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Super Sevens coming to George

Brad Morgan

28 November 2008

The South African Sevens rugby team begins the 2008/09 season in Dubai this weekend. They have previously won in Dubai, in 2003 and 2006, but they have yet to win the event that follows on the weekend of 5 December, the George Sevens; a home victory is something they desperately desire.

Since moving from Durban to the picturesque Southern Cape city for the 2002/03 IRB Sevens Series, the George Sevens has become a huge success, fervently supported by the local population and visited by rugby lovers from far further afield.

Yet, despite the fantastic home support, the South African Sevens team has come up short time after time in its bid to give the home fans they victory they want. The side's best result was in 2006, when they fell 24-17 to New Zealand in the final.

SA line-up

Coach Paul Treu's team for the Dubai event will closely mirror, if not be the same, for George. It shows a number of changes from last season's line-up.

Fabian Juries, the second-highest try scorer in the history of the series, with 173, and the sixth highest points scorer of all time, with 895, is missing after committing himself to the Free State Cheetahs' Super 14 team.

Three other Cheetahs, who have also been long-time pillars of the SA Sevens team – Schalk van der Merwe, Kabamba Floors and Jonathan Mokuena – have also chosen to focus on the Cheetahs' team.

Regular captain Neil Powell won't be in action because of an arm injury, while speed merchants Stefan Basson and MJ Mentz are now plying their trade with Italian clubs.

Core of experienced players

Nonetheless, the cupboard is hardly bare. Coach Paul Treu, a star of the Sevens team in the past, can call on a core of experienced players, including Mzwandile Stick, Marius Schoeman and Vuyo Zangqa.

Adding further quality to the side are speedsters Rayno Benjamin and Gio Aplon, who have decided to concentrate on Sevens. In addition, the recently crowned SA Young Player of the Year, Robert Ebersohn, is also in the line-up.

South Africa, second in last year's Series, will be among the favourites, but the team to beat is undoubtedly New Zealand, the runaway winners of the 2007/08 IRB Sevens Series title. The Kiwis enjoyed a 47-match unbeaten run during the season, but South Africa brought that streak to an end in the final of the Adelaide Sevens.

New Zealand

New Zealand's long-time coach and Sevens' guru Gordon Tietjens told a press gathering in Dubai that since he took over as coach in 1994 an astonishing 31 of his players have gone on to become All Blacks; that statistic is ample testament to the quality of the New Zealanders' challenge.

George is eagerly preparing for the showdown in South Africa. SA Rugby, its sponsors and the city have compiled a fantastic programme of events to celebrate a decade of international Sevens rugby in South Africa.

It makes for a week of Sevens mania, during which the Southern Cape region will be in the spotlight of the world's international rugby focus.

All the teams, match officials and key IRB tournament staff will arrive in Cape Town on Sunday, 30 November on Emirates Airline flight EK770 from Dubai. After a short stopover in Cape Town, they will then depart for George in two groups, the first leaving at 17:50 and the second one hour later.

Upon arrival in George, the teams, match officials and tournament staff will be met at the airport by a local school choir, and representatives of the City of George, the SWD Rugby Union and SA Rugby.

The programme is as follows:

Sunday, 30 November

18:40: Arrival of teams and officials, George Airport

Monday, 1 December

AM and PM: Teams' first training session, various field in George

Tuesday, 2 December

12:00: Absa International Captains Signing Session, Absa Bank, York Street
18:00: Official Welcome Function hosted by the Mayor, Dutton's Cove, Harold's Bay

Wednesday, 3 December

12:15: Sasol Springbok Sevens Signing Session, Garden Route Mall
14:00: Sevens Coaching Clinic, Rosemore Sports Grounds

Thursday, 4 December

07:00: Sasol Reach for a Dream breakfast with the Springbok Sevens, Wilderness Hotel
08:30: SA Rugby Golf Day, George Country Club
18:00: Boots & All dinner and live TV broadcast on Supersport, King George Protea Hotel

Friday, 5 December

09:30: Gates open to public at Outeniqua Stadium
11:37: Start of Match Day 1: Fixture 1: Fiji vs. Scotland
21:00: Fireworks, Outeniqua Stadium

Saturday, 6 December

09:30: Gates open to public at Outeniqua Stadium
10:31: Match Day 2: (first match) Fixture 25: Bowl Quarterfinal
17:15: Shield Final
17:40: Bowl Final
18:05: Plate Final
18:30: Cup Final
19:00: Trophy presentation
20:00: Farewell function, Protea Wilderness Hotel