actually seems that the Fijians have a mental block when it comes to playing the South Africans. For the sake of the Island nation, I hope they don't meet the 'Boks in the knock-outs yet again.
The Fijians haven't actually accrued that bad a points tally thus far. And despite not having appeared in the final, they only trail Series leaders New Zealand by nine points. A tournament victory this weekend for the Islanders would make things very interesting at the top of the standings.
Player to Watch: Jerry Tuwai
I probably sound like a broken record with my continual nomination of Jerry Tuwai as the Fijian 'Player to Watch', but he's just such a key cog in this side that I can't help it. The playmaker seems to be growing into the captaincy role rather nicely and has stepped up when Fiji has needed him most. If half his side showed the grit that Tuwai exudes, then Fiji would be streaks ahead at the top of the Series standings.
England
Pool Opponents: South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Russia
It almost seems farcical naming both South Africa and England as 'Title Challengers' with the loser certain to face an arduous knock-out phase. However, one of these sides has to win the round-robin clash - unless it ends in a draw - and that means someone will get the easier passage come the knock-out phase. If England can pip the Blitzboks, - as they have in the not too distant past - in their pool phase encounter, then the 'Poms will be well-primed for an assault on the Sydney title.
The English, like Fiji, have seen their Dubai and South African title tilts ended by the same opposition, with New Zealand betting the 'Poms in the semi-finals in Dubai and the quarters in Cape Town. As such, the English will be dreading the thought of having to front up to the Kiwis again.
Player to Watch: Dan Bibby
The veteran play-maker makes his return to the England fold this coming weekend having missed the opening two tournaments through injury.
Bibby is the general that England have been lacking. His ability to pull defences apart should see an immediate improvement in England's attack.
New Zealand
Pool Opponents: Fiji, Russia, and Samoa
The current Series leaders have enjoyed a very happy start to the 2017/18 campaign winning the Cape Town leg and finishing second out in Dubai. This almost ideal start would have seemed but a mere fantasy at the close of last season as the once mighty New Zealand Sevens side looked like a bunch of schoolboys.
Key to the Kiwis upswing in fortunes has been the input from their youth brigade, especially a certain Vilimoni Koroi who has been a revelation for the New Zealanders this term.
Player to Watch: Joe Ravouvou
The big man missed all of his side's pool games in Cape Town due to him being suspended for a high tackle in the Dubai final. Ravouvou did still manage to make a mark in Cape Town though, putting in a few barnstorming displays during the knock-out phase. His availability from the outset in Sydney will improve the Kiwis chances tenfold.
The Dark Horse
Australia
Pool Opponents: United States, Canada, and Scotland
They'll have a partisan crowd behind them so you can certainly expect the Aussies to put in a solid showing at their home tournament, not that they've faired badly on foreign soil this year.
The men in Canary yellow have been extremely unlucky thus far being drawn in the pool of death in Cape Town and facing a red hot England side in the quarter-finals out in Dubai. They've once again been handed a stinker of a draw but you'd expect them to over the come two Americas sides and Scotland on home soil. If they can get through their group with maximum points and a solid points differential, then they may have a rather clean run to the semis. From their on in, these tournaments are basically a lottery.
Player to Watch: James Stannard
With a plethora of first-stringers missing, the Australians are going to be heavily reliant on veteran James Stannard.
The old hand enjoyed a rather decent Cape Town tournament and rolled back the years with some of his performances. He may not be as quick as he once was when it comes to covering ground but Stannard's vision is as good as it was in his early 20's. He may not run in a plethora of tries but he'll certainly set some up this weekend.
Verdict: South Africa
The Blitzboks won last year's Sydeney leg and my money is on them retaining their title. They know time is running out before their big guns jet off for Super Rugby. As such, they will be targetting this leg as well as next week's leg in New Zealand.
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
