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South Africa have called up MJ Mentz to replace the injured Stephen Hunt for the sixth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series, the Hong Kong Sevens, starting on Friday.

Hunt is returning home today to see a specialist after he sustained a knee injury on the first day of the Adelaide Sevens tournament against Japan over the weekend.

The injury to Hunt is the latest in a series of frustrating blows the team has suffered since the beginning of the season.

The departure of several of last season’s stalwarts, as well as long term injuries to Renfred Dazel, Paul Delport, Neil Powell and Mzwandile Stick have robbed the IRB Sevens World Series champions of a core group of experienced players, forcing coach Paul Treu to call on a number of promising youngsters to fill the sizable gaps.

South Africa is currently seventh on the Series log with 44 points, level with Kenya who is placed higher by virtue of their two Cup semi-final appearances. They are pooled with Kenya Zimbabwe, and Korea for this weekend.

The team is yet to qualify for the Cup semi-finals this season, but Treu believes that the experience his young guns are gaining now will ultimately benefit the side in the near future.

“This season has been very frustrating because of injuries to so many players. We lost both our captains as well as our specialist scrumhalves and must cope with the introduction of many young players at the same time. 

“I think the guys have, under the circumstances, performed admirably though. However, no matter which team we put on the field, it is important for the players to execute the game plan effective, and up to now we have not really done so. 

“So far this season we have played with three 21-year olds and two players who have just turned 19, and unfortunately, it takes time for these players to get a grip and understanding of our game plan.

“We have the ability but we need to up our game when it comes to the execution and especially the decision-making, which will unfortunately only come as the guys play more games together as a unit,” said Treu.

The team will play hosts Hong Kong in a warm-up match tomorrow. South Africa will contest Pool F with fellow African teams Zimbabwe and Kenya, as well as Korea.

Scotland calls for reinforcements

Scotland U20 captain, Stuart McInally, and Scotland Club International captain, John Dalziel, will both join the Scotland squad this week.

McInally, who was a member of the Scotland squad in Dubai and George earlier this season, recently signed a professional contract with Edinburgh and led Scotland during the U20 Six Nations.

He takes the place of winger, Chris Kinloch, who was recalled last week by his club Glasgow Warriors.

Dalziel, captain of the club which invented the seven-a-side game, Melrose, and a former professional with Border Reivers, replaces another Glasgow player, hooker Pat MacArthur, who has withdrawn due to a shoulder injury.
 

Scotland  squad for Hong Kong (19-21 March):

Lewis Calder(London Scottish), John Dalziel (Melrose), Struan Dewar (Heriot's)**, Michael Fedo (Watsonians) , Colin Shaw*, Mike Adamson*, Ross Curle (Ayr), Rory Hutton (Heriot's)**, Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks)**, Lee Jones (Selkirk)**, Stuart McInally (Watsonians)**, Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh).

* = Scotland 7s contracted player
** = Member of Scottish Rugby's National Academy