Treu: Strong mentality the key
South African Sevens coach Paul Treu believes that his young team has all the mental toughness to have a special season and challenge the best for the IRB Sevens World Series title.
For the first time in some years Treu has been able to bring back experienced players and retain all his best players, rather than having to rebuild with a new batch of talented youngsters.
"Last year this time we started with six new players and contracted five schoolboys, so we had 11 new guys in the squad of 22," Treu told this website. "This year we have one of our most experienced squads.
"It's good to have Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez and Robert Ebersohn back with us to further strengthen our team and have those experienced players with a strong mentality."
Ebersohn, who was part of the 2009 Sevens Series-winning squad, is a particularly exciting inclusion, albeit a brief one for just the first three tournaments before he returns to Super Rugby action for the Cheetahs.
"Robert didn't come here just to help us out, he's here because he wants to be here and we want those players looking to be part of a special team," Treu explained.
"We've had quicker teams and faster teams, but this team is a bunch of players who believe they can be the best in the world and they put their bodies on the line for each other."
Newly-contracted Stephan Dippenaar is the major omission after picking up an ankle injury in a training match.
"Dippies was really looking forward to getting his first cap, but he is contracted for another two years and he'll get his chance so he just needs to hang in there," Treu said of the former Bulls centre.
The coach will also wait to see which players miss out on Super Rugby selection before drafting in some more familiar faces for next year's events.
"All three Sharks players Lubabalo Mtembu, Paul Jordaan and Sibusiso Sithole will all be back with us if they don't make the Sharks Super Rugby squad," he said.
Victories in the final two tournaments in London and Edinburgh last season will give the side confidence going into the 2011/12 season, but Treu believes that New Zealand are still the team to beat.
"New Zealand won the 2010/11 Series so they are the favourites irrespective of how well we finished last season," he said.
"We are happy to fly under the radar and just get the job done," he added.
"We want to leave a legacy behind and to make sure that South Africa are contenders for winning the series this season and looking further ahead to one day winning a medal at the Olympics."
By Timmy Hancox