Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu have saluted his team and praised their overall performance in spite of losing 19 – 20 to Fiji in the final of the Edinburgh leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.

The Bok Sevens team, who were crowned IRB World Seven Series Champions on Saturday, conceded four tries in the Cup Final – after Ryno Benjamin, Gio Aplon and Renfred Dazel all crossed the try-line. Mzwandile Stick and Vuyo Zangqa each kicked a conversion for the Springboks Sevens team, but their efforts was not enough to deny Fiji the Edinburgh Cup victory.

Treu’s side finish the season with 132 points, ahead of Fiji (102), England (98), New Zealand (88), Argentina (68) and Kenya (64) in sixth position on the log.

“It’s a bit disappointing to end the season like this, but I told the guys that we have been the most consistent team of the year. We have waited for 10 years to win the IRB World Sevens Series so we might as well enjoy this,” said Treu.

“We are the best team in the world and now we are going back to South Africa as the champions of the world. Let’s not forget that feeling because it does not happen every day.

“There’s been some great moments this season and what the guys have achieved will go down in eternity.

“I would also like to thank all our great supporters in South Africa and then also a huge thanks to SA Rugby for their support.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Springboks Sevens side needed a sudden death extra time score by Aplon to beat hosts Scotland 26-21 to reach the Final.

Bok Sevens skipper Stick held his nerve to convert Ryno Benjamin’s try in the dying seconds of the match to fight back and level the score at the death after the Scots built a lead through Sean Lamont’s brace of tries and Greig Laidlaw’s score. Zangqa and Dazel were the other try-scorers for the new IRB Sevens World Series champions.

Treu’s Springbok Sevens side easily defeated Australia in their quarterfinal clash on Sunday with Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne and Zangqa all scoring tries for the South Africans.

The newly crowned IRB Sevens World Champions arrives in Cape Town on Tuesday, June 2 June – at 16.30 at the Cape Town International Airport.

Source: rugby365.com

Pic: planetrugby.com

The Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has made two changes to the squad that will be competing in the upcoming IRB World Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

The inspirational Mzwandile Stick returns in place of the injured Gio Aplon, while Chase Minnaar replaces Paul Delport who, like Aplon, also suffers from a knee injury. The South African squad leaves on Sunday for Hong Kong via Johannesburg.

The hugely popular Hong Kong tournament is a vital event on the Series calendar because it will be played over three days and, more importantly, has 30 points on offer to the winner as suppose to the standard winning bonus of 20 points. The tournament starts on Friday 27 March.

Treu announced that the captaincy duties will be shared between Neil Powell, Mpho Mbiyozo and Stick. Stick was in sensational form for South Africa during the first two tournaments in Dubai and George, which the Bok Sevens team won in convincing style. He picked up an injury on the first day of the Wellington Sevens, which ruled him out of the USA event in San Diego and the World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

The SA team has two training matches against the Western Province Academy under its belt for the week and Treu believes that his team is well prepared.

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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers visited the Springbok Sevens teams in Dubai today for a motivational talk and customary jersey presentation.

De Villiers did the same in November, when the SA team played and won the Dubai Sevens title for the second time in three years.

South Africa is chasing a unique double. The fifteens won the World Cup two years ago in France and Paul Treu’s team is amongst the tournament favourites for the Sevens world crown, a feat, if achieved, would be unique and unmatched in world rugby history.

“You are the best in your positions and the best South Africa has to offer. Our country is Sevens mad at the moment and that is because of your wonderful achievements in Dubai and George last year, and also the manner in which you represent your country every time you guys pull the national colours over your heads,” said De Villiers when he spurred the team on to deliver their best over the next few days.

De Villiers was accompanied by SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo and SARU vice-president Rautie Rautenbach.

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