Sevens Boks crash to Kiwis
30 Mar 2008
New Zealand just had too much class for the Springbok Sevens side in the final of the Hong Kong Sevens, running out 26-12 winners.
The Boks conceded an early try which put them on the back foot, and even though they drew to within seven points of New Zealand at one stage, they were just never on the same planet skills and strength wise. Coach Paul Treu, however, lauded his side for progressing as far as they did.
“The last time that we played in a Hong Kong final was 11 years ago at Rugby World Cup Sevens. Back then we had world class players like Andre Joubert, Andre Venter, Chester Williams and Joost Van der Westhuizen, whereas there are no big name players in this squad. To come out here and go all the way to the Hong Kong Cup final is an awesome achievement for our young team,” he said.
The Kiwis dominated the collisions and breakdowns, stifling the Boks’ flow, and were clinical with the majority of their opportunities. Treu acknowledged his side’s physical shortcomings.
“One thing that we have to realise is that we will never beat New Zealand physically,” he said. “We will have to play the game much smarter and there were a few times were we went into contact and lost the ball. Those are areas that we need to think about and just identify the opportunities on the field.”
The Boks consolidated their second place standing on the series log, but have no hope of tracking down New Zealand, who’ve won every leg of the series to date. Treu was, however, optimistic about the future.
“In terms of confidence we are really looking forward to Adelaide and if we can keep our momentum that we have built over the past two tournaments in San Diego and here in Hong Kong, I honestly believe that we can reach all three remaining finals.”
France won the Plate final against Argentina, 17-14, in sudden death while Russia beat off a brave Zimbabwe to win 19-14 and retain the Bowl trophy.
70 Comments
30 Mar 2008, 15:21 pm
And here is the 7′s article everybody wanted so badly. Hi Ryan, tell these guys that it is Sunday and even journo’s needs a break somewhere in the week. hehe
30 Mar 2008, 15:24 pm
As for Mr Treu, tell him that there is no big name players in the NZ team either. So he must stop complaining about not performing without them. The NZ team has been great for a long time now without any big boys. Maybe its the coaching and talent spotting abilities thats lacking…
30 Mar 2008, 15:26 pm
Maybe if we chose the right players and get with the modern training techniques we shall be able to compete physically with anybody. Stop making excuses Mr Treu and start doing your homework.
30 Mar 2008, 15:35 pm
Why doesn’t Mr Treu pick player who can compete physically with the all black or usa for that matter, the squad is made up of little no namers, Affies first team will be able to beat them!
30 Mar 2008, 15:53 pm
well done nz. stuff the usual fan boy comments. why don’t you guys pick a team to beat the nz 7s side, include the current boks if to will.
oh, i was impressed by the skills displayed by the teams over the easter weekend, but did you watch the hk7s? really watch?
30 Mar 2008, 15:59 pm
Pah, who cares about 7′s these days. I would if there was only one tournament a year, outside of the current international and S14 season, thereby allowing the best players in SA to be picked.
30 Mar 2008, 16:01 pm
Groenie,
these players are now contracted directly to SA Sevens instead of their provincial unions. I doubt these bigger players would be keen on signing contracts to play sevens rather than rugby.
As for them being no-name players and Affies being able to beat them. You aren’t second on the Sevens table for no reason. If that’s the case then Affies should be able to beat the Samoans & Fijians as well no?
He’s got some damn good players there. Mzandwile Stick should probably be playing 15-man rugby. MJ Mentz can easily be a back-up fullback in the 15-man code. Jonathan Mokuena has been brilliant at number-8 for teams he’s played for in the Currie Cup and there were even rumours about a possible Springbok call-up a few seasons ago.
Then he’s also included Wilton Pietersen & Robert Ebersohn, both potential stars….
There is a very different approach to Sevens rugby in NZ, where coaches are more then happy to release players that don’t start to go and play. In South Africa a guy like Keegan Daniel wouldn’t have a chance in hell of getting released.
30 Mar 2008, 16:16 pm
Post 7
Thanks so much. Annoying having to read these ill informed comments slating a darn good achievement.
To add to your post. This is the 1st year that SA Rugby is contracting a 7′s squad. New Zealand have been doing this for 3 seasons already. Clearly a significant advantage.
