In a recent interview, when prompted for a reason for the Blitzbokke’s Cup drought at the New Zealand Sevens, Frankie Horne was at a loss for words. However, if you read my story about the Teams’ “heck-tique” travel schedule on this tour every year, you will agree that travelling does play a part in how the various teams perform in Wellington. Taking nothing away from their awesome performance throughout the Series, the home team has indeed won back-to-back NZ Sevens titles the last two seasons.
According to social media posts today, the Springboks have already left for Vegas, while some teams will only leave some time tomorrow. As I have mentioned before, Las Vegas is 10 hours behind South Africa and a whopping 16 hours behind Hong Kong. Teams will therefore have to manage jet-lag carefully on this leg.
The Vegas Sevens is also where the real Sevens fans come to the fore if my example below is anything to go by.
For the fans watching on the telly or computer, if you look at the fixtures for the 2012 Las Vegas Sevens, you will have to plan your viewing schedule rather carefully, especially if you live here in Asia. For example:
Vegas Sevens Day 1 (Friday)
The Vegas tournament kicks off (match 1/45) at 4pm on Friday February 10. That translates to 2am on Saturday morning if you’re in South Africa (8am for us in Hong Kong). The final match of Day 1 (16/45) will kick off at 9:30pm (Vegas) which will be at 7:30am (SA) and 1:30pm (Hong Kong).
Remember that in Vegas, teams play their first 2 matches on Day 1.
Vegas Sevens Day 2 (Saturday)
Day 2 sees the third Pool matches AS WELL AS the quarter-finals being played.
Day 2 kicks off (Match 17/45) at 12noon (Vegas) or 10pm in South Africa. For us here in Hong Kong that translates to an early morning… 4am (Sunday).
The final match of Day 2 (match 32/45) kicks off at 6:58pm (Vegas) 4:58am (SA) or 10:58am Sunday (Hong Kong).
Vegas Sevens Day 3 (Sunday)
Here’s where it gets challenging, especially if you have to be at work on Monday morning.
Sunday at the Vegas Sevens takes in the Semi-finals and Finals, the most important part of a tournament for us die-hard fans.
Match 33/45 kicks off at 9:20am (Vegas) which is 7:20pm (SA) or 1:20am (Monday morning, Hong Kong).
The Cup Final (match45/45) kicks off at 2:28pm (Vegas) or 12:28 (Monday morning) for those in South Africa. Those of us in Hong Kong who WILL be up all night (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) will watch the Cup Final from 6:28 on Monday morning.
But hey… who’s complaining. I’ll be there throughout.
Will you?
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