The Blitzboks will have to start fast and stay hot to have any chance of winning the Cape Town Sevens tournament for the first time since 2015, according to Blitzboks co-captain Impi Visser.

“Last week in Dubai we were hot and cold and made silly errors, something you will not be able to get away with this weekend,” Visser said on Friday after South Africa concluded their preparations in a wet and windy Mother City, ready for their two pool clashes against Ireland and Argentina at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

“We are looking at ourselves and how to be as clinical and effective as possible. There will no be no second chances, we will have to execute every opportunity we create.”

Indeed, under the revised format – which will be in play at the Cape Town and Singapore tournaments of World Rugby’s Sevens series this season – teams will only play two pool matches, with the four pool winners advancing directly to the Cup semi-finals on Sunday.

“Whether we like the new format or not, it means that you have to be on top of your game from the very first minute of each match and we are very aware of that,” said Visser. “This is our home tournament and one we have not been successful at for a while, so we are going all out to change that and deliver a performance that we as a squad and our supporters can be proud of.”

The seasoned Blitzbok forward said a number of new players in the Ireland team has made analysis of them a bit more challenging than was the case last year when they had a settled squad.

“They still have the same coach though, so not much will change in their style of play, so if we keep the ball when we have possession we should be ok when playing them,” he said.

Argentina have an experienced group what won the World Series last year and Visser is expecting a huge onslaught: “Yes, they are very strong and experienced with a lot of established players. We will have to be at our very best and play clinical rugby to beat them.”

Selected Blitzboks stats:

• They have reached the Cup final three times in Cape Town, and are looking for a fourth at the same home venue for the first time – the Blitzboks also reached three finals in Port Elizabeth and two in George.
• South Africa are still chasing their first win against Ireland on home soil. Their only victory across six meetings last season came in Hong Kong, by 22-17 in the pool stages.
• The Blitzboks will look to end a three-game losing streak against Argentina, dating back to Perth last season.

Current Sevens standings:
1 Fiji 20
2 Spain 18
3 Argentina 16
4 New Zealand 14
5 France 12
6 South Africa 10

Blitzboks pool schedule:
11.44am: Ireland
6.41pm: Argentina

Twitter: @Blitzboks