SPRINGBOK coach Paul Treu has announced the Springbok side for the first two IRB Sevens Series tournaments, with their series defence starting in Dubai on December 4 and 5 and continuing in George the next weekend.
SA are the defending champions in both tournaments.
What is effectively a second- string national side was also announced and left yesterday to play in a tournament in Sri Lanka this weekend and in the Invitational competition in Dubai next Friday and Saturday.
Two new caps mark the selection of the Bok team for the first two tournaments while the return of experienced Sevens Bok MJ Mentz is also noteworthy in a side that includes nine of the 17 players who represented SA in last year’s triumphant IRB Series.
Free State centre JW Jonker and Griffons speedster Cecil Afrika will make their series debut in Dubai. Mentz returns after playing overseas and with the Pumas in the Currie Cup this year.
A noticeable omission from the Bok side is Renfred Dazel. The play-maker has not played for the past three months and had been included in the touring squad to Sri Lanka and Dubai to regain fitness and form, Treu said.
The Boks depart for Dubai today and will have more than a week of preparation there, returning the Sunday after the tournament. That gives them four full days in George to prepare for the first title defence yet in SA on December 11 and 12.
“It will be a difficult series,” predicted Treu. “The other sides have stepped up their preparation this year; we have lost a few players and must see how the new guys slot in; and as champions we will be everyone’s target.”
The Boks begin the defence of their IRB campaign with a new captain in Paul Delport and three former Springbok captains in the squad — Mzwandile Stick, Mpho Mbiyozo and Neil Powell.
The teams to contest the Sri Lanka tournament this weekend include players in the framework of selection for their countries that will play as the Australian Legends, Fiji Barbarians, New Zealand Legends, Papua New Guinea and Western Samoa Barbarians. And of course the South African Vipers, who will play as the Marauders in Dubai. The young South African team will meet up with the New Zealand Legends, Force XV Froggies Club and the Olurun Identity in their pool in Dubai.
SPRINGBOK SEVENS SQUAD
The Springbok side for the Dubai and George tournaments is: Kyle Brown, Mpho Mbiyozo, Frankie Horne, Neil Powell, Chase Minnaar, Marius Schoeman, Paul Delport (capt.), Mzwandile Stick, Cecil Afrika, Ryno Benjamin, JW Jonker, MJ Mentz.
kkkkkkkkThe team for the tournaments in Sri Lanka and Dubai (Invitation Tournament) is: Chris Dry (Cheetahs), Gideon Helberg (Bulls), Brian Shabangu (Sharks), Reg-Hack Muller (Falcons), Renfred Dazel (SA 7s), Hoffman Maritz (Cheetahs), Marlin Ruiters (Cheetahs), Divan Ferguson (Lions), Bernardo Botha (Lions), Shannon Rick (Sharks), Shaun Venter (Pumas), Rosko Specman (Sharks).
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