Branco strengthens Blitzboks
8 Feb 2013
Branco du Preez will return to action with the Springbok Sevens team at the Las Vegas Sevens on Friday after a long injury lay-off because of a hamstring injury.
However, he will probably be used primarily off the bench on day one of the three-day tournament.
Du Preez missed the previous rounds of the Sevens World Series in Dubai, Wellington and Port Elizabeth and will add some much-needed experience and attacking options to the injury-plagued Springbok Sevens team.
Ironically, fit-again Du Preez flew into Vegas at the beginning of the week as replacement for rookie Justin Geduld who suffered a fractured wrist in his debut tournament last weekend in Wellington. South Africa lost in the Plate semi-finals in Wellington and will be determined to deliver a much-improved performance at a venue where they have triumphed two seasons ago.
Team captain Frankie Horne promised as much: ‘We sorted out those little things that bugged us in Wellington, like our defence,’ he said. ‘Most of the mistakes we made were due to a lack of focus. Those are little things where we did not pay attention to detail. We addressed those issues quite harshly and I am confident things will go much better this weekend.’
The Blitzboks won the 2011 tournament at the Sam Boyd Stadium and Horne believes they will be strong contenders again.
‘I think the players are in a good space for this one and very determined to give it their best. Two years ago we also needed to sharpen up from Wellington and hopefully we will manage to do the same this weekend. Hopefully those small adjustments will bring the results.’
The Springbok Sevens are grouped with Wellington Cup finalists Kenya, Canada and Uruguay and during the pool stage will get the opportunity to avenge last weekend’s defeats against fellow Africans Kenya and fast-improving Canada.
Paul Treu, the Springbok Sevens coach, said his squad realise they have an important task ahead of them in Las Vegas.
‘There’s no hiding from the fact that we must step up in a big way from our disappointing showing in Wellington. The boys are determined to play to their full potential and to show the fighting spirit we are known for,’ said Treu.
South Africa are currently in joint fourth position on the World Series standings on 51 points, which are led by New Zealand.
Blitzboks squad – Chris Dry, Philip Snyman, Frankie Horne (c), Warren Whiteley, Cornal Hendricks, Branco du Preez, Stephan Dippenaar, Pieter Engelbrecht, Paul Delport, Cheslin Kolbe, Tshotsho Mbovane, Seabelo Senatla.
Blitzboks pool fixtures on Saturday:
vs Uruguay – 3:06am
vs Canada – 6:02am
vs Kenya – 11:50pm
9 Comments
8 Feb 2013, 13:05 pm
keo lives!!!
8 Feb 2013, 13:13 pm
Is SBW getting moered?
8 Feb 2013, 13:38 pm
Ag nooit SBW beats the white buffalo….
8 Feb 2013, 13:46 pm
@Bokbafana-3: What a load of kak that was. The biggest cheaters in the world (Aussies) getting to put on one of the biggest rigged sports in the world (boxing), so I s’pose I shouldn’t be surprised.
Fight scheduled for 12 rounds, Sonny Boy getting caned in the 9th round, so they suddenly call ‘Last Round’ at the start of the 10th, and all Sonny Boy did for the last round was hold on like a bay ****** holds onto its mother…… pfffft wadda farce..
Btw, what happened to Keo’s tik rant?
8 Feb 2013, 13:47 pm
baby mønkey holds onto its mother…
8 Feb 2013, 13:48 pm
@RL-2: Ja – round 9 and 10 he got snotted
8 Feb 2013, 13:54 pm
@Blokkies-4: serious…scheduled for 12 and they cancelled the last 2 rounds….fookin joke!!
8 Feb 2013, 14:00 pm
what a load of horse k a k. How does a ref suddenly call last round. Aussie doping and cheating comission better have a look into there boxing.
8 Feb 2013, 17:18 pm
All they need is a new coach, Treu ran out of ideas a few years ago
It’s not like he’s Graham Henry after all
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