Sevens
Bok 7s return for Ebersohn
2011-11-11 14:43
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Cape Town - Promising Toyota Free State
Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn makes a welcome return to the Springbok Sevens
team after a two year absence since he helped the Blitzbokke to capture the
HSBC Sevens World Series in 2009.
The Free Stater was today included
in a 14-man Springbok Sevens travelling squad for the first three rounds of the
Series, which kicks off on 25-26 November at the Gold Coast in Brisbane and
will be followed by tournaments in Dubai and Nelson Mandela Bay, Port
Elizabeth, on consecutive weekends.
Ebersohn joined the Cheetahs to
play Absa Currie Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby, but he gladly accepted an
invitation from Paul Treu, the Springbok Sevens coach, to temporarily return to
Sevens rugby until the end of this year.
He is one of several familiar faces
returning to the Springbok Sevens fold for the tough opening stanza of the new
season. Chase Minnaar is fit again and looking forward to establish himself as
a regular after he missed the bulk of last season because of a motorcycle
injury. Veteran attacker Renfred Dazel has shrugged off his knee problems which
restricted his game time for much of 2011 and his availability will add much
needed experience to the backline.
There is also a return to the
national Sevens team for Sharks player Mark Richards, who made his
international debut in 2010 in Dubai.
Newly signed Stephan Dippenaar
sustained an ankle injury in a training match against the Maties on Wednesday
and was therefore not selected, while 19-year old William Small-Smith got the
nod again after he impressed during his first two tournaments in England and
Scotland at the end of the previous season.
IRB Sevens Player of the Year,
Cecil Afrika, who is recovering from a broken cheekbone, was included in the
travelling party but he will not be part of the final squad of 12 for the Gold
Coast.
Paul Treu, Springbok Sevens coach,
said his squad will fine tune their preparations during the remaining two weeks
before the 2011/2012 kick-off in Australia. He spoke to media at the team
announcement earlier today at the Beyerskloof Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.
“We played less training matches
this time compared to previous years, but we will fine-tune our preparations
over the next two weeks so that we are ready and fully prepared for the first
tournament,” explained Treu.
Squad departure to Brisbane is next
Friday, 18 November.
The Springbok Sevens travelling
squad for the first three rounds of the new HSBC Sevens World Series, is:
1. Chris Dry
2. Kyle Brown (captain)
3. Frankie Horne
4. Boom Prinsloo
5. Chase Minnaar
6. Paul Delport
7. Renfred Dazel
8. Mark Richards
9. Steven Hunt
10. Bernado Botha
11. Robert Ebersohn
12. William Small-Smith
13. Cecil Afrika
14. Branco du Preez