SA Vipers lose in semifinals
The SA Vipers Sevens squad, despite having a strong Varsity Cup influence in their playing group, went down to 21-26 to Tunisia in the semifinals of the hotly-contested Tangiers Sevens last weekend.
Nine international teams – hailing from South Africa, Morocco, France, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, as well as six local teams, were in action at the popular tournament.
France, who edged out the normally impressive Kenyans in the semifinals, beat Tunisia in the final of an event which many international teams use as a ‘sharpener’ ahead of the final two legs of the 2008/09 IRB Sevens Series.
Paul Treu’s SA Sevens side is on the verge of being crowned as the overall World Sevens Series winners for the season and they boast the likes of Robert Ebersohn and Kyle Brown – both of whom played Varsity Cup rugby in 2008 – whilst fellow squad member, Stellenbosch’s Chase Minnaar, featured in this year’s Varsity Cup.
Of course, the SA Vipers squad also had a strong Varsity Cup connection.
University of Johannesburg (UJ) fullback Earl Lewis, who excelled in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, headlined the 12-man SA Vipers squad.
Lewis had a short spell training with Treu’s Bok Sevens squad, whilst he was also the outstanding player in the 2009 Melrose Sevens – in Scotland – which was won by UJ.
Flanker Gert Lubbe (Tuks), Ikey Tigers wingers Dane Johnson and Marvin Christians, and Maties loose forward Cameron Peverett were also rewarded for their excellent Varsity Cup form by earning their Vipers call-ups.
The SA Vipers squad:
(Varsity Cup players denoted in bold)
Neil Papier (Boland)
Gert Lubbe (Vodacom Blue Bulls and Tuks)
Alvin Jonathan (Boland)
Jandré Blom (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)
Earl Lewis (Xerox Golden Lions and UJ)
WP van Vuuren (Griffons)
Mlindazwe Nqoro (KwaZulu-Natal)
Dane Johnson (Vodacom Western Province and UCT)
Marvin Christians (Vodacom WP and UCT)
Danie Poolman (Vodacom WP)
Petrus van der Walt (Vodacom WP)
Cameron Peverett (Vodacom WP and Maties)
