Getting serious about sevens
9 Dec 2010
SIMON BORCHARDT says sevens will never matter to the majority of South African rugby fans as long as the national team is made up of high-school graduates and provincial rejects.
A week ago, a poll on keo.co.za asked: ‘Do you care about the IRB Sevens World Series?’ Of the 994 readers who voted over the next two days, 71% said no.
That didn’t surprise me. After all, why should fans care about a tournament that doesn’t involve top-quality players?
In a recent interview with SA Rugby magazine, Bok Sevens coach Paul Treu told the story of a meeting he had with Rassie Erasmus about calling up two WP U21 players to the sevens squad. Erasmus turned down the request, saying there was a chance they’d be needed in Super Rugby.
You have to feel sorry for Treu. He cannot select any contracted provincial player without the permission of the province, and is forced to rely on youngsters who aren’t yet ready to play professional rugby or older guys who can no longer command a starting place at their unions.
I don’t buy the argument that our sevens players want to be sevens specialists because they prefer the format to 15-man rugby. When Fabian Juries, a sevens legend, was offered a contract with the Cheetahs, he didn’t hesitate to put pen to paper. Ex-SA Sevens captain Mzwandile Stick did the same when Eastern Province – a First Division Currie Cup team – came calling. In this country, representing the national sevens side is a consolation prize and nothing more.
That would change, though, if Treu was allowed to pick Vodacom Cup players for the Sevens World Series and Saru paid those unions compensation. How can a B-grade provincial competition that nobody cares about be a higher priority than an international series?
Treu should also be allowed to pick two or three Boks for the South African leg of the World Series in December. If the event is moved from George to PE or Cape Town next year, the organisers will have to attract crowds of 45,000 a day – not just 8,000 – and will therefore need crowd pullers like Gio Aplon and Ryan Kankowski (two former sevens players who have gone on to bigger and better things).
Before I get an e-mail from Prof Tim Noakes about burnout, Treu obviously wouldn’t be allowed to pick someone who’s played more than 1,400 minutes that season and desperately needs a break. Those who are selected would only play a maximum of 90 minutes of sevens rugby if South Africa reached the final, and sevens is obviously a lot less physical than the 15-man game.
Getting top-quality players (provincial and Boks) involved in the Sevens World Series from the 2011-12 season would make it that much easier for them to be brought into an Olympic Games squad that can realistically expect to win a gold medal in 2016.
Yes, sevens is a lot of fun, but it’s time we got serious about it.
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194 Comments
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10 Dec 2010, 13:08 pm
@rangerman : you were miffed and shot from the hip, do like poppa and seek redemption…
10 Dec 2010, 13:10 pm
@rangerman :
maybe they are delaying things until them.
Michael Hulley should get in touch with them
10 Dec 2010, 13:11 pm
@Transformation : no i was drawing attention to the ridiculous practice of painting an entire group as having an homogenous character trait.
but if you want to wear the cap then do so transie, my xhosa buddy
p.s. i apologised for causing offence to those who didnt understand my intention yesterday already transie, clearly you are being disengenous if not downright dishonest
10 Dec 2010, 13:12 pm
@rangerman : 149 it’s not like plod managed those oirish refs with aplomb during tri-nations either..
10 Dec 2010, 13:12 pm
@gunther : now that is a dishonest human being.
at last check he wasnt a xhosa but the hulleys are an old transkei family…..
10 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
@Transformation : Post151.
“do like poppa and seek redemption”.
Has Popps booked into Rehab or some such thing.
10 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
@rangerman : I have it on good authority that they are in deeper shite than people here have been suggesting……
I could tell you how I know but then I’d have to kill you….
10 Dec 2010, 13:15 pm
@Transformation :
hooolihah
when did poops seek redemption?
he is a victim, yet because of him Oprah has to travel to Sydney in a bulletproof limo in case he goes all Sharpeville on her.
redemption indeed
10 Dec 2010, 13:15 pm
@Transformation : true, he was clearly off the pace and couldnt get to them quick enough and with enough breath left to have a quiet chat
at least he didnt stand over them glowering and give them bleddy sheek like juan smith.
10 Dec 2010, 13:16 pm
@rangerman : 153 flip flops, deflections and lame attempts to move the needle away from zero will work with some but not with me
i know your type
10 Dec 2010, 13:18 pm
@cane : i am not sure cane.
but i prefer not to “do like” anyone else.
i am unique, just like everyone else.
@stormersboy : ja, i hear you are a shady chappie hanging out with the capo (not that freakshow from here, the real deal).
10 Dec 2010, 13:18 pm
@cane : yes, to rid himself of the abuse visited upon him by kobus kitty & whatever..
