OWN CORRESPONDENT, Hong Kong | Monday 11.30am.
SOUTH Africa is learning the art of seven-a-side rugby in a correspondence course with traditional rivals New Zealand as it rebuilds towards the next World Cup.
The reigning 15-a-side world champions want to dominate the shortened version of the game as well, Sevens coach Deon Oosthuysen said as his team bowed out of the Hong Kong Sevens in the quarterfinals on Sunday, beaten by Australia 26-21.
At the last Sevens World Cup, South Africa — drawing on their most talented rugby players — made it to the final where they lost to Fiji.
But with the growth of professionalism in rugby the situation has changed in South Africa, where the name players are now contracted to play for teams in the main 15-a-side competitions, including the Super 12 and the Currie Cup.
For Oosthuysen, that meant starting from scratch with a largely untested squad.
“We didn’t know much about Sevens, so we turned to those who did,” Oosthuysen said.
“I’ve learned a lot from Gordon (Tietjens, the New Zealand coach). We correspond a lot and it’s starting to show.” Oosthuysen, who is also in contact with coaches in Sevens strongholds Fiji and Samoa admits to a passion to see South Africa at the top of both forms of rugby.
“We certainly lack experience and when we get back I’m going to lose three players who’ve been called up [to provincial squads],” he said. — AFP