Sevens suggestions
12 Dec 2008
Paul Treu should be allowed to select the best-possible SA side for the Sevens World Cup in Dubai.
Treu’s current group of players has won two IRB tournaments in a row and axing some of them for the game’s showpiece event would be harsh. But professional sport is all about winning, and if South Africa want to become Sevens world champions in March they must give themselves the best possible chance of doing so.
Imagine how much interest would be generated in South Africa if Treu called up Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski for the Sevens World Cup. Sure, they would miss a couple rounds of the Super 14, but isn’t a major international competition supposed to take precedence?
As some of you on this site know, I have always had a love-hate relationship with Sevens. I love the fact that the game, like T20 cricket, provides fans with plenty of action in a short space of time and allows minnow rugby nations, like Kenya and Portugal, to be a lot more competitive than they are in the 15-man arena.
However, I hate the fact that the best players do not take part. In South Africa, only those who aren’t good enough to play Super 14 rugby (with the exception of the talented Robert Ebersohn) are picked for the Sevens side. And while these guys tell everyone how much they love Sevens, it’s obvious they’d rather be playing 15-man rugby. Hell, even Fabian Juries, our greatest-ever Sevens player, turned his back on the abbreviated game this season when the Cheetahs included him in their Super 14 training squad. So much for him being a Sevens specialist.
The reality of the situation is that the SA Sevens team consists of Vodacom Cup-standard players, and because of this, I think they devalue the Bok jersey. Let’s be honest, do the likes of Mzwandile Stick and Marius Schoeman really deserve to wear the green and gold? My answer is a resounding no. I think the SA Sevens side should play in a different jersey, perhaps with gold being the dominant colour, and be called the Proteas. This would give the team its own unique identity and prevent the Bok jersey from being cheapened.
Take the Australian cricket team, for example. Would the famous baggy green cap be as special if their T20 players were also allowed to wear them? Of course not. Only those who are picked for Tests — the pinnacle of the game — have that honour.
Finally, I think SA Rugby should be doing everything in its power to get Sevens rugby televised on the SABC. Our Sevens team is full of black players, and black South Africans — many of whom do not have access to SuperSport — should be able to watch them throughout the year. Sevens is also a great way to introduce people to the sport, and they’d soon become fans of the 15-man version too. Hopefully, SuperSport would consider the bigger picture and share their TV rights with the national broadcaster — starting with the Sevens World Cup.
By Simon Borchardt
941 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 [19] Show All
13 Dec 2008, 11:28 am
#898 grootblousmile: Wats die kanse oor 250meter??
13 Dec 2008, 11:29 am
#899 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Ek sal darem maar net eers vir die Boeing wag om sy ding te doen!
13 Dec 2008, 11:31 am
#900 AB: Ag, loop liewers dan soontoe…. en slinger terug !
Hahaha
13 Dec 2008, 11:32 am
#900 AB: Jy kan huistoe kruip
13 Dec 2008, 11:32 am
#902 grootblousmile: Ok julle ek gaan gou n paar dingetjies klaarmaak. Praat later en onthou om lekker te chill die naweek!
13 Dec 2008, 11:41 am
#905 AB: AB…geniet tjom!!!!!
13 Dec 2008, 11:43 am
#886 grootblousmile: nou kom drink gou hier n dop
13 Dec 2008, 11:44 am
#905 AB: Nee dis reg…… geniet jou dag…
13 Dec 2008, 11:47 am
#907 superBul: Nou-nou daar….. hehehe
13 Dec 2008, 12:21 pm
Last year a ” 7′s ” Thread would have had 10, maybe 25 posts. Many derogatory toward the 7′s game.
But hey……….2 wins and unbeaten in this World Series and all you Saffas can’t get enough of it.
Winner are grinners, so they say. Are you lot shallow??????
Well, are not we all.
13 Dec 2008, 12:24 pm
My understanding is that the seed of Stodders, has born fruit.
Hallaleuya.
13 Dec 2008, 12:26 pm
“Who’s Online”
hater, Cricketlover, RedBull (formerly RedLion), K9_BaasPatrolliehond, cane, rangerman, superBul, 33 Guests, 5 Bots.
WTF is a Bots ???????
13 Dec 2008, 12:36 pm
#910 cane:
The victory in George was special.
Love the kiwi body language after a defeat…
13 Dec 2008, 12:40 pm
Hello boys
13 Dec 2008, 12:45 pm
#913 Sheriff:
It was a good win Lawman. Hard fought and tough.
I also though, from a Television Perspective, that the Venue was really good.
