Hamilton 7s

Higgins

12 nil to Samoa over England at half time. Is it too early to get our hopes up?

Stargazer

All Blacks 7s wider squad for the Hamilton Sevens next week.

Fourteen players, so they'll have to drop two players.

Kurt Baker - Manawatu
Dylan Collier - Waikato
Scott Curry (c) - Bay of Plenty
Sam Dickson - Canterbury
Scott Gregory - Northland
Andrew Knewstubb - Horowhenua Kapiti
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Tim Mikkelson (c) - Waikato
Sione Molia - Counties Manukau
Jona Nareki - Otago
Amanaki Nicole - Canterbury
Joe Ravouvou - Auckland
Tone Ng Shiu - Ta$man
Regan Ware - Taranaki

Laidlaw said the team has come into the New Year refreshed and there has been an edge at training as they build towards the Hamilton event. 

“Obviously we picked up some injuries through Dubai and Cape Town so to have those guys back fit, healthy and available for selection for a home tournament is encouraging. 

“We’re as close to full strength as you can get and we’re really excited about putting that squad on the field. There are a few guys that haven’t played much rugby since the World Cup so we need to train right and get into day one well prepared and hopefully build through the tournament as we go,” said Laidlaw.

Co-captain Tim Mikkelson returns to play at his home stadium after missing the opening two legs of the Series due to the birth of his first child. 

Joe Ravouvou is also set to don the black jersey for the first time since his blockbusting World Cup campaign last July, having gained New Zealand citizenship to make him eligible for the World Series.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33611/all-blacks-sevens-squad-announced-for-hamilton

KiwiMurph

Be interesting to see the crowd this weekend in Hamilton. There are still tickets available and last year it had sold out by October. Only year 2 in Hamilton.

Sydney will have a drop in crowd numbers too this year I'd imagine as they've had to shift their event to a stadium in Homebush precinct as the SFS is being rebuilt.

Stargazer

Black Ferns 7s team for the Fast Four Tournament in Hamilton:

Shakira Baker - Waikato
Michaela Blyde - Bay of Plenty
Gayle Broughton - Taranaki
Rhiarna Ferris - Manawatu
Theresa Fitzpatrick - Auckland
Sarah Hirini (captain) - Manawatu
Tyla Nathan-Wong - Auckland
Alena Saili - Southland
Terina Te Tamaki - Waikato
Ruby Tui - Bay of Plenty
Stacey Waaka - Waikato
Katarina Whata-Simpkins - Wellington
Niall Williams - Auckland

The Black Ferns Sevens will take the field in New Zealand for the first time this weekend and Coach Allan Bunting has named a strong team for the invitational Fast Four tournament.

Midfielder Niall Williams returns from injury while Manawatu’s Rhiarna Ferris is set to make her debut.

Kelly Brazier joins Portia Woodman on the side lines, a calf injury ruling her out of the first tournament of the year.

The Black Ferns Sevens will come up against China, England and France in the Fast Four tournament, played alongside the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton.

.

Pool games:
Saturday, 26 January
v 󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @ 1.26pm NZT
v @ 5.10pm NZT

Sunday, 27 January
v @ 2.42pm NZT

.

LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 1 (channel 55).

Stargazer

All Blacks 7s squad for the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton:

1 Scott Curry
2 Tim Mikkelson
3 Tone Ng Shiu
4 Joe Ravouvou
5 Dylan Collier
6 Vilimoni Koroi
7 Sam Dickson
8 Andrew Knewstubb
9 Regan Ware
10 Kurt Baker
11 Jona Nareki
12 Sione Molia

*Scott Gregory is the travelling reserve
(So Amanaki Nicole is the unlucky player to miss out)
.

Pool games
Saturday, 26 January
12.36pm: v Japan
4.26pm: v Canada
8.36pm: v Spain

.

LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 1 (channel 55).

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33624/all-blacks-sevens-team-confirmed-for-hamilton

Bones

@Stargazer Tough on Nicole but hard to argue with those selected. Only one I'd consider swapping for is Nareki, but completely different positional players.

MN5

Hamilton.

Put on earth to host sevens and be less stink than palmy.

Higgins

Beautiful miss by England from right in front Samoa 12 England 10!!!!!!

KiwiMurph

Perry Baker may not play again this weekend - a bad head clash with a Tongan.

Stargazer

Awesome to see two upsets so early in the New Zealand Sevens, with Scotland beating France and Samoa beating England. Scotland has really improved the last two years, and France, well it's France. Unpredictable. Sometimes good, more often not.

Fiji crushing Wales is no surprise. Canada v Spain should be interesting. Canada is always there or theraabouts, but Spain is an up-and-comer.

Our All Blacks 7s shouldn't have a problem with Japan.

Stargazer

So this is where all the posts have gone, a separate thread.

Spain putting up a good fight against Canada, and the game ends in a draw! Spain could have won that; why that last player went for a grubber kick? Not sure he knows it himself.

Stargazer

Wow, great try from Molia! First NZ try of the tourney.

Stargazer

Now Nareki crosses the line. Knewstubb converts again. 14 - 0 NZ

Stargazer

Now, Knewstubb scores himself & converts his own try. 21 - 0 NZ

This could become a big score.

Stargazer

Dylan Collier scores the last try of the first half.

Half time: NZ 26 - 0 Japan

Stargazer

Geezus, that was good from Regan Ware! Try time!

33 - 0 NZ

Stargazer

Nareki! Great speed. 40 - 0 NZ

Stargazer

Great break from Ravouvou, and Koroi scores the try.

45 - 0 NZ

Stargazer

Ravouvou scores a try of his own in referee's time.

Full time: NZ 52 - 0 Japan

Great start for the AB7s, although it was more an opposed training run against the bottom-dwellers of the World Series.

Stargazer

The Black Ferns 7s will play at 1.26pm against England.

The Silver Fern

Hamilton 7s