NZ Sevens 2025-26

@booboo said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

@KiwiMurph said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

Aus had more speed

We have to adjust to not having Michaela OR Portia.

Did a marvellous job of this in the final

Pouri-Lane’s speed was pretty impressive. And no one could match Miller’s speed to the ruck in the middle of the park. She was everywhere on those attacking rucks. Her engine is unreal.

ACT Crusader

Keelan, sheesh boy just get the try and then celebrate young fella. Shades of Dagg against the Boks!

Love his game though. Fearless in taking on the line.

Daffy Jaffy

canefan

@ACT-Crusader said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

@KiwiMurph said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

@booboo said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

@KiwiMurph said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

Aus had more speed

We have to adjust to not having Michaela OR Portia.

Did a marvellous job of this in the final

Pouri-Lane’s speed was pretty impressive. And no one could match Miller’s speed to the ruck in the middle of the park. She was everywhere on those attacking rucks. Her engine is unreal.

Amazing that she doesn't look like she runs that fast, just glides along and when anyone comes close she has a good fend and is very hard to bring down

Duluth

Bradley Tocker and Sam Clarke added to the squad

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blacks-sevens-call-in-two-uncapped-rookies-for-injured-trio/

Bovidae

Tocker is a similar player to R Rush - a loose forward/lock. Still U20.

Steven Harris

@Bovidae heard good things about Tocker and if his highlights reel is anything to go by ..holly heka ..!

Mauss

Tocker was pretty good for the NZ U18 team at last year’s Global Youth Sevens. I prefer him in the sevens format, as I think it’s a better fit for some of his strengths (e.g. high ball work on restarts) and his athleticism. He’s great in the lineout as well, he can get up very quickly and effectively contest opposition throws.

That said, I don’t think he’s a like-for-like replacement with Rob Rush. Rush was really good at the breakdown in Dubai and I think that’s an area where Tocker still needs to improve quite a bit, especially in terms of the aggression and accuracy of his cleans. He also doesn't really play with the kind of abrasiveness that I associate with Rush. To my eyes, he's something in-between a forward and a back (which is also why I prefer him in sevens rather than the 15 man game).

I do think Tocker could be a handy option, especially from the bench. And it's good to see some new faces in the sevens squad, they really needed to freshen up.

Bovidae

Tocker played 7 for Varsity in the Waikato club competition but has been used more at 6 for Taranaki U19s. As @Mauss says, very good in the lineout. It will be interesting to see how he and Clarke go.

There are still some key players to return amongst the injured list.

Bones

@Bovidae Tocker isn't originally Welly is he? Related to JP?

Bovidae

@Bones He went to Palmerston North BHS.

stodders

@Mauss said in NZ Sevens 2025-26:

Tocker was pretty good for the NZ U18 team at last year’s Global Youth Sevens. I prefer him in the sevens format, as I think it’s a better fit for some of his strengths (e.g. high ball work on restarts) and his athleticism. He’s great in the lineout as well, he can get up very quickly and effectively contest opposition throws.

That said, I don’t think he’s a like-for-like replacement with Rob Rush. Rush was really good at the breakdown in Dubai and I think that’s an area where Tocker still needs to improve quite a bit, especially in terms of the aggression and accuracy of his cleans. He also doesn't really play with the kind of abrasiveness that I associate with Rush. To my eyes, he's something in-between a forward and a back (which is also why I prefer him in sevens rather than the 15 man game).

I do think Tocker could be a handy option, especially from the bench. And it's good to see some new faces in the sevens squad, they really needed to freshen up.

High ball work you say Mauss? Get him in the ABs

The Silver Fern

NZ Sevens 2025-26