Treu seeks number one spot
They came so close so many times, yet South Africa just could not oust New Zealand from the IRB Sevens number one spot.
They came so close so many times, yet South Africa just could not oust New Zealand from the IRB Sevens number one spot.
They ended the kiwis' 47-match unbeaten run in Adelaide to take the Cup title there, but could not manage another Cup title as Samoa and New Zealand finished the season strongly.
This year, the Boks are in a more uncertain situation. Several players are unavailable, with Gio Aplon, Stefan Basson, Fabian Juries, Schalk van der Merwe, Danwel Demas, Kabamba Floors and captain Neil Powell all either moving into full-time Super 14 next year (Juries and Ven der Merwe), or injured.
“We lost Schalk about two weeks before our training camp, and obviously Fabian has been our star player over the past few seasons,” said Treu ruefully to the IRB.
“I've played with Fabian, he's a great player and he was instrumental in our success last season.
“I just wish them all the best in the Super 14 and I just wish that the new players in the squad, and guys like Renfred Deysel who was named as our Sevens player of the year last night, can step up to the plate and fulfil the kind of role that Fabian has played for us in the past.
“Despite losing seven of our key players, we've still managed to select only two new caps and I think that there are players in the squad who do have the experience, and who do know what it takes to win tournaments.
“If they stick together as a team, if they commit to our team goals, I think anything is possible this weekend.”
With next year's World Cup Sevens, also in Dubai, looming, Treu sees this as both a tough test and a trial. Many of the sides have come together earlier and with more facitlities at their disposal as a result of the World Cup, and are fitter and harder than normal.
“It's going to be difficult because if you take the likes of Samoa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the USA, they've all being playing in Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifiers and, compared to previous tournaments, I think they are going to be much better prepared than they have been in the past,” he said.
The USA line up in Dubai for their first tournament as one of the 12 ever-present 'core' sides.
Todd Clever and Chris Wyles were both part of the side that succeeded in qualifying for next year's World Cup a couple of months ago and have met up with the team here following test match duty against Uruguay and Japan.
“A few of us came late but with fitted in straight away with the boys,” Clever said.
“We've had a hit-out against New Zealand today, which went well, and we're looking forward to the weekend.
“We're excited at being a core team for the first time this year. We played Canada in the World Cup qualifiers and beat them, which shows that we belong here and we're looking forward to showing our stuff against the world.”