As for these supposed no name players … uuuhm, Fabian Juries is a sevens star. A South African, Waiseli if you’d like. Highly rated and respected by all.
It is no secret that the Polynesians are perfectly suited to 7′s. They are blessed with naturally explosive and balanced runners which few other nations can match. So if we’re supposedly behind with our training methods then England, France, Australia and the likes must be bloody antiquated … even with all their monetary resources.
As the saying goes: Silence Is Golden (pun intended). So for those slating our nations admirable achievement pls rather remain silent than make ill informed comments.
Well done, True and team, you’ve done us proud!
30 Mar 2008, 16:20 pm
There has to be a winner & loser. It is an achievement in making the finals, so well done to the boys.
30 Mar 2008, 16:24 pm
I don’t consider finishing second to be an achievement. No doubt a good effort to make the final for once but we should set our sights higher.
30 Mar 2008, 16:31 pm
7 and 8… well said. No team has bettered the
NZ 7s for a while now.
The boys did well to make the finals and we should be proud of them. They can only build on this.
Wooden Spoon, isn’t than called coming last dude…
30 Mar 2008, 16:36 pm
No doubt a good effort to make the final for once but we should set our sights higher.
Comment by wooden spoon : March 30, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
The team makes the finals and gives it their best shot to win the match. The team by no means rolled over and played dead. They were setting their sights on winning the match. So how does one then “set your sights higher”?
30 Mar 2008, 16:42 pm
Wooden Spoon,
For your sakes i hope you’re the CEO of your organisation otherwise by your logic you really have not achieved much.
30 Mar 2008, 16:45 pm
Not the team Saffa Guy (I’m sure they gave it their best), but you. Instead of thinking of it as an achievement to make the finals you shouldn’t forget that there is more to just making a final. You don’t want to accept being second best, do you?
I’m not too bothered with 7′s but I’m satisfied that my country made it to the main final. I’d much prefer winning though and don’t want to accept a habit of mediocrity (based on the 7′s teams historic performances). We should only be truly happy with winning tournaments.
30 Mar 2008, 16:51 pm
And thanks for enquiring Saffa Guy. It’s not about me but the Springboks 7′s side. But I will digress this once. I do not work for an organisation. I currently work at a limited liability partnership and my ambitions are set high. Unlike a professional sportman who represents the national side (the pinnacle of his career), I’m young and have a way to go before my experience enables me to say that I’m at the top of my game. I consider myself to be on the way though.
Conversely, I take it you’re happy not being successful at what you do, or just accepting your lot in life then?
30 Mar 2008, 17:39 pm
Hi Saffa guy, I am not spitting on our performance. The boys did well, I give you that. My comments was based on Treu’s comments. The problem is not the players but the coaching and player selection. Don’t make the excuse for not being able to compete physically while chosing small build players to compete with stronger guys. Go find the players then who can compete physically with the NZ team. From what I’ve seen it wasn’t so much the physical attributes that were the problem but the skill. The NZ team is better skilled then any other team out there. It’s also about how you use your strength and speed more than having it.
I am envolved with coaching for your information. If you just look at the training techniques used in the USA by the real pros and compare it with ours, it becomes scary. Their whole outlook on strenght and speed aswell as power training is completely different than ours.
Instead of complaining, go find the right players and give them the proper training to compete in skill, power, speed, strenght and physicality and you might starting to beat the NZ team instead of just being competitive against them.
Second is good, but first is better….
30 Mar 2008, 17:42 pm
How good are these NZ 7′s okes. Bloody magnificent, they are. I’m sure our boys gave their all, but on the day NZ were simply the better side.
30 Mar 2008, 18:37 pm
Silence is Gold
Point taken but in all fairness i think your over-simplifying the issue the skill levels of sa player particularly the bigger guys are poor its a fundamental issue their just isnt enough emphasis on skills by coaches at the lower levels.
Its not something that paul treu can fix he just doesnt have the time to teach players rudimentary skills like how to pass , offload and step. It needs someone to develop coaches at the lower levels who place empasis on these things.
A “Director of rugby” usually would do this but as we all know sarfu are too power hungry to implement such a role as it would detract from their influence particularly on issues like selecting the coach and in some cases the players.
