The Springbok Sevens squad wants to make up for their poor results last week in the London round of the IRB Sevens World Series.

The Boks, facing arguably their toughest pool challenge in the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series in Scotland this coming weekend, are so very close to a second place in the series - but it could well boomerang and see them end a disappointing fourth if they're not on top of their game.

Finishing runners-up in the plate competition at last weekend's London leg of the series was not what South Africa coach Paul Treu had envisaged, and the Samoans and Fijians are right behind South Africa in the standings and could pip Treu's team at the post if they don't lift their standards.

Treu is, however, confident his team can bounce back, despite facing their London victors, Argentina, in the first round on Saturday. By beating the Boks in the quarters at Twickenham, Argentina showed they want to finish a topsy-turvey season on a high.

Treu's men can, however, not limit their focus to Argentina, with their other opponents in Pool B being Australia and the under-rated Scotland, whom South Africa beat in the plate semi-final in London 19-12.

Treu admitted it was a very tough pool when the draw was made more than a month ago. Last weekend's happenings would have reinforced that thought -but a second victory in the series is still the Boks' aim.

"What happened in London was not nice, but it brought the players back down to earth after winning in Adelaide," said Treu.

"We were poor against Argentina, but they also played very well and managed to nullify our strength in the pack.

"At least I learned a few things and will use these in our plans for this weekend."

Mpho Mbiyozo, Vuyo Zangqa, Schalk van der Merwe and Kabamba Floors carried minor niggles following a warm-up tournament in Amsterdam the weekend before last when they had to play nine matches in two days, and the IRB tournament last weekend, but Treu expects everyone to be fit by Saturday.

New Zealand, in winning the plate and getting eight league points, will be crowned champions yet again.

They have completely dominated the IRB Sevens since its inception in 1999 and have now won all but one series.

Fiji were crowned champions in 2005/6.

Fabian Juries, with 39 tries after scoring four in London, is still the top try-scorer this series. Gio Aplon, who scored six tries at Twickenham, was the joint top try-scorer with Tomasi Cama (NZ), Jonathan Edwards (Wales), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Samoa) and Iliavi Satala (Fiji).

MJ Mentz, with a series total of 17, is South Africa's next best try scorer, while Juries, with 175 points, is second on the list of top points scorers, behind Cama (261).

IRB Sevens standings after London:<br /> 1 New Zealand — 138 points
2 South Africa — 98
3 Fiji — 90
4 Samoa — 88
5 Argentina — 43
6 Kenya — 38
7 England — 38
8 Australia — 28
9 Tonga — 22
10 Scotland — 20
11 Wales — 18
12 USA — 6
13 France — 4
14 Cook Islands — 4
15 Portugal — 4
16 Canada — 2
17 Russia — 1

365

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