Treu adds new blood to Blitzbokke
South African rugby sevens coach Paul Treu has added new blood to his injury-hit squad preparing for the Sevens World Series final tournaments in Glasgow and London.
Five players joined the Blitzbokke training group, while two more new faces will join his group next Monday.
Okkie Kruger (Tukkies, loose forward), Robbie van Schalkwyk (Shimlas, utility back), Jamba Ulengo (Shimlas, left wing), Alec Mhlanga (CUT, right wing) and Damian de Allende (UCT, right wing) were all added to the team.
Fullback Clayton Blommetjies, who starred for Tukkies in their Varsity Cup final victory over Maties on Monday night in Pretoria, as well as Western Province flanker Reuben Johannes will join next week.
William Small-Smith and Tshotsho Mbovane are both unavailable because of South African Under-20 commitments.
The Boks assembled in Cape Town on Tuesday for a two-week training camp and a series of matches against the Argentine Pumitas in Stellenbosch.
Cecil Afrika, the IRB Sevens Player of the Year, will miss the United Kingdom trip having been ruled out for ten weeks with a knee injury.
Paul Delport (knee), Boom Prinsloo and Frankie Horne (both head injuries) will all undergo scans on Thursday to determine the seriousness of their knocks.
Treu said he was disappointed to lose star playmaker Afrika, but he is also looking forward to work with the newcomers.
"They all played exceptionally well in the Varsity Cup and the Vodacom Cup and deserve their chances," he said.
"We have a number of injury concerns so it makes sense for us to include these promising players."
The Blitzbokke depart later in the month for London with the travelling party, to be named on April 24.
South Africa is currently third on the World Series log behind New Zealand and Fiji.