Because of the excellent development in their country nz coach Tietjen can take his pick of big , strong , skill full players from both new zealand as well as the pacific islands whereas treu cant find players like that below bok level at the moment the only players in sa who would fit the bill would be p spies, big joe and a few others but they are all s14/bok contracted players who would never be released for sevens. NZ has skillful players like Steven Yates , V Vito , Lote Raikabula none of these players are s14 or nz contracted.
wooden spoon
If the sevens boks used the excuses you just did when talking about your career they would have been slated by u amongst others
* im on the way up – when are going to reach the top hurry up, why are u always developing.
* im inexperienced – new zealand players are inexperienced too and they are winning
* Im still young – new zealand have as young a team.
So get off your high horse and stop being naive. The side is developing just as u say u are they have only been contracted fulltime for about half a season give the guys a chance.
30 Mar 2008, 18:53 pm
Redox, you miss the point I made. A Springbok is at the pinnacle of his career and should expect to be winning tournaments. I challenge you to disagree with me on that. I’m just starting out in my career. Anyway, this thread is about rugby, no?
30 Mar 2008, 19:03 pm
province
30 Mar 2008, 19:04 pm
“A Springbok is at the pinnacle of his career” thats how i have it too, well thats the ideal.
But here oportunities…bla …bla…bla, is making a mokery of a National team thats supose to be your BEST available TEAM.
30 Mar 2008, 19:09 pm
are these sa 7s contracted player gonna play the world cup next year? i donno how the contract is to be down there in SA.kenyan
30 Mar 2008, 19:13 pm
superBul. Pick a Best available Team and i am sure that it will not be tha same as my best available team, and so on.
Given the Prioity that the S14 gets I am sure that it would be difficult to pick a team that is much better than the one that was out there today.
After all they made the fnal, England did not, Australia did not ect.ect.
30 Mar 2008, 19:22 pm
wooden spoon
In an ideal world all things being even yes the emphasis should be on winning tournaments but unfortunately we dont live in an ideal world and for a number of reasons(mainly sarfu fault) beyond treu and the players control the boks do find themselves behind new zealand in terms of skills , size and in sevens even player base as 7′s is prevalent at junior level over there and in the pacific islands.
I think its naive to believe that we can consistently beat a side with a superior development programs a professional 7′s pipeline which has been running for about 5-6 years when we have just gone fulltime pro 4-5 months.
Being picked for the sa baseball side would also be the pinnacle of your career but that doesnt mean should expect to beat the likes of cuba , japan and the states on a consistent basis because u are years behind them in terms of development granted we are not that far behind new zealand in sevens but we are still a fair way off we may nick the odd 7s tournament here and there but we are still a year or so off beating them consistently we havent even managed that at 15′s yet
30 Mar 2008, 19:45 pm
Good Post Redox. Then there is the mental aspect too.
AB seven squad knows they will win, eveyone else tries to win the tournament.
30 Mar 2008, 19:59 pm
Fair comments Redox. My frustration arises from knowing that we should be in a position to compete with the best at all forms of rugby. I wonder if 7′s will ever be taken seriously enough in SA to get to the stage where NZ is at. I doubt it will for some time, we have enough to do in 15 man rugby as it is…
30 Mar 2008, 20:25 pm
I was watching the NZ “forwads”.Yates, Cocker, Lawrence and Forbes are huge men with incredible pace, awareness, ball skills and power. They are custom made for this game.
If we could start producing such players, then our skilled smaller boys out wide will run riot. This cannot be done with a semi-professional set up. We need full committment fro saru.
30 Mar 2008, 21:51 pm
Well done the United Islands of NZ. Good win. If our guys are too small to compete at the break down, find bigger guys that can. If they are white then so be it, but you are never going to win the competition with 7 speedy small guys…..klaar!
30 Mar 2008, 22:01 pm
Whatever
30 Mar 2008, 22:01 pm
The NZ 7s team is exceptional at the moment possibly the best team ever to play the game. Six tournaments on the trot has never ben achieved before. The crucial difference is in the coaching.
Gordon Tietjens is the man. Since 99 his teams have only lost the international series once.
