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Springbok coach Paul Treu says that the lasting emotion of South Africa's quarter-final elimination in last weekend's World Cup Sevens in Dubai was not the loss itself, but that his side had again failed to live up to their standards as a team.

“We left South Africa with much excitement and high expectations and we came back ashamed of ourselves. We have undelivered on our promise, a promise not to win, but to live up to our own standards as a team,” said Treu.

South Africa head to Hong Kong (March 27th-March 29th) for the next leg of the IRB Sevens still as joint leaders of the series, with the Top seeds Treu and his charges are keen to make amends immediately playing Korea on the first day, followed by Uruguay and an always unpredictable France side on the second day.

They will then come up against one of the two best sides placed second in the six pools, with the pool winners automatically advancing to the quarters.

While Treu laments the loss of captain Mzwandile Stick for the San Diego and World Cup tournaments and hopes that he will be available for Hong Kong, he questions whether the faith should be placed in a single player or rather in the faith of preparation.

"Preparation to me is key, it always will be the determining factor for success. We need more players like Stick who can turn the outcome of a game almost at will and in a sense I think the players have become too dependent on individual brilliance. It is a mindset that needs to be challenged", Treu writes.

He also points to the unexpected success of the two IRB Series victories in Dubai and George.

"Our success in George and Dubai last year came at a price, not many of us are willing to accept: the price of complacency, the delusion of success and a sudden rise of 12 heroes.

"Was I really that naïve to think that all of this would not affect our players' mental and emotional stability? How can it be that the same players who won us the Dubai and George tournaments are the same players who can't protect a lead three times in a row?

"Entitlement is good sometimes, but one can only feel entitled when one has done the necessary preparations, both mentally and physically.

"We have lost sight of what has made us successful in the first place and we need to regain our purpose and desire very, very quickly," he says with the Hong Kong tournament in mind.

Treu feels there will be 23 teams in Hong Kong with the same desire to win - and with double points at stake all four the top teams will try to separate themselves from the pack while the bottom teams will try and gain ground.

"After all, everyone is beating everyone. The team that wants it the most will be the team that wins both Hong Kong and Adelaide and or players need to realise that it will get even harder going forward,” Treu writes on his website.

"We can do as much as we want, in the end it comes down to individual choices. I can't make it for our players, but we can provide them with all the tools necessary and believe me, we will keep filling that tool box," he promises.