Springbok Sevens star Fabian Juries says he wanted to play for South Africa in the tournaments in Dubai and George.
However, Springbok sevens coach Paul Treu decided for the sake of continuity to rely on players that will be available for the entire International Rugby Board series, according to Rugby365.com.
The first of the tournaments kicks off in Dubai on Friday morning (South African time).
Juries, who is viewed by many experts as one of the best sevens players to have emerged from South Africa, has decided to focus his energies on making the Cheetahs’ Super14 squad.
“I told Paul that I would love to play in Dubai and George, but I understand that he wants to retain continuity by picking sevens specialists,” Juries told Die Burger.
Apart from Juries the Sevens Boks are without many of last year’s stars. However, the 29-year-old reckons South Africa still have enough talent to win in Dubai.
“He played a huge role in last year’s success,” Treu said of Juries. “I hope the players that decide to play in the Super14 make a big success of it.”
The coach believes new heroes have to emerge.
“Renfred Dazel was on Wednesday night named South African sevens player of the year and it’s players like him we have to rely on,” said Treu.
The Sevens Boks play their first game at 08h14 (SA time) against Scotland. They play the Arabian Gulf at 13h10 and Kenya at 17h12.
Juries believes the Sevens Boks will win all the games and experience Kenya as the toughest opponents.
“If everything goes according to plan, we should advance to the quarter-finals without any problems. The big test will come against South Africa’s arch-rivals, New Zealand. They are big and physical. We should try to avoid contact,” he said.
The South African team is: Mpho Mbiyozo, Robert Ebersohn, Frankie Horne, Vuyo Zangqa, Phillip Snyman, Kyle Brown, Renfred Dazel, Ryno Benjamin, Paul Delport, Mzwandile Stick (capt), Marius Schoeman, Gio Aplon.
“If everything goes according to plan, we should advance to the quarter-finals without any problems. The big test will come against South Africa’s arch-rivals, New Zealand. They are big and physical. We should try to avoid contact,” he said.
No shit!
Always support your ball carrier against them dude, i dunno how but every time NZ tackle us in 7s we lose the ball.
Sort it out brah.
This guy should have been on the EOYT with the Boks.
@wpw (Comment 2) : Hows about not.
@PJLD (Comment 3) :
What do you mean??/ He is one of the best Sevens players in the world…
@wpw (Comment 4) : so?
@robdylan (Comment 5) : thats what i was thinking
He should have replaced Jacques Fourie in the squad…
@wpw (Comment 8) : Try using white muscles and not periwinkels for bait.
lol,what u been smokin wpw?same stuff as julius malema
@wpw (Comment 8) : I sure Juries defends better than Jacques Fourie
At which point did he choose the Cheetahs over the Boks 7′s…?
it sounds like he wanted to play but there was no space for him…
Anyway- have a good one people… I’m OUT…like the Bangladesh top order…
@Pokkel (Comment 11) :
He does actually.
He’s got an okapi in his back pocket!!!
@wpw (Comment 8) :
Agreed
Chris Rossouw-cheetahs flyhalf has retired because of pesistant concussions
I didn’t see this article earlier, that then confirms what I heard in Dubai about Robert Ebersohn not playing S14 this year.
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 15) :
He should tell his wife to stop smacking him on the head everytime he casues kak.
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 15) : really? Where did you see that?
@Bok-Clyde-Kiwi (Comment 15) : I always thought he avoided contact, so am surprised to hear it. Still, not a nice thing to happen to anyone, but one of the dangers inherent in playing a contact/collision sport.
Ebersohn showing off what a strapping young lad he is.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : interesting ‘fro he’s got going there…
@robdylan (Comment 21) :
That was in the middle of a dust storm and while it may not look to dusty on the pic it was pretty damn windy and kak. so his hair coulda been blowing a bit.