Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has suffered a major blow on the eve of his side's departure for Adelaide with the news that captain Mzwandile Stick will miss the tournament.
Stick was due to captain the Boks at the next two IRB Sevens World Series legs, in Adelaide on 19-21 March and Hong Kong on 26-28 March, but sustained a knee ligament injury on Wednesday in Stellenbosch.
The injury means the experienced Stick will be sidelined for two to four weeks and Treu has called up JW Jonker, one of the young contracted players, to replace him.
Kyle Brown will lead the team for the first time in the absence of Stick.
"It's a major blow for the team," said a disappointed Treu. "I was looking to someone like Stick and also the other senior players to guide the newcomers like Sampie Mastriet and Chris Dry, who are 19 and 21-years old respectively.
"Stick is an important decision maker in the team and his leadership qualities will be missed," explained Treu.
Treu had already made two changes to his team for the Adelaide title defence, Sampie Mastriet of the Vodacom Blue Bulls and Chris Dry of the Vodacom Western Province side drafted into his squad in the place of veteran Marius Schoeman and rookie Phillip van der Walt.
The reigning World Series champions won the Plate Final at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas on their last outing and will be hoping that an improved performance can inspire better results for the remainder of the season.
Currently they lie in seventh place after losing three times to Fiji in successive Cup quarter finals.
The Springbok Sevens have won the last two tournaments in Adelaide, however, and Treu will be hoping for another good showing from his young team.
"The surface in Adelaide suits our style of play and we have done very well there the past three seasons," Treu added.
"However, it will not be easy going because New Zealand will be determined to bounce back following their disappointment in Wellington and Las Vegas, while Fiji, Samoa and England are all in very good form at the moment."
Video: Adelaide Sevens 2009 - Kenya v South Africa (pool and Cup Final)
Springbok Sevens team (SARU contracted unless stated otherwise): Mpho Mbiyozo, Chase Minnaar, Frankie Horne, Cecil Afrika, Christopher Dry Kyle Brown, Branco du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Ryno Benjamin, Hoffman Maritz (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs), JW Jonker, Sampie Mastriet (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Steven Hunt (Vodacom Western Province).
