Marco Botha
Stellenbosch – The South African Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games in India will have to compete with four Test All Blacks if they want to prevent the New Zealanders from notching a fouth gold medal on 12 October.
Apart from regular Sevens players, the Kiwis’ squad includes All Blacks Zac Guildford, Hosea Gear, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson.
The South African team, which will play with a SASCOC emblem, will be announced next Friday. A training squad convened here this week.
Apart from MJ Mentz, all the senior and contracted players trained on Wednesday. Coach Paul Treu said that Mentz was struggling with an ankle injury.
Treu will therefore be able to send his strongest possible side to New Delhi.
However, there is no guarantee of success at the Commonwealth Games.
“For some or other reason South Africa never does well at such events. Not even with players like Bob Skinstad and Chester Williams were we able to do any more than get a bronze medal at Manchester in 2002.”
Stellenbosch – The South African Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games in India will have to compete with four Test All Blacks if they want to prevent the New Zealanders from notching a fouth gold medal on 12 October.
Apart from regular Sevens players, the Kiwis’ squad includes All Blacks Zac Guildford, Hosea Gear, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson.
The South African team, which will play with a SASCOC emblem, will be announced next Friday. A training squad convened here this week.
Apart from MJ Mentz, all the senior and contracted players trained on Wednesday. Coach Paul Treu said that Mentz was struggling with an ankle injury.
Treu will therefore be able to send his strongest possible side to New Delhi.
However, there is no guarantee of success at the Commonwealth Games.
“For some or other reason South Africa never does well at such events. Not even with players like Bob Skinstad and Chester Williams were we able to do any more than get a bronze medal at Manchester in 2002.”