So dominant have they been in Dubai for so long, it often feels like South Africa just have to pitch up in the desert and they will end up with the Emirates International Trophy.
The Blitzboks have won the men’s World Series tournament at The Sevens in six of the past eight editions it has been contested, including each of the past three.
This year, though, they have arrived in UAE without many of the gilded stars of the past. Neil Powell, one of the most successful coaches in the history of the short format, moved on after the World Cup Sevens in September after nine years at the helm.
Multiple Dubai winners such as Werner Kok, Kwagga Smith and Seabelo Senatla have long since departed, too.
Their squad for this weekend has two uncapped players, including one who sold his car in order to chase a professional career in rugby.
But this is the Blitzboks. No matter their relative inexperience – and they still have 84-tournament veteran Branco du Preez directing operations – they will still be the team to beat on Pitch 1.
“We enjoy playing in Dubai,” Siviwe Soyizwapi, South Africa’s captain, said.
“It gets hot this time of the year in Cape Town so I think it's always good preparation for us coming into Dubai [ahead of their home leg on the World Series next week].
“There's a lot of confidence that we can take from the previous years, however, we always have to start all over again with each tournament. So we'll take it a step at a time.
“It's really exciting to have our new coaches [Sandile Ngcobo replaced Powell] in the frame with new ideas that are coming through.
“I think you will see something new this coming weekend with two new debutants as well which brings something different that they can add to the squad, so I’m really excited to see it.”
One of the two newcomers, Ricardo Duarttee, has been handed his chance after a remarkable year.
It started out with him attempting to restart his stalled rugby career by enrolling in a programme at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport Sevens Academy.
To fulfil the course, he needed to sell his car in order to pay the deposit and fees. His investment has paid off to the tune of a first call up to the national team.
“I don't have words,” Duarttee said after being presented his Blitzboks jersey this week.
“I worked very hard to be in this position, but I realise that this is the next level.
“I hope to bring lots of energy to the squad and when given the opportunity, contribute to the overall effort. It is going to be massive and I can't wait.”
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
