2016-2017 World Sevens Series
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The Black Ferns Sevens are through to the final after beating Russia 24 to 5 (HT: 17-0)
NZ tries: Michaela Blyde 2x, Portia Woodman, Kat Whata-Simpkins; conversions Tyla Nathan-Wong 2
The BFs will - as expected - play Australia in the Final (at 2.15am NZT).
It will be difficult for the Ferns to win the Final; the Aussie women were much more convincing in their SF win v England and look much fitter.
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The All Blacks Sevens beat Samoa 26-21. Samoa opened the score, but NZL hit back quickly with three tries. The second half was harder and Samoa managed to get back at the end with two converted tries.
NZ tries: Curry 2x, Collier, Stowers; conversions Khan 3x.
Next game v England, 5.37am.
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Early this morning, the All Blacks Sevens lost their third game: NZ 12 - 26 England.
NZ tries: Sherwin Stowers, Scott Curry; conversion Rocky Khan.
They will play South Africa in the Cup Quarter Finals at 9.06pm.
The day 2 games will be televised on Sky Sport Pop-Up (Channel 58; some tv guides call this channel Sky Sport 8).
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Mason Emerson attended the last two All Blacks 7s camps:
The Hastings Rugby and Sports club player, who will be in action for his club at the Napier Old Boys Marist Invitational 7s at Napier's Park Island today, and Taradale's Billy Ropiha were the two Magpies at the last two All Black Sevens camps in the countdown to the selection of the 12 players for this weekend's opening round of the World Series in Dubai and next weekend's second round in Cape Town. Former Magpies halfback Jonathan Ruru made the cut, Ropiha is travelling with the squad as a non-playing reserve and Emerson said he "will be there or there abouts in the future."Ropiha has in the mean time already played for the AB7s early this morning. It would be great to see Emerson get a shot at it as well.
A former New Zealand Secondary Schools sprint champion, Emerson, was disappointed there wasn't any speed testing done at the camps. It's no secret speed, Emerson regularly stops the clock at 4.7s for 40 metres, is his biggest asset and interim new All Blacks Sevens coach Scott Waldrom is unlikely to ignore it much longer.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11759228
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I cant recall a NZ sevens team looking so clueless
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@Stargazer seems a solid effort....
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The final score flattered NZ. I don't see any change or improvement from last year. No speed and seriously lacking a playmaker - Khan was terrible. Puzzled why the likes of Forbes started on the bench.
At least the girls are fun to watch.
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The only new players in the squad are Ruru and Ropiha. Did they play in this game; I can't remember seeing them?
Apart from those two, there are a few players from the Olympic squad and a couple of players who couldn't even make the squad when the Ioane brothers, SBW and Kaka were playing. Add to that an interim coaching team with little coaching experience (none at international level), and you have a recipe for disaster. It's going to be a long season if they can't find some great, new talent. It's shit that Laidlaw can't start sooner. I'm tempted to write them off for this season.
