South Africa ended the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series by winning the final two tournaments in London and Edinburgh and finishing second overall behind champions New Zealand.

With only four days to go until the first leg of the 2011/12 Series, head coach Paul Treu is looking for his side to pick up where they left off, when the Series begins on 25 November on the Australian Gold Coast.

“We are not as well prepared as we have been in the past but we have no new players and a very experienced squad, which gives us continuity within it,” said Treu.

“Last season we put our focus internally, on what it takes for us to win and what is important for us and for each player to play up to their potential.

“For us it is important for us to is to get a good start. Last season we didn’t have a good start, we had six new players, but we ended well and now we have a settled squad and we would like to start the season on a high.”

South Africa face Pool B matches against hosts Australia, USA and Japan for the Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch, following the pool draw which took place at the beginning of November.

Consistency

The top two seeds from each event will automatically be placed into Pool A and B respectively for the following tournament, before the draw for each pool is made, adding a new element to this Series.

“I think it [the new draw] is going to spice things up,” added Treu.

“All the teams will have to be at their best every single game and in every single tournament. You can’t clock off and you have to be consistent throughout the season.

The last time Treu’s side faced Australia was in the Cup final in Edinburgh, one of the most pulsating matches of the 2010/11 Series.

South Africa came from 28-7 and 35-19 behind to snatch a dramatic 36-35 victory, but Treu believes each match in Pool B will be just as tough as that against the hosts.

“I don’t think so [Australia will be the toughest match]. We have seen, last year, when we started in Dubai, that Portugal beat England, so you cannot underestimate any team.

“Al Caravelli is a good coach, he has some good players, so we just have to show the teams the respect they deserve, but hopefully stick to our game plan.”

Treu has selected a very good and well balanced squad of fourteen players for the first three rounds and he also included the current SARU and IRB Sevens Player of the Year, Cecil Afrika. The playmaker was the leading points and try scorer last season and he will most likely make his return to action in Dubai only, depending on how his facial injury responds to treatment.

The Springbok Sevens travelling squad for the first three rounds of the new HSBC Sevens World Series:

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

HSBC Sevens World Series Australia – FIXTURES