The Springbok Sevens’ preparation plans for the next two rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series have received a boost with the news that Springbok centre JJ Engelbrecht and Junior Springbok fullback Cheslin Kolbe will join the training group from Monday in Stellenbosch.
Successful talks between SARU and several provincial unions have paved the way for a number of Absa Currie Cup players to be released for Springbok Sevens training duty.
Engelbrecht, a contracted Springbok with 12 Test caps, played for the Vodacom Blue Bulls during the recently concluded Absa Currie Cup while Kolbe starred for the DHL Western Province during their successful campaign.
Three more Vodacom Blue Bulls players, Jesse Kriel, Warrick Gelant and Duncan Matthews (all utility backs), will join the training on Monday.
They will be joined by Springbok Sevens regulars Justin Geduld (DHL Western Province), Kwagga Smith and Mark Richards (Xerox Golden Lions), who returns to Sevens duties tomorrow having completed their provincial commitments.
Rayno Benjamin, a seasoned Springbok Seven and World Series campaigner but nowadays a regular Toyota Free State stalwart, is training with the squad since last week.
The Dubai Sevens takes place on 5 and 6 December and will be followed by the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens in Port Elizabeth a week later, where the South Africans are the defending champions.
On Tuesday Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell said the additional players are a welcome boost to his preparation plans. “Our training for the Gold Coast tournament was hampered slightly by niggling injuries and Absa Currie Cup commitments in some cases. But thanks to Rassie Erasmus (SARU GM for High Performance) we could secure the release of these additional players. Cheslin and Rayno knows our structures and playing philosophy very well, while I am looking forward to working with the rest of the group,” said Powell.
Regular captain, Kyle Brown, is continuing with his rehabilitation following a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Phillip Snyman has sustained a calf muscle injury during training yesterday. He is presently undergoing further investigation to determine the extent of the injury and will be treated accordingly.
Stephan Dippenaar has been ruled out of the next two tournaments following a hamstring injury sustained at the Gold Coast tournament.
Powell will name his 12-man squad for Dubai and PE at the end of the month.
Last month the Springbok Sevens finished fourth at the season-opening Gold Coast tournament after going down to Samoa in the semi-finals.
Jeez, why JJ Engelbrecht… he cannot even hit a gap or see space when it is wide open in front of him!
@ grootblousmile:
They have to get some value out of his Bok contract even if it’s only holding tackle bags.
:lol;
2 @ gunther:
Question remains, why he has a Bok contract at all?
@ grootblousmile:
According to Nama he’s a quota of Herr Fuerher Meyer’s.
😆
😆
4 @ gunther:
He is a bit of a white quota witbroodjie, gezmozzle, is’nt he!
From my perch, JJE looks like good athlete, but not such a good “footballer”
I think ball sense/skill is even more important in sevens than in the 15 man code, so I’m a bit surprised by his selection.
Has he ever played sevens at a high level?
4 @ gunther:
I see the UK press describes the Springboks as the best in 20 years under Herr Fuhrer Heyneke Meyer…
Nama does not like Heyneke, I perceive….
6 @ Angostura:
I agree, he has very limited vision and feel… and skills.
The speed is no problem, but the natural “footballer” is missing in him.
@ grootblousmile:
A Broederbond quota.
😆
@ Angostura:
Agreed.
He’s got hands like dinner plates.
And in other news check this cobber out…
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-29876001
@ BrumbiesBoy:
And i have it on good authority that they’re talking nonsense by saying that he went inside for a beer.
He ordered a Red Bull.
JJ Engelbrecht is much like Pierre Spies in a way…
The build is there, the speed is there… but the finer nuances of naturally great vision and anticipation is not quite there.
I have felt for a long time that Spies is obviousy a very dedicated person as far as his preparation and work ehtic and effort to get his body into the best form possible is concerned, but one can only train the natural feel for space and the vision to know what to do with it so much and no more.
On the other hand, players like Kolbe and Aplon or some of the bigger blokes like Matfield are dedicated but also gifted with a natural feel for the game, which makes them supremely dangerous.
Best possible thing that could have happened in his career. last year he was a consistant offensive threat whole he became a liability all over the park this year. Maybe this can give his career new best wherever he plays.
@ grootblousmile:
Spies might never get to the highest we imagine or that we wamt him too. But the guy achieved a lot as well.
new life
@ MacroBok:
A new life?
Are they putting him in the witness protection programme?
Mind you the bad guys will spot him a mile off.
The guy couldn’t catch herpes in a whorehouse.
@ gunther:
haha he wouldnt be able to avoid herpes either
@ MacroBok:
Look there are guys who try and run over herpes because he’s such a little std.
But he keeps holding on.
@ gunther:
😀
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