10 Dec 2010, 13:19 pm
Vic handles refs with the same degree of aplomb as old Caner exhibits when he is handed the wine list in a restaurant.
He starts quivering with rage and a thinly concealed sense of social injustice.
10 Dec 2010, 13:20 pm
@gunther : i am the veeectim of a political conspiracy.
plus i have hypertension that causes blindness and is fatal…eventually.
i am typing on a braille keyboard.
@Transformation : my type?
i could give a toss about what you know
10 Dec 2010, 13:22 pm
@rangerman :
lol everything is fatal.
eventually
10 Dec 2010, 13:23 pm
@rangerman : 146 – Howzit Ranger,
Ja, this place very crowded now. Thank goodness I don’t have to do any of the shopping…hehehe. Gateway is mare this time of year.
Cape Town sounds cool buddy. Enjoy.
Anyhow love living here too. Pleased I am only living here now and not going back and forward to Joburg. Joburg like you say is like this from 6am until 7pm every day of the week for 365 days a year..hahahaha. Pleased that is behind me now.
10 Dec 2010, 13:24 pm
@rangerman : 164 atone ranger, set yourself free…
10 Dec 2010, 13:26 pm
@rangerman : 161.. LOL that’s me. Slim Shady!
No, I do know a great deal of people in the “industry”. Some ex players, some in the “system”, some at the mothership so to speak, and I hear stuff from time to time. A great deal of it I would never post on here as it’s sensitive and in some cases opinion of the people involved who would probably post it here themselves if they wanted it all over the web…
10 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
PS it’s been my experience in life that’s it’s not actually “what” you know, or even “who” you know that counts, but rather “what you know” about “who you know”….
10 Dec 2010, 13:29 pm
@gunther :
@Transformation : dont start a poopa party here transie
10 Dec 2010, 13:30 pm
@Puma : ja, durbs is great.
cant wait to go to the test as well as i am back on the 26th.
life is great.
10 Dec 2010, 13:34 pm
ok, i am out.
transie, JUST ONE CHANCE!!!
10 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@rangerman : 171 – Ja Durbs is great Ranger. You going to the test at Kings Mead? Should be great. Hope no rain and we see the full 5 days.
10 Dec 2010, 13:37 pm
@rangerman :post161.
“i am unique………..”
True Dangerman, true.
The question is:
Is one Dangerman, one too many?
I think not!
8)
10 Dec 2010, 13:45 pm
@Transformation : Post162.
Thanks Transie.
Such are the perils of Keo.co
I hope Popps returns.
10 Dec 2010, 13:48 pm
I love Jozi, off to Alex now, need to have nice skop and pap, its going to be a hectic drinking evening.
Transie: sitya intloko yegusha ne papa apho eRhawutini!!!
10 Dec 2010, 13:51 pm
@XhosaKid : 176 i don’t eat smileys i didn’t being prepared with my own two eyes
pha emakhaya ndizakuziminca ngaye ngekrismesi…
10 Dec 2010, 13:54 pm
@Transformation :
quite right.
a dodgy smiley can be career limiting.
10 Dec 2010, 13:56 pm
Poppa can stick to being romantic with his harem of white-curly beauties…
The old head shepherd is probably dribbling with slack jaw to his favourite marino
and repeating over and over: “those naughty, naughty hobbitses” or “Karma, karma, karma, karma Chameleon”…
His favourite merino probably replies with a sympathetic “ba a a ahhh”…
10 Dec 2010, 14:08 pm
@gunther : i forget, maevis has transformed you into a smiley connosieur
10 Dec 2010, 14:12 pm
@Transformation :
I won’t touch it.
Maevis blames it on the smiley when she takes a puza monday.
meanwhile it’s actually the 6 quarts of milk stout she washes it down with.
no wonder come monday she’s “not right”….
10 Dec 2010, 14:23 pm
@gunther : liar you love smileys…
10 Dec 2010, 14:29 pm
@Transformation :
true
but I can’t handle milk stout.
mondays at casa gunther are known as black monday.
there is an odds on chance of a domestic misshap or equipment abuse.
10 Dec 2010, 14:33 pm
Div is ‘not a token appointment’
2010-12-10 12:45:01
Peter de Villiers is not a ‘token’ appointment and the current management team has the ability to take South Africa all the way at the World Cup in 2011.
This is the view of the new CEO of the South African Rugby Union, Jurie Roux, who was answering readers’ questions on BOKzine on the SARU website.