You need power and pace but the Fijians( who aren’t Polynesians by the way and are the most natural sevens players in the world) have that in spades and are still not winning.
Its all about what you do with and without the ball.
SA shows in sevens that it has black players with enormous potential in the 15 a side game. Its the organizational structure that is lacking in SA 7s not personnel
Fabien Juries is easily one of the best 7s players in the world. Hes awesome.
30 Mar 2008, 22:48 pm
Whatever
That is very true. I liked what Horn, Mokuena and Mbiyozo were doing, but we still need to contract more such players. Marius Schoeman, Tobela Mdaka and Schalk vd Merwe seem to have fallen off the radar and they were pretty handy at the breakdown.
30 Mar 2008, 22:50 pm
#28
Thank you whatever.
At least in the sevens game you get to play everyone to win the main trophy at the end of the 6 odd months.
Shame in the 15 man game you can beat 5 teams that arnt even in the top 4 places in the world and get called the RWC champs,go figure.
30 Mar 2008, 22:57 pm
Yeah, and shame you can combine 4 countries into one and call yourselves the All Blacks……go figure
30 Mar 2008, 22:59 pm
At least teach the imports how to sing your National Anthem. I mean hand out the words to them or something
30 Mar 2008, 23:00 pm
Oh and if you want to get beaten by low ranked teams in the WC, whose fault is that?
30 Mar 2008, 23:14 pm
lol
Whatever you crack me up
We have more that four countries in NZ,we have alot of South Africans to here so its a matter of time before we have the odd SA playing in our midst.How can we be blamed if our country is so popular for people to move to.
So how are you liking NZ whatever
30 Mar 2008, 23:16 pm
#34
About the National Anthem,its rugby dude not ballet or a singing contest.
Ok SA beat us in the National Anthem singing happy now lol
30 Mar 2008, 23:19 pm
#35
That low ranked team that beat us, havnt they beaten SA 4 in the last 5 attempts now or am i off the mark here.
30 Mar 2008, 23:23 pm
So, are these NZ 7′s players considered not good enough for selection in Super 14 squads or how does it work?
I would think a guy like Vito would easily make a Super 14 team
30 Mar 2008, 23:26 pm
Hurricane, NZ’s good mate. Great to see you have not lost ya sence of humour
Yeah, my boys really sung a good Anthem last night!
30 Mar 2008, 23:28 pm
#39
I believe these guys are contracted out to the sevens but they can go to a super franchise.
I dont know whether they can move once there contract has run out.
Cory Jane was playing sevens last year and now playing for the Canes.Totally upto the NZRU i suppose
30 Mar 2008, 23:29 pm
hmmmmm, but England beat them twice and you guys could’nt do it once! Ah, but Suzzie……no wrong WC, who was it this time………yeah it was Barnsy
30 Mar 2008, 23:33 pm
Oh and Wales also beat them, so it’s a big vicious circle…….you could not beat them, we apparently could not either, but we beat the Argies who beat them twice, but we beat the Argies so……….ah *** it you know what I mean!
30 Mar 2008, 23:37 pm
#40
lol
I was impressed by some of those SA seven players,really good vocals.
I Reckon but i know it would be impossible due to how much rugby there is now but a sevens tournament against the international 15 man teams.
Wouldnt that be great
30 Mar 2008, 23:41 pm
#42 and 43
Yes i know exactly what you are saying.
We were ripped of in 2 RWCs glad you bought that up lol
30 Mar 2008, 23:46 pm
#41
Thanks
31 Mar 2008, 00:25 am
#45
Tissues please
31 Mar 2008, 00:30 am
Imagine this squad….
Russel
Habana
Chavanga
Spies
Kankowski
Steyn
Pienaar.
sounds so good. maybe some lack in defence…but we will score a shitload of tries.
31 Mar 2008, 00:33 am
probably shouldnt leave out Juries
31 Mar 2008, 00:33 am
Every green eyed person out there keeps banging on that SA won the WC by beating weak opposition. NZ LOST to France in the QUARTERS. They didn’t even get anywhere near the final to have a chance at the much coveted title (which they’ve only won once in SIX attempts). Actually, everyone else in the world also LOST at some stage. Go figure
31 Mar 2008, 00:35 am
agree wooden spoon. Its simple…..
