Paul Treu
Former BlitzBokke and Kenya Sevens coach Paul Treu’s role at the Stormers and Western Province may be surprising given his Sevens background, but the departure of Jacques Nienaber has left a hole to be filled.
Treu, who had been coaching the Kenyan Sevens until the recent Port Elizabeth tournament, completed a rapid return to the world of 15-man-rugby when he joined Western Province on Monday.
The long-serving BlitzBokke coach signed up with the Cape side along with Rito Hlungwani and Hanyani Shimange as three big appointments by Director of Rugby Gert Smal ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby season.
Western Province also announced the loss of defensive coach Nienaber who joined the High Performance Department at SARU. This is where Treu stepped in.
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“I just had a meeting with Gert,” Treu said.
“In fact, I had one last night and one this morning.
“With Jacques Nienaber moving to SA Rugby I will probably slot in there.”
According to Treu, it is the eventual plan for him to take over the mantle of defensive coach at the Union – but it will be done slowly.
“The idea is that Allister Coetzee and Greg Hechter will still be in charge of the defence but I will be phased in slowly,” he continued.
“Obviously with me coming from Sevens, I am going to need time just to see how things are being done.
“I don’t think it will be a case of me coming in and taking charge, I am going to be phased in over time, but my key responsibility will be to analyse and look after the defence.”
Many people would expect a man with Treu’s experience and expertise in Sevens to get involved in the backline, as that would be the obvious cross-over of skills, however at Province there are other, more experienced, coaches filling those roles.
“I think that is what everyone would jump to the idea of me getting involved in the backline coming from Sevens, that I would be involved in an attack capacity.” Treu went on.
“But Robbie Fleck is there and he is an excellent backline coach.
“I am sure that we will share ideas, but it wont be my key responsibility.”
Treu has often been credited with turning South African Sevens into what it is today with many of his creative and innovative ideas, however the coach admits that one of his unsung strengths has always been defensive organisation.
“Even with the Sevens, although I started a lot of things and innovated there and brought almost a certain kind of creativity to it, I think defence has always been my strength,” he said.
“At this stage I am just going to take it one day at a time, I just want to get in and find my feet and learn as much as I can.”