Sevens vital to Bok success
The performances of Springbok Sevens representatives in the Currie Cup has everyone talking.
Gio Aplon started it, Ryan Kankowski took it up another level and Jaco Pretorius showed exactly what a player can do when he is running angles at great speed.
Another of their Sevens teammates, Phillip Burger, is the top scorer in the competition, whilst the likes of Kabamba Floors and Stefan Basson have impressed in either the starting XV or as impact players.
Paul Treu and Sasol must be smiling. They will receive nothing of the credit, yet spend countless hours and many rands towards the end result we see each week.
Treu, probably the most humble person I have met in rugby, will never claim any credit. He will say it is what he gets paid to do. Sasol, who are as proud of their Sevens team as they are of the Springboks, have actively been involved in helping Treu wherever they can.
Every time the Sevens boys venture to a country where Sasol has an office, they will have some sort of reception to acknowledge their arrival. They will fly in some biltong or lamb chops to Singapore, or help with some shopping in Dubai if needed.
As much as I want to say 'I told you so' to many of the coaches and colleagues who have a different view on the value of Sevens rugby, I will not go down that route. The essence of the Springbok Sevens team is about being humble, about becoming better and about carrying the proudest emblem in South African sport all over the world. For me to become argumentative about something only being appreciated now, will be counter-productive and disrespectful.
Let me rather ask you to look at some other members of Treu's team who are as good as those mentioned above. Take Jonathan Mokuena, playing at the Leopards, for example.
Hopefully, the Leopards will make the Currie Cup First Division final and everyone will be able to see what Mokuena has to offer. He was signed by the Cheetahs for next year, so should have ample opportunity to show his ability at Super 14 level. If ever there was a player we can use as a 'wild card' in next year's World Cup, it has to be Mokuena.
I know the whole of the Cape is raving about Luke Watson. Let me tell you, there is a former Voortrekker High School pupil, Mokuena, is even better than him.
Take of note of his name - and remember where you read it first!
Another is Schalk van der Merwe. He is on loan at the Pumas, after being a Lions player in previous years. Also a loose forward, Van der Merwe is a carbon copy of the sort of player we find all over South Africa.
Big, fast, skilful players who have enough courage to start a war, players that you know will never let you down.
Same with Gareth Krause, the Griquas captain.
He was a member of the Sevens team that played in the World Cup last year, before he moved to the 15-a-side game permanently.
In the current Springbok backline, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius and Akona Ndungane all played in the IRB Sevens series, while Jaque Fourie was discovered playing Sevens and Breyton Paulse played at two Sevens World Cups.
With the results of the role Sevens can play in SA Rugby clearly evident, questions should be asked as to how we can help Treu to deliver even more players to light up the Currie Cup.
The answer is easy. Brent Russell. It is clear that Jake White does not believe that Russell have an active role to play, neither does Dick Muir at the Sharks. One of the best talents in this country has been wasted for close on two years. It cannot be allowed to continue. Russell made his break-trough in the Sevens code. If he is surplus to requirements anywhere else, Sevens will take him back with open arms.
Allow Russell to fall in love with the game again. Let him enjoy the space he will find in Sevens, let him thrive on the responsibility to be the game breaker again, let him do what he does best. Score tries. Lots of them and even better, in a Springbok jersey.
If you think Jonah Lomu or George Gregan are big in Hong Kong where they started their climb to the top, you have to see to believe the respect Russell commands over there.
SA Rugby spend a lot of money on brand building. You can save that by just allowing Russell to play some rugby for a change. If ever we want to show those not exposed to the XV-man code what South African rugby is all about, allow them to see Russell play Sevens.
There are eight tournaments in the next series that starts in Dubai in December and finishes in early June in London. Let Russell play in all of them. Let him be the man who lights up the world series, as he did in the 2001/02 season.
And come September, let's take Brent Russell to the World Cup. A Russell who is confident in his ability, a player that will change games as he did pre-White.
The Super 14 will take Mokuena, Pretorius, Aplon, Rayno Benjamin, Floors, Basson, Krause and the like away from the national Sevens team. By giving Russell back to Treu, there can only be one winner... all of us die-hard supporters and SA Rugby in general.
News source: www.news24.co.za
Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
He is saying "I told you so", isnt he? Don't make me say "I told you" so when we tell you to book your car rental early!
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