Sport | Rugby
Boks hope to break home jinx
Boks coach Paul Treu believes his "pioneers of greatness" will throw everything they have to win this weekend's South African Sevens at Outeniqua Park in George.
- By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:34 December 1, 2008
Dubai: Boks coach Paul Treu believes his "pioneers of greatness" will throw everything they have to win this weekend's South African Sevens at Outeniqua Park in George.
South Africa, one of the world's top sevens playing nations, are yet to fulfil their World Series championship aspirations and - at the micro level - are still to win their home tournament.
But they were sensational in their final three games of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby 7s, outclassing Australia 19-0 in the quarterfinals and pipping Fiji 10-7 in sudden death before overcoming England 19-12 in the showpiece match on Saturday.
The Boks finished second in the 2007/08 series, but seem to have gathered great momentum following their second Dubai victory in three years. And coach Treu is confident his side has come of age of and is ready to put its best foot forward.
"We came here with new players; with a new team because we've lost most of our players who played last year. We didn't know what to expect, but they gelled well and played as a team. It was just amazing," Treu said in praising of his team.
"I think going into our home tournament for the 10th year, we're going to give everything we've got because we have nothing to lose. We've never won the World Series, never won our home tournament and never won at the Commonwealth Games, so we're just going to go out there and give it our best."
South Africa were clearly the team of the tournament and Treu was elated, saying: "We had a tough quarter-final against Australia and an even tougher game against Fiji in the semis and then clinched the trophy in the final minute.
"This really shows the team's character. I think these guys are the pioneers of greatness and they're starting to show that."
Treu added: "I told the guys that only teams with the best defence win tournaments and if you look at our defence it was great. We knew we could score in the end.
"Sometimes you also need a bit of luck and I think there was some bit of it there (when Mzwandile Stick's drop-goal in sudden death got us into the final). But that's the kind of thing you do in practice and the players kept their faith throughout."
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