Roux, who was bombarded with questions about the Springboks’ troubled 2010 campaign and the management team’s lack of performance, contradicted earlier statements by SARU President Oregan Hoskins about the true nature of De Villiers’ appointment.
Hoskins had publicly stated that De Villiers was appointed for “reasons other than rugby”.
However, Roux intimated this week that De Villiers’ appointment was based on merit only.
Paul Eyles, one of the many readers who posted questions, did not pull any punches – saying that Bok backline coach **** Muir has to go, having made a mess of the Lions and is now doing the same thing with the Boks.
Eyles also said that De Villiers is a token appointment and in order to make the best of a bad situation they should appoint at least two decent assistants.
However, the SARU CEO disagreed strongly with the reader on this point.
“The performance of the Springbok coaching team is a matter for the head coach to decide on and, to get one thing straight, Peter de Villiers is not a token appointment,” Roux said.
Asked by Danie Smith if he felt that the current coaching staff are the best there is in South Africa, Roux was again to the point.
“It’s a nice question to debate around a braai, but it’s also entirely hypothetical as there is no other management team,” Roux retorted.
“What I can say is that I firmly believe that this management team has the ability and will be given any other resources they might require to give our players an outstanding chance of retaining the Rugby World Cup.
“A winning Springbok team is very much this organisation’s No.1 priority.”
In response to another question about the Bok coaching staff and the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, Roux had this to say:”We too are looking forward to 2011 with great anticipation.
“We’ll be overhauling the way we operate at SARU, unveiling a new strategy and a new Super Rugby competition but, most importantly of all, we’ll be pouring our major efforts into making sure the Springboks have the best possible chance to retain the World Cup.”
He also stood firm in the face of some tough questions about the Boks’ poor 2010 form – which saw them lose five out of six Tri-Nations Tests and two of their five year-end matches, including a shocking performance in their loss to lowly Scotland.
He said fatigue was never a factor.
“Our players and management didn’t once mention tiredness on the recent tour – in fact, they dismissed the suggestion when it was put to them,”Roux said.
“Perhaps commentators mentioned it, but certainly never our players.
“On the detail of the Scotland match I cannot help you, but I can say that we thoroughly merited all three of the Test victories achieved – none of Ireland, Wales or England were good enough to beat us and producing those results, away from home, in familiar conditions with more than a dozen injured players at home and against northern hemisphere teams at their strongest is no to be so easily dismissed.
“And, finally, Peter said before the tour that he was considering the appointment of a consultant and that door has not been closed.”
10 Dec 2010, 14:38 pm
@Transformation : jurie roux just became afriforum’s new pet-hate!
10 Dec 2010, 14:45 pm
@Transformation : Well he wasn’t likely to say any different now was he?
10 Dec 2010, 14:47 pm
@Transformation :
considering he was sitting in is office in stellies when divot was appointed?
yes well no fine
10 Dec 2010, 14:48 pm
@stormersboy :
Maybe Shrien Dewani can hire him as his PR agent South Africa side.
10 Dec 2010, 14:50 pm
@WESTERN PROVINCE – SOUTH AFRICA’S BENCHMARK SINCE 1883 :
” Your name! Your name! it’s soo beautiful
Your hair! your hair ……..
But when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
‘Cos you’re amzing just the way you are ”
Keep it up Benchie
10 Dec 2010, 14:56 pm
A grizzly scene on my electron beam
told a story about human rights,
so all of kings horses
and all of kings men had a riot
for two days and nights
well, the city exploded
but the gates wouldn’t open
so the company asked him to quit
now everybody’s equal
just don’t measure it..
..well Hanson did it to Hester
and Mark David did it to John
and maybe Jack did it to Marilyn
but he did it to South Vietnam
for beauty and glory
for money, love and country
everybody’s doing it,
don’t do that to me!
11 Dec 2010, 04:32 am
“I don’t buy the argument that our sevens players want to be sevens specialists because they prefer the format to 15-man rugby.”
You obviously did not listen to the current 7′s captain last week who said that 7′s rugby is a preferred code for some of the players if they can get a contract.
It’s like some tennis players who know that they won’t make it in the singles, so they rather play doubles knowing that they will still make a decent living at they end of the day.
11 Dec 2010, 04:43 am
@nama1 :
at they= at the end of the day (soos Baas Naas sal se.)
13 Dec 2010, 02:32 am
@Slartibartfast :
And you point??
Alot of people in NZ like rugby,some dont. I dont know what your point was about actually
13 Dec 2010, 03:45 am
@Transformation :
So, another “yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full sir” wally appointed to join the circus that is the SARU. With answers like that he will fit right in with the rest of the “ostrich head in the sand” brigade……exciting times……
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