I was watching the IRB highlights from last year’s New Zealand Sevens and the announcer started off:
Wellington, New Zealand, the venue for New Zealand’s biggest annual party. Colour and Glamour, Pride and Tradition… Action and Mayhem! All wrapped up in two unforgettable days at the Westpac Stadium!
However, it was the following introduction from the video that struck me:
So far the IRB Sevens Series has been all about ONE TEAM…. South Africa!
How things have changed. As a BlitzBokke fan I have mixed feeling about the announcer’s last statement. Yes,it was all about us at that stage of the 2008/2009 IRB Sevens Series, but for me it is also all about the unpredictability of the Series. Coaches go to great lengths to announce that:
“On any day, at any tournament, ANY team can win it!”
And so it is. That for me is the allure of Sevens. Yes, we all want our individual teams to be THE team on the occasion, but Sevens is both alluring and unpredictable in that way. That is what draws us to a tournament in our region, or the nearest bar that shows the tournament. (in my case, other than the Hong Sevens, my computers!)
BlitzBokke coach Paul Treu this week announced his side who will travel to New Zealand and the USA in the new couple of weeks to try and restore some pride in the current IRB Sevens World Series.
I don’t have to remind you about our disastrous start to this season’s Series, because currently we are in the SECOND LAST position on the log after the Dubai & George tournaments. Having said that, there are still six tournaments left and the BlitzBokke, on 16 points, have to really dig deep to catch up with log-leaders New Zealand on 48 points.
Given his side’s loss of many of his stalwarts to Currie Cup & Super Rugby, Paul Treu has stayed true to his mantra of mixing experience with new talent by calling up three youngsters to his side for New Zealand and the USA.
Newcomers to the side are the Vodacom Free State U21 duo of Philip van der Walt and Hoffman Maritz as well as Steven Hunt (Vodacom Western Province U21).
Click below to view the BlitzBokke for New Zealand & the USA:
You know what to do Boys.
Just do it.
Below, sharing the knowledge, coach Paul Treu and Steven Hunt during practice (Pic:Debbie Hunt Brandt)
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