2023 World Sevens Series

[Stargazer]

First tournament (men's): Hong Kong - 4-6 November 2022

Unavailable due to injury: Kitiona Vai, Andrew Knewstubb, Roderick Solo, Che Clark, & Lewis Ormond

Mikkelson returns from an injury that has kept him side-lined throughout the 2022 season, approaching the remarkable milestone of 100 international sevens tournaments.

The team also welcomes back Joe Webber, Dylan Collier and Leroy Carter who missed the Rugby World Cup Sevens through injury.

Pool games (times are NZT):

Friday 4 November 2022
11.35pm: All Blacks Sevens v Samoa

Saturday 5 November 2022
6.35pm: All Blacks Sevens v Hong Kong
11.03pm: All Blacks Sevens v Australia

https://www.allblacks.com/news/tim-mikkelson-returns-for-99th-all-blacks-sevens-tournament/

[ARHS]

Wow, that is a strong squad? Strange that there is nothing about the omission of Scott Curry, when I thought that might be a headline. Has he retired? Glad to see Timmy back and the century of appearances is imminent.

I had expected Tepaea Cook-Savage to be in there, replacing Caleb Tangitau, and maybe Liam Coombes-Fabling too as a speedster. Both are better suited to 7s than Super rugby in my view. I presume Brady Rush, Trael Joass and Rhodes Featherstone remain in the squad.

Does anyone know who is now in the squad, and not travelling to this one?

[KiwiMurph]

Mikkelson tweaked his achilles today and is out. Replacement to be named.

Might be time to retire Timmy.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph That's awful. About to make his return from injury, and then getting injured again before actually playing. Must be tough to deal with setbacks like that.

[ARHS]

@KiwiMurph Bloody Hell!!!

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

[Bones]

@ARHS said in 2023 World Sevens Series:

Strange that there is nothing about the omission of Scott Curry

Yeah what's that all about. It's like he doesn't even exist...

[KiwiMurph]

The Sydney leg confirmed for the new SFS/Allianz Stadium.

Timing wise with Australia Day the Thursday 26th a lot of people might be taking a long weekend (the flip side is a lot of people might go away).

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph I remember this being the case a few years ago, too. It wasn't good for crowd numbers then.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer Yeah the good news is with a few years away from the SFS, the new SFS being flash-bang and the location much more favourable compared to recent years for the Sydney rugby-going public (they simply won't travel out west) - they should still get solid numbers

[Stargazer]

Spain really pushed the USA in this game.
USA 15 - 14 Spain

[Stargazer]

France is destroying GB.

[KiwiMurph]

This NZ team really lacks pace - even more so than usual.

[Stargazer]

Nothing to see there. Head against shoulder. No head clash. Play on.

[Stargazer]

That's bs. There was no head contact.

Edit: different camera angle. Double head against shoulder. Correct yellow.

[KiwiMurph]

Unlucky there.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph The only reason he got yellow and the Samoan player didn't, is the fact that the Samoan player had the ball. I know it's what the laws are now, but it just doesn't seem fair.

[Stargazer]

Come on NZ! This may be the first game of the tournament, but it's a must-win with Australia in the same pool.

[Stargazer]

Yuck. 10 - 0 to Samoa