2017-18 World Sevens Series
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@justanotherfan said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
Blitzbokke will struggle against Fiji in the semi-final. Fiji are quite rampant at the moment.
They are also missing a sevens team of players through either injury or SR commitments. So there is that as well.
@pn said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
@justanotherfan said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
Blitzbokke will struggle against Fiji in the semi-final. Fiji are quite rampant at the moment.
They are also missing a sevens team of players through either injury or SR commitments. So there is that as well.
You are not alone there. Karoi and Mikkelson were huge losses for NZ through injury.
As for SR commitments? Really? I'll see your Senatla and raise you a couple of Ioane brothers. There are an awful lot of players in both NZ and SA who would be great at sevens. OZ suffer to a lesser extent I think, but Folau could be great for example. SA don't have the SR issue on their own.
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I think there has been an improvement in our play this tournament, despite missing the huge work-rate of Mikkelsen and acceleration of Koroi. They are avoiding contact more often and being more patient looking for gaps, so less turnover errors. Kickoffs vastly improved too.
Curry is running great lines and MG Black has great vision and skills. Tackling from Black and Collier has also been great and saved us at times. Our cover of speedsters out wide is excellent too. But, just not enough players accelerating on to the ball to create the opening. We need to have Baker (especially), Nanai, Webber and Ware punching on to the ball harder. The opposition have broken us open in the middle by wrong-footing Knewstubb or Nanai and punching on to it fast. We need to do more of the same, and can with the two big guns back next time. -
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@stargazer Didn't they win a tournament lately?
@antipodean Yes, they won Sydney; were third in Hamilton. Fourth on the Series table. Really odd, such a short time before the Commonwealth games.
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The All Blacks Sevens team for Hong Kong has been named. Due to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with other coaches and a truckload of newbies.
The squad is (* denotes debut)
Jordan Bunce (Waikato)
Tima Faingaanuku* ( Ta$man)
Rocky Khan (Auckland)
Luke Masirewa (Bay of Plenty)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki* (Otago)
Tone Ng Shiu ( Ta$man)
Amanaki Nicole* (Canterbury)
Joe Ravouvou (Auckland)
Salesi Rayasi* (Auckland)
Akuila Rokolisoa* (Counties Manukau)
Dan Schrijvers* (Wellington)
Bailey Simonsson* (Bay of Plenty)With the Commonwealth Games team currently preparing in Australia, this All Blacks Sevens team will be coached by Roger Randle and Aussie McLean.“The Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle tournament and it was important for us to make sure that squad had the correct preparation, so they are already on the ground in Australia. “It presented an exciting opportunity for some of the younger players in our contracted squad to form the core of this Hong Kong team and it was imperative to make sure they have a quality management team around them. “Roger brings international sevens experience as both a player and a coach, along with Aussie whose coaching pedigree is top shelf, we are really happy to have these men lead this group. “We’re under no illusion that Hong Kong will present a tough challenge for this group but they have been preparing well and there is a real air of excitement about what they can achieve,” said Philp.The squad features six players with World Series experience alongside seven debutants. Amanaki Nicole, Jona Nareki and Bailey Simonsson are fully contracted with the All Blacks Sevens team while Salesi Rayasi, Dan Schrijvers, Akuila Rokolisoa and Tima Faingaanuku have been involved in training camps over the past X months. Both Nareki and Faingaanuku played in the New Zealand Under 20s in 2017, Rayasi has previously played in the New Zealand development sevens team. The Hong Kong Sevens kicks off on 6 April.http://www.allblacks.com/News/32212/all-blacks-sevens-team-named-for-hong-kong-sevens
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A lot of second generation players there - Bunce, Masirewa, Rayasi and Simonsson.
All of the other Commonwealth countries will also have to send understrength teams to the Hong Kong sevens. What a stuff-up.
@bovidae said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
A lot of second generation players there - Bunce, Masirewa, Rayasi and Simonsson.
All of the other Commonwealth countries will also have to send understrength teams to the Hong Kong sevens. What a stuff-up.
Argentina to beat the USA in the final, and France finishing 3rd! All other usual contenders from the Top 10 countries are Commonwealth countries.
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@bovidae said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
A lot of second generation players there - Bunce, Masirewa, Rayasi and Simonsson.
All of the other Commonwealth countries will also have to send understrength teams to the Hong Kong sevens. What a stuff-up.
Argentina to beat the USA in the final, and France finishing 3rd! All other usual contenders from the Top 10 countries are Commonwealth countries.
Oddly, it looks like just NZ, Australia, England and South Africa are playing second string teams in HK. Should be Fiji all the way, chased by USA. Argentina, France and Scotland teams look strengthened, with Kenya and Canada fairly constant. Any of those 5 have a shot at semi-finals.
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Full time: NZ 36 - 5 Russia
Good, fast game against a weak Russia.
By the way, Te Tamaki is in the squad. Not sure who dropped out.
@stargazer Nanai-Seturo was in the original squad but he is with the Comm Games squad now due to the injuries so probably him?
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Geez, the ref has now sent off the wrong Samoan player from the field with a red card. :man_facepalming_medium_skin_tone: I couldn't clearly see what happened. Striking in the ruck or something like that.