I liked the mountain backdrop, the airy nature of the Stadium and the enthusiasm of the crowd.
The win has also boosted Keo.Co. Threads on 7′s, from 20 to 1000.
13 Dec 2008, 12:46 pm
#914 Rugby_Princess:
Hi Babe.
13 Dec 2008, 12:47 pm
#916 cane:
Hello handsome
13 Dec 2008, 12:48 pm
#915 cane:
I get a sense that you enjoyed the dancing girls the most.
Rugby at ABSA Park Durban only next year again. You will have wait until then mate
13 Dec 2008, 12:55 pm
#918 Sheriff:
The day a man cannot enjoy the Girlies, is a sad day indeed lawman.
But no…………. I enjoyed the whole spectacle.
I didn’t even mind losing to your Mob. My Mob played okay and on the day came 2nd.
But there is always next time, so, ……………….It keeps it interesting.
13 Dec 2008, 12:57 pm
#917 Rugby_Princess:
Only my Mother, (and my Aunt’s on my Maternal side) ever thought of me as Handsome ……8)
13 Dec 2008, 12:58 pm
#920 cane:
Is all in the eye of the beholder sweet cheeks
13 Dec 2008, 13:02 pm
#919 cane:
No worries mate.
I just wondered why you mentioned everything else…
SA = awesome country, but I need not tell you that. You know all about our talent.
13 Dec 2008, 13:03 pm
#920 cane:
Maybe she is your aunt, wouldn’t that be special?
13 Dec 2008, 13:05 pm
#920 cane:
Ok hon, time for to go & wrap Christmas presents nigh-night
13 Dec 2008, 13:08 pm
#924 Rugby_Princess:
Good night to you too, Your Royal Highness, to you the sweetest of dreams..
13 Dec 2008, 13:10 pm
#923 Sheriff:
I think Lawman, I am probably old enough to be RP’s Uncle.
And yours for that matter.
13 Dec 2008, 13:28 pm
“Paul Treu should be allowed to select the best-possible SA side for the Sevens World Cup in Dubai.”
Dreams are free Simon. The real world deals with the harsh realities of the Professional world of Rugby.
13 Dec 2008, 13:33 pm
Two Nuns are riding their bicycles down the back streets of Rome.
One leans over to the other and says, “I’ve never come this way before.”
The other Nun whispers, “It’s the cobblestones.”
13 Dec 2008, 14:09 pm
#924 Rugby_Princess: Yes girl, you still around here?
13 Dec 2008, 15:55 pm
#926 cane:
As if you know my age …
13 Dec 2008, 16:00 pm
#930 Sheriff: Howdy Lawman…
13 Dec 2008, 16:01 pm
#930 Sheriff: How old are you?
13 Dec 2008, 16:07 pm
#932 carol:
35 turning 36 in Jan 2009
13 Dec 2008, 16:39 pm
#933 Sheriff: day? i am also a Jan birthday boy
13 Dec 2008, 17:18 pm
slow today
13 Dec 2008, 17:26 pm
Hull 2-0 Liverpool at Anfield
13 Dec 2008, 18:03 pm
#936 church – like chch but pronounceable: 2 -2
14 Dec 2008, 10:41 am
This is probably the worst rugby article I have ever read. Simon have you EVER played sevens? There is a school boy sevens tournament in Cape Town where everyone plays. Would you like to know who generally wins? The sides from the ‘underprivilaged’ schools. They are magnificent runners, fast and with massive endurance. Every year the top 15 man schools get it handed to them by these guys. 7s is different – few 15 man players are great 7s players. Our 7s side would thrash a 15 man 7s side.
Please refrain from writing terrible articles about great achievments and fantastic players.
14 Dec 2008, 13:42 pm
Simon, you should be fired for this piece…
“Paul Treu should be allowed to select the best-possible SA side for the Sevens World Cup in Dubai”
It’s really poor if you consider yourself a rugby writer.
I believe 7′s is a real specialist game – those guys are trained and primed to play 7′s, they know thier trade very very well.
What makes you think Habana & Co. would do any better? And why would you want to select these players you talked about if the current squad won 2/2 allready.
Please go visit Stellenbosch and talk with the 7′s guys there at the performance center.
14 Dec 2008, 21:35 pm
Completely wrong way of thinking about it Simon.
Sevens should be known as the place for 15 man stars to make a name for themselves- as much as S14 players do, to get to the Boks. It is the nursery for super-fit skilled players of the future. Just because they are starting out, does not mean that they are not up to standard…
15 Dec 2008, 11:49 am
Silly. These chaps must do all the hard work and then stand aside for some other players? terminally dum or stirring.
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