U WERE NOT GOOD ENOUPH TO MAKE THE FINALS!!!!
31 Mar 2008, 00:54 am
#50
calm down man i was just having a bit of fun with whatever.
I know SA deserved the RWC win,they beat whoever was put in front of them,thats it.
Obviously you have a bit of a feeling towards to weak opponents SA had to face to win the RWC,maybe i should not bring it up again to make you happy
31 Mar 2008, 00:55 am
#47
We have just about run out of tissues in NZ so its not looking good
31 Mar 2008, 00:57 am
#51
Wrong
We were good enough to make the finals as well as win it.We didnt,thats rugby
31 Mar 2008, 00:59 am
I cant wait 4 da Tri Nations!! its going to be ******* great!
think the all blacks have a point 2 prove and they are gonna come hard at us.
31 Mar 2008, 01:05 am
if u were good enouph, why didnt u beat france then? the argies done it twice….we beat them easily.
31 Mar 2008, 01:07 am
I think even if u made the finals…we would have beaten u guys.
we were just mentally tuned to do so. mission accomplished after 4 years.
31 Mar 2008, 01:08 am
would have been a far better final though…
31 Mar 2008, 01:11 am
#56
And we beat you guys twice in the same year.
As i said its rugby.
#57
Ok you think you would have beaten us in the finals,no one would know.It over now.I think you guys should concentrate on the rugby you play after the RWC to,you dont want to be classed like England were when they won the RWC and lost everything after,cos it hasnt started of good has it
31 Mar 2008, 01:14 am
Mind you that baa baas game wasnt classed a test match was it?
Yes the Tri nations will be a cracker NZ and OZ as well will be out to prove a point,all i say is look out
31 Mar 2008, 01:18 am
agree with u dude!
just sick of people dissing us cause we didnt play the bigger nations.
we all know u have been ruling world rugby for long time. its been years since we have beaten u guys on ur own turf. I have the biggest respect for all black rugby and have always admired our great rivalry. hopefully the boks can keep that rivalry strong from now on not fade like 95…
31 Mar 2008, 01:22 am
wales is going 2 be a good test 4 us.
all of us is awaiting for the team to be announced by the new coach. its bloody scary!
31 Mar 2008, 01:24 am
no it wasnt. we didnt field nearly as many regular starters in the squad.
31 Mar 2008, 01:43 am
#62
I hope you guys slap Wales a good one.They are a bit to cocky with there new coach and there new found winning ways.They have not played the big three yet so i hope it all goes good for yas
31 Mar 2008, 07:31 am
How wonderful was it to See Robert Ebherson come on against Russia? On the field for 4 minutes, and he scores two tries (granted they were easy) and makes one with a beautiful pass.
Hope the kid stays in the set up to continually hone his skills.
Thought SA played well but made too many basic errors like not kicking penalties into touch, and drifting too laterally.
31 Mar 2008, 10:26 am
NZ vs SA.
Men vs Boys.
Monsters vs Gnomes…
Orcs vs Hobbits…
Anymore parallels?
31 Mar 2008, 11:49 am
The Sevens in NZ is the third rung on the International ladder. Almost Sevens players work their butts off so they can get into a Super 14 side……that’s their carrot.
And in NZ I can’t remember EVER, that any Polynesian living in the Islands has EVER been selected in any provincial, or higher, NZ rugby team.
At the last official count in 2007, only two players of Polynesian decent were not born and raised in NZ in our AB side. Our NZ “B” team generally play against the Polynesians in Polynesia, and generally beat them by something around 50 points. A couple of years back the NZ “A” team put 90 points on the Fijian side,
Patrick.
31 Mar 2008, 15:45 pm
67 Patrick,
Silly comment …. do you think that David Beckham commutes to L.A. games from London!
31 Mar 2008, 15:46 pm
Congrats to the NZ sevens lads
31 Mar 2008, 16:15 pm
Check out that ladder!
Crusaders 14 points clear of 5th spot!
Well really 14 and 1/2 points clear since they have a points difference of about 100 more than the next best team!
Take your time Carter
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