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Easy HK draw for Sevens Boks
16/02/2008 15:47 - (SA)
Johannesburg - South Africa have been seeded third for the Hong Kong Sevens tournament where the format puts pressure on the competing sides to win their respective pools or risk not making the quarter-finals.
The fifth tournament in the IRB World Sevens Series will see 24 teams in stead of the usual 16 contest the honours from March 28-30, and also carries 30 log points for the winner compared to the 20 in the other tournaments in the IRB Series.
Springbok coach Paul Treu would therefore dearly love to see his side, currently second in the 2007/08 series, win the Hong Kong tournament to close the gap on New Zealand.
Argentina have been drawn in the same pool a South Africa, together with Russia and Japan. The latter two sides can, but are unlikely to, surprise, and Argentina will be the team to beat if South Africa wish to ensure a quarter-final berth.
The 24 teams for Hong Kong tournament are divided into six pools of four teams each. Following the completion of the pool games, the group winners will progress to the Cup competition together with the two second placed teams with the best records.
The other four second placed teams, together with the four third placed teams and the best records will progress to the Plate competition. The remaining eight teams will contest the Bowl competition.
New Zealand, now with 36 successive wins and six tournament wins in a row, should easily dispatch of the Unites States, Tunisia and Chinese Taipei in Pool A, notwithstanding the USA's improved form this year.
Samoa, seeded second, should see off England in Pool B, although Canada could play a role in eliminating on of the two favourite sides in this pool. Sri Lanka are the fourth side.
Fiji's only real competition will come from Wales, while Zimbabwe and Korea are not expected to extend the Pacific Island size unduly in Pool D.
Kenya are seeded fifth, and have the ever-improving Scotland and Portugal to beat to top Pool E with China the other competitor. In Pool F Australia, Tonga and France will have an even contest which will probably only be decided on a technical point, with home side Hong Kong also in their pool.
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