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Treu stays true to his squad

Johannesburg - Springbok Sevens coach will not look beyond his training squad to select the 12 players to represent South Africa at the Rugby World Cup Sevens at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai from March 5 to 7.

Speaking from London where the Boks are still en route from San Diego where they were eliminated in the semi-final by England, Treu said he had no knowledge that superstar Stefan Basson is again available for the Springboks. Basson has been playing his rugby for Rovigo in Italy for the past two Sevens series.

Treu also could not foresee that experienced Sevens Springbok Schalk van der Merwe would come back into contention.

Van der Merwe opted to play Super 14 rugby but didn't make the Cheetahs squad presently in Australasia.

Basson, according to Afrikaans Sunday Rapport, says he has an escape clause in his contract with Rovigo to be released should he be selected for South Africa's Sevens team. He made his debut for South Africa at the 2005 World Cup in Hong Kong where he was the tournament's second highest points scorer.

"Even if these former stars are available, there will not be enough time to mould them with the present squad. I'll stick with the players who are in our training camp in Stellenbosch. The present team, plus players returning from injury like Neil Powell, Marius Schoeman and Mzwandile Stick obviously have their noses in front, but if we need other players they will come from the training squad," Treu said on Tuesday.

"We will have a fitness test for the injured, probably on Sunday," Treu added.

The team will be finalised during next week, but Treu needs to know what he has available as the team starts preparing for the big prize.

"We'll probably only announce the team next Thursday," Treu said. The team - and the women's team for the very first women's Sevens World Cup, which is being decided simultaneously as the men's competition - depart for Dubai next Friday.

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