South Africa's World Sevens Series-winning coach Paul Treu writes the first of his regular columns for IRBSevens.com.
The Emerging Springboks game against the Lions on Tuesday was the first that I had seen live on this tour, and it really lived up to expectations.
After the game in Cape Town a few of the Lions supporters came up to me and asked why the Emerging Boks were so happy with a draw.
The thing is that for those guys to play against the Lions is, in itself, a massive thing, a career highlight. The fact that nobody gave them a chance, the fact that they're Super 14 players but not top class and playing against some of the best players in the world, who've been playing Six Nations for so many years, to give that kind of performance, was really remarkable.
This also only comes around once every 12 years and Pieter de Villiers said on Saturday that even if you beat them by one point, you're going to be happy.
I know it wasn't a spectacular game, but it was an awesome experience for those guys just to play against the Lions, at what is a very special time for South Africa and our rugby.
When I played for the Emerging Springboks against the Lions of 1997 here in South Africa, it was an equally powerful experience. Back then too we were the world champions but this time is even more special for me given what we have just achieved in Sevens - winning a maiden World Series to unite the two Cups for the first time.
It means that South Africa is now one test victory away from lining up the three trophies in the cabinet and that is making everyone, all sorts of fans here, feel very alive with rugby.
It's also been great to see some of my contracted Sevens players really impress against the Lions. Mpho Mbiyozo had a great game for the Southern Kings, our captain Mzwandile Stick did well and Gio Aplon was involved with Western Province. Then you see a guy like Danwel Demas score the leveller on Tuesday night, a guy who's been involved with us in the Sevens a lot over the past few years, and it gives me a real sense of pride.
The Sevens experience
Being involved in the Sevens and travelling the world, meeting all the players and coaches has been a fantastic experience, but winning the Series and our home event in George this season has finally also given the Sevens programme the exposure and the kudos that it's never had in the past.
Our players have had quite a few offers recently and have said that they've made a choice, this is what they want to do, they're enjoying themselves, we've set a target that we would like to do well over the next two years, we've also got the Commonwealth Games next year, and I think that is testament to our system and our unity.
I don't think the guys regret for one second that they're perhaps not getting the opportunity to line up against the Lions as 15-a-side regulars. Ryno Benjamin was another picked to play for the Southern Kings, but was injured, so they are in other coaches' minds, but this Sevens programme is something special that we've started and I think we all want to see it through.
It's definitely a key pathway, probably the best stepping-stone that you're going to get in your career - you only need to look at how many of the Lions have played on the World Series, from forwards like Tom Croft and Andy Powell to backs like Mike Phillips, Ugo Monye, James Hook and Jamie Roberts.
They're experiencing the pinnacle right now playing with the British and Irish Lions, but I'm sure they'd all acknowledge the role that Sevens had in their development, playing finals and big tough games out there with six teammates in front of 40,000 fans, and then the skills acceleration, the attitudes and mental application that you pick up, everything contributes.
Hopefully we'll see many more of our players, from all the Sevens teams, going onto full representative honours because I think they have so much to give.
The Olympics
It will be interesting to see what happens across the different nations if Sevens gets into the Olympics in October for 2016. I think in South Africa we've already seen a shift after winning the Series this year and there is going to be a lot more players wanting to play Sevens. They've seen what it can do for their careers, they've seen how the profile of Sevens has changed over the past two years.
And I think the players know that, while playing in a World Cup at fifteens or Sevens is currently the ultimate - and John Smit has said that playing against the Lions is maybe even bigger - playing at the Olympics would be bigger still.
I think there will be a shift of focus, it would be the only chance they'd have to win an Olympic Gold medal and I think they will jump at the opportunity.
All credit to our players, but what you'd have to do is give as many players the opportunity to prove that they can play there, whether it's Bryan Habana, who's already played Sevens, or Tendai Matwawira.
You can't have a situation where, should it become an Olympic sport, players come in a week before and go to an Olympic Games. The overall level of Sevens has gone beyond that. There will have to be a plan, players will have to be phased in and see if they can make it to our training camps.
They're obviously good enough to play fifteens but if they can buy into our culture and show the work ethic and the discipline required to play Sevens, then everyone will stand a chance to play.
