Blitzboks get creative to counter awkward kick-off times at Sevens World Cup

The Springbok Sevens, like all teams participating at the Rugby Sevens World Cup will have to contend with the format that not only plunges teams into a knock-out game from the word go, but also late kick-offs.

Already seeded in the round of 16, the Blitzboks will only get their campaign going after 19:00 on day 1 of the tournament. Should they win that game (against Germany or Chile), then their game on day 2 will only kick-off at 22:33.

It's one of those scenarios all teams will have to contend with as 40 participating teams will take turns on the Cape Town Stadium turf in a bid for the ultimate prize: a shot at the championship final and an opportunity to be crowned Sevens champions.

The Blitzboks have devised plans to mitigate the time in between, starting with how they have been training in the lead-up to the weekend.

READ | Pressure and privilege will meet when Blitzboks get Sevens World Cup campaign going

For the hosts of the weekend, it will also be about righting their wrongs from previous tournaments, including an unfamiliar finish to the LA Sevens Series (they finished 13th overall, their lowest finish under Neil Powell since he took charge of the team a decade ago).

Blitzboks assistant coach Renfred Dazel held court with the media on Tuesday and let us in on preparations and how they plan on working around the schedule.

"The format is a challenge because we have one game on Friday evening and then [if we win] we play again on Saturday night, but we prepared well and have done our analysis on Germany and Chile. Chile will be more physical and Germany will look to spread the ball around," said Dazel.

He added: "We have a lot of guys who haven’t played in the World Cup and we will have to calm them down for the weekend