Preview - Round Two

Nokwe can take centre stage

The attention of the rugby world, at least those interested in the abridged version of the game, will shift from the desert conditions of Dubai to the sunny south coast of South Africa - where Round Two of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series will take place on Friday and Saturday.

While the main goal of the 16 teams will be to claim some silverware - with the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield up for grabs - there will be a number of individuals who will be out to take centre stage and announce themselves to the wider rugby world.

One such player is South Africa's Jonghikhaya Nokwe, who was a member of Springboks' 34-man tour of the British Isles and Argentina. Nokwe's initial selection into the national 15-man side for the month-long trip was met with shock.

Jake White, of course, offered "raw pace" as a retort to suggestions that Nokwe's selection was nothing but window-dressing for politicians. But the Boland flyer - yes, he plays Second Division provincial rugby - never got the chance to prove his detractors wrong.

He served as target practice during training sessions and became quite proficient at holding tackle bags.

But upon his return from Buenos Aires this week the native of Ngxalawe in Ciskei - who turns 23 in a couple of weeks - was told that he would play for the Sevens Springboks in George.

There could be no better stage to show the world that you are the real deal than on the Sevens circuit.

Raw pace and a genuine feel for the game are the main requirements for a player hoping to make it big on the IRB Sevens circuit. And a winger hoping to make it in the 15-man game also needs raw pace and a feel for the game.

Nokwe has now been given the stage and he must perform, much as another local flyer, Kabamba Floors, did in George last year. Floors, who plays for the George-based Eagles, was named Player of the Tournament last year - when South Africa was knocked out in the semi-finals, by eventual winners England.

England will be the main target of the other teams in George, following their impressive performance in Round One in George. Despite being a touch off colour in the pool stages, Mike Friday's team came good in the play-offs - where they accounted for Australia, South Africa and Fiji on their way to the Cup.

And apart from now having the title of 'Dubai winners', England are also defending champions in George.

But they will have to stand their ground without the services of star players like regular captain Simon Amor (shoulder injury) and Ugo Monye (knee injury). And then, of course, there is the two-week ban that has ruled out Pat Sanderson.

Ben Gollings and Richard Haughton have travelled to George to join up with the squad. In Amor's absence Anthony Roques will assume the captaincy.

The hosts have a host of injury problems of their own. South African coach Paul Treu's preparations were already disrupted by the loss of Marius Schoeman and Fabian Juries before Dubai, whilst things were further compounded when captain Marc de Marigny and the experienced Anton Pitout were injured during the Dubai event.

Add to that the loss of Mzwandile Stick, the scorer of two hat-tricks in Dubai last week, and it becomes obvious why Treu is desperately looking for someone to put up his hand and give the side some direction.

South Africa have never won a Sevens tournament on home soil, but Treu is optimistic that the wait could soon be over.

"It took New Zealand and England a long time to win their home tournaments. So hopefully this is going to be our year," Treu said.

To predict a winner in George would be tantamount to playing the lottery.

The England coach, Friday, suggested anyone of eight teams could win.

These include overall IRB Sevens series champions New Zealand, Dubai and George champions England, Argentina (winners in Los Angeles last year) and South Africa (winners in Dubai and Singapore last season).

But current form (or at least Dubai form) suggests that it may yet be one of the South Sea Island contingents, either Fiji (who haven't won a tournament since December 2002) or Samoa (who go back much further for their last Sevens win).

Pools:

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Portugal, Tunisia.

Pool B: England, Australia, Kenya, Ireland.

Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Scotland, Arabian Gulf.

Pool D: South Africa, Samoa, Canada, Namibia.

Fixtures (kick-off times are GMT):

Day 1:
08.00 - New Zealand v Portugal
08.22 - France v Tunisia
08.44 - England v Kenya
09.06 - Australia v Ireland
09.28 - Argentina v Scotland
09.50 - Fiji v Arabian Gulf
10.12 - South Africa v Canada
10.34 - Samoa  v Namibia
11.06 - New Zealand v Tunisia
11.28 - France v Portugal
11.50 - England v Ireland
12.12 - Australia v Kenya
12.34 - Argentina v Arabian Gulf
12.56 - Fiji v Scotland
13.18 - South Africa v Namibia
13.40 - Samoa  v Canada
14.02 - Portugal v Tunisia
14.24 - Kenya v Ireland
14.46 - Scotland v Arabian Gulf
15.08 - Canada v Namibia
15.40 - New Zealand v France
16.02 - England v Australia
16.24 - Argentina v Fiji
16.46 - South Africa v Samoa

Day 2:
Bowl quarter-finals:
07.45 - 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B
08.07 - 3rd Pool D v 4th Pool C
08.29 - 3rd Pool C v 4th Pool D
08.51 - 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A

Cup quarter-finals:
09.13 - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B
09.35 - 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C
09.57 - 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D
10.19 - 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A

Shield semi-finals:
11.04 & 11.26

Bowl semi-finals:
11.48 & 12.10

Plate semi-finals:
12.32 & 12.54

Cup semi-finals:
13.16 & 13.38

Shield Final:
14.30

Bowl Final:
15.00

Plate Final:
15.30

Cup Final:
16.00

By Jan de Koning