SPRINGBOK Sevens coach Paul Treu must be delighted with the red-hot form being shown by Baby Bok flyers Seabelo Senatla, Cheslin Kolbe and Justin Geduld at the Junior World Cup in France.
All three shone when the South African under-20 side chalked up wins over the US (97-0) and England (31-24), making an impressive start to their world title defence.
The fleet-footed Senatla has wowed fans with the electric pace that has seen him score six tries in two outings.
The form of the Baby Bok trio will have given Treu fresh hope that his team can go all the way in Moscow from June 28 to 29. The Blitzbokke are paired with Scotland, Russia and Japan in Pool B.
If the Baby Boks can successfully defend their title, it will be a good omen for True ahead of his Sevens assault on world domination.
Senatla, Kolbe and Geduld have all been included in Treu’s training squad and if they make the cut they will join the Blitzbokke after the junior World Cup in France.
Treu’s squad has been boosted by news that Kyle Brown has recovered from a leg injury suffered early in the season. Play makers Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez are also back in training. However, regular stalwarts Frankie Horne (shoulder) and Paul Delport (knee) have both been ruled out of Moscow through injury.
Before they contemplate a trip to Moscow, Senatla, Kolbe and Geduld will be focusing on their key match against France on Thursday.
The unbeaten Baby Boks must subdue the French to clinch a berth in the semifinals. A fourth try and the accompanying bonus point against England would have confirmed South Africa’s place with a match to spare.
What must be of some concern for South Africa is that they allowed England to force their back into the game after running up an early 21-0 lead.
"There is still work to be done and we are excited for the next one against France," said captain Ruan Steenkamp. "The England game was a must-win for us and the boys were up for it. What pleased me was our kicking game.
"Against the US we were running the ball a lot, but especially in this game we turned them around with our kicks and that was definitely great for us," Steenkamp said.
While the Baby Boks brought all their old attributes such as power and discipline to the game, their pace out wide was impressive.
The wins were achieved without the services of Bulls centre Jan Serfontein (on Springbok duty) and Southern Kings wing Sergeal Petersen (injured).
After their showings against the US and England, the Baby Boks will be favoured to overcome a French team that lost 30-6 to England and beat the US 45-3.
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