Sevens Boks face big NZ task
19 Dec 2008
South Africa has received a tough pool draw for the New Zealand Sevens tournament in Wellington on 6 – 7 February.
The IRB announced the draw for the NZI Sevens on Thursday and South Africa were handed what is arguably the toughest pool challenge of the top sides.
The Springbok Sevens will play Kenya, Scotland and Tonga on day one in Pool A at the Westpac Stadium.
South Africa is leading the IRB Sevens World Series at the moment with a full house of 40 points after winning the opening two tournaments in Dubai and George.
According to Treu, Dubai and George will be a tough act to follow in Wellington:
“There is no doubt that it will be the most physical and demanding of all tournaments of the World Series. All the teams will be at full strength as they start to prepare for the Rugby World Cup and to seek that early advantage,” said Treu.
The SA Sevens coach has ruled out the inclusion of any 15-a side stars to bolster his squad for the world showpiece in Dubai.
“We made the decision a while ago not to call on players outside of our core training squad. We have a young team who is still finding its feet and keeping them together is the best way to get that much sought after continuity,” explained Treu.
He added his team is looking forward to the pool encounter against Tonga, but Treu rejects the tag as tournament favourites because of South Africa’s good start to the season.
“Losing against Tonga at the quarter-finals in Wellington last year is still fresh in our minds and there is no doubt that we will have to be at our very best on day.
“However, New Zealand is the defending and Series champions and they will definitely be the team to beat, especially in front of a sell-out Westpac crowd. Fiji and Samoa always enjoy great support at that ground and they seem to save their best for Wellington.”
Pool A
South Africa, Kenya, Scotland, Tonga
Pool B
New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Niue
Pool C
England, Argentina, France, Canada
Pool D
Fiji, Samoa, USA, Cook Islands
17 Comments
19 Dec 2008, 12:08 pm
Dragons under pressure..
19 Dec 2008, 12:09 pm
19 Dec 2008, 12:26 pm
They can do it! They’re Bokke, they can do anything!
19 Dec 2008, 12:36 pm
Bok 7′s can have the NZ for breakfast..
19 Dec 2008, 12:42 pm
#4 Tbozknows:
19 Dec 2008, 13:29 pm
7′s Boks must beat the AB’s in the final in their back yard as a prelude to 2011.
19 Dec 2008, 13:30 pm
Thats only if the AB’s can make it to the final …
19 Dec 2008, 13:36 pm
hehe know Keo even previews the sevens
welcome to the sevens South Africa
20 Dec 2008, 00:40 am
Only nine comments?!
Ryan, dude, you should get Simon to write these sevens reports. He’ll get the hits counter rolling over with references to how undeserving of national colours the current crop is, the lack of openly *** representation, the need to scrap sevens altogether, etc., etc.
That boy may be a few studs short of a boot, but his, ummm, “unique” perspective surely generates the hits.
20 Dec 2008, 05:19 am
bore.
20 Dec 2008, 15:06 pm
We will win our pool easy. Good luck to our Bok 7′s they are doing us proud.
20 Dec 2008, 17:54 pm
Kenya, Scotland and Tonga… how in the hell is that the toughest group? Pool C seems MUCH tougher, even with the Frogs being rather terrible at sevents. South Africa should have very little trouble with Kenya, Scotland and Tonga. Kenya might be the biggest threat of those three… and that says alot.
Pool C actually has 2 sides that could win tournaments. Argentina have been off the boil, but they can easily cause major upsets and the new look England side looks rather scary. England and Argentina should both easily beat everyone else in our pool.
The same counts for pool B and D. Our pool is, in my opinion, certainly the weakest of the lot.
21 Dec 2008, 10:44 am
#5 EEE: I know I was cocky but I fancy our chances.. We have a strong defence..
21 Dec 2008, 11:32 am
Didn’t I write something in this thread last week?
21 Dec 2008, 11:38 am
Pools A and D do actually look tough. New Zealand have it easy
21 Dec 2008, 23:01 pm
#8 church – like chch but pronounceable:
Normally happens when a SA team starts to do will,they start to get noticed.
Boks 7s could do this as well.NZ have looked rubbish lately so its there for the taking
23 Dec 2008, 15:35 pm
#12 lepel: I tend to agree with you! What’s the hype all about?
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