28 November 2009
“We are not focussing on winning the Dubai Sevens. For us it’s a new start to the season. We were the best in June but now we have zero points. We are going to take it one game at a time. Our main focus is against Wales,” said South Africa’s coach Paul Treu in an interview with Khaleej Times.
“All the teams are going to be tough. We won in Singapore two weeks ago. It’s excellent build up until now. You can win smaller tournaments but next week it is IRB Sevens. Our goal is to be consistent throughout the season,” said Treu, 38, who has been coaching the side since 2004.
The South African squad arrived on Thursday and are being accommodated at Al Manzil Hotel courtesy Southern Sun.
“We had an excellent run last season. But this is a new start. All the teams are better prepared, have contracted players, started preparing early,” he said.
South Africa featured in five finals last season, winning three of them, to emerge champions of the IRB Sevens Series for the first time. “We won back to back tournaments for the first time (Dubai and George), home tournament for the first time (George), appeared in five finals for the first time and emerged champions. For sure we are going to be under a little bit of pressure. We have just one goal of working hard every minute, every half, every match because we want to be at our best. That’s the only way we can get better,” said the wily coach who never underestimates the opposition. “I heard Wales are bringing lot of new players. They are not going to be easy because they are the World Cup winners,” he said.
He is also wary of Fiji who finished as runners-up in the IRB Sevens Series. “We played them six times, we won the first three but they beat us thereafter. Their confidence is going to be up because they won the last tournament in Scotland,” he said.
“England always have a good following in Dubai and won the home tournament in London last season. They will definitely try to go at least all the way. New Zealand can never be written off although they finished fourth because they have the core of players from last time including captain DJ Forbes. Kenya and Argentina are also up there,” said Treu when asked about the opposition.
South Africa have three new players Cecil Afrika, JW Jonker and Chase Minnaar but the rest of the nine players were part of the winning squad last season. In addition they have named Paul Delport as the new captain.
“It’s a fantastic feeling and came as a big surprise. It’s a huge honour to be captain of your country,” said Delport, 25, who has led South African teams at age group level.
“Last year people back home didn’t expect us to do well. Now the expectations are high. But we are going to take one game at a time, one tournament at a time. That will take quite a bit of pressure off,” said Delport who first played in Dubai in 2003.
Last year’s captain Mzwandile Stick who kicked the winning drop goal in the extra time final against England last year, attributed their success to team effort. “Our policy is to stick to our game plan and play as a team. We’ve never been in this position before. It’s a big challenge for us. But Dubai has been a good hunting ground for us and we have a good record here,” said Stick, who is in his seventh season with the South African team which won the Dubai title in 2003, 2006 and last year.
