The second round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 rolls into Cape Town this coming weekend and these are the seven players to keep an eye on.
Seabelo Senatla – South Africa
The Blitzboks flyer is back and making waves already. Lightning quick feet and creative finishing is exactly the thing that will strike fear in every team at the HSBC Cape Town Sevens. The World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year 2016 has a turn of pace and evasiveness that make him a scary player to go one-on-one with and if you give him the slightest bit of space, chances are, he’ll punish you.
Tomi Lewis – Wales
The Welsh sevens debutant was in try-scoring form in Dubai, touching down seven times in six matches. What he lacks in experience he makes up for with a fiery enthusiasm and off the mark speed that challenges even the quickest of players on the series.
Dan Norton – England
England looked dangerous in Dubai and with this man on the wing oppositions should be wary. The English speedster knows his way to the try-line and is the series record try scorer with 269 tries. Take a deep breath when he gets the ball, he tends to run them in from everywhere.
Solomon Okia – Uganda
The invitational team Uganda showed they’re not afraid to throw the ball about last weekend and even ran the eventual winners South Africa close. That’s partly due to the outstanding performance from Solomon Okia, the Ugandan speedster has a serious turn of foot. He’s up there with the fastest on the series but it’s his vision and athleticism that make him such an exciting player. Watch this space, he’s going to score … a lot.
Alamanda Motuga – Samoa
The joint DHL Impact Player for Dubai is simply a machine. His strength, skill and speed make him a devastating attacker. He proved that in Dubai with an incredible twenty two carries of which he broke the line nine times and offloaded seven. He’ll be a key cog that keeps the Samoan engine running smoothly this weekend.
Scott Curry – New Zealand
The New Zealand co-captain put in a serious shift in Dubai. His power and sheer work-rate make him a player worth noting this week. If New Zealand are to build on their form in Dubai, Curry will be leading the charge both on his work-rate back in defence and his tenacity at the breakdown for turnovers.
Kwagga Smith – South Africa
He just never stops. The South African tackling machine stepped up on defence last weekend making 13 tackles and getting through a heap load of work. In a team with pace by the bucket load, last week's HSBC Player of the Final fits in perfectly offering work-rate in support and physicality in defence.