2018-2019 World Sevens Series

[Stargazer]

@Machpants said in 2018-2019 World Sevens Series:

The girls need to give the boys some lessons!

One of the most noticeable differences is the urgency in the BF7s' defence that is often lacking in the AB7s' game. Ruby Tui and Niall Williams, in particular, are relentless! They just keep going; tackle, tackle, tackle! Also fewer handling errors and, relatively speaking, more players with great speed. If only the AB7s had the male equivalents of players like Blyde, Nathan-Wong and Brazier (and Woodman, when fit) ...

Obviously, the girls also play with a lot of confidence, something the men seem to be missing at times. Alan Bunting is probably also a better coach.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1127739594164797440

[Stargazer]

All Blacks 7s travelling squad for the London Sevens and Paris Sevens:

Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)
Kurt Baker (Manawatu)
Dylan Collier (Waikato)
Scott Gregory (Northland)
Andrew Knewstubb (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Vilimoni Koroi (Otago)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki (Otago)
Tone Ng Shiu ( Ta$man)
Joseva Rovouvou (Auckland)
Regan Ware (Taranaki)
Joe Webber (Bay of Plenty)

Scott Gregory and Vilimoni Koroi return from injury to bolster the travelling squad, while Sam Dickson, Trael Joass and Niko Jones are currently sidelined.  

A six week break since the last tournament has seen the All Blacks Sevens squad have a chance to refresh.  

“It’s felt like a mini pre season in a way. We had a couple of weeks away from each other and everyone came back quite excited. We have had a look at our game and reflected where we are at and there is a desire to finish the season with quality performances,” said Laidlaw.  

At the past two tournaments the All Blacks Sevens suffered quarterfinal defeats, but Laidlaw said that’s no reason to panic. 

“You need a huge amount of perspective when you lose. There are a couple of areas of the game we want to improve but at the same time there are a lot of things that have been going really well.”

The All Blacks Sevens currently sit third on the World Series standings and need to finish in the top four to confirm Olympic Qualification.  

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34138/all-blacks-sevens-seeking-strong-finish-in-europe

[Stargazer]

I'd be surprised if Gregory is still in the squad for the Paris Sevens (1-2 June) as the first NZU20 JWC game is on 5 June.

[Bones]

@Stargazer reading through that squad now it's starting to look really good. Webber, Ware, Molia, Baker have been there done that and can really be relied upon. Ng Shiu and Gregory have been smashing it up and Nareki is really starting to get comfortable and prove dangerous.

Ravouvou is the weak link there, but damn he can be deadly when he occasionally turns it on.

Any idea what's happened to McGarvey-Black?

[Stargazer]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/112944946/nz-sevens-team-limited-to-one-player-from-each-super-rugby-team-for-olympics

[Snowy]

That seems really wrong and unfair. The players should get to choose their own future.

[Machpants]

@Snowy they have chosen their own future, they've signed a contract to a super rugby team. If they really want to play sevens they can sign for that the sevens side instead.

[Snowy]

@Machpants Did they know this when they signed, or did they think that they had a chance to be Olympians as well? Could they have chosen a different franchise if the way was blocked by another sevens player in a particular team?

[Stargazer]

So who could these players be, if they wanted to? My guess:

Blues: Clarke
Chiefs: Nanai-Seturo
Hurricanes: ?? I doubt Ardie will give it another crack. Salesi Rayasi?
Crusaders: Reece
Highlanders: ???

[Tim]

Wouldn't DMac be a great sevens player?

[Stargazer]

@Tim I think he'll be too busy next year to re-gain a spot in the ABs.

[Bones]

@Stargazer said in 2018-2019 World Sevens Series:

So who could these players be, if they wanted to? My guess:

Blues: Clarke
Chiefs: Nanai-Seturo
Hurricanes: ?? I doubt Ardie will give it another crack. Salesi Rayasi?
Crusaders: Reece
Highlanders: ???

Think you're probably closer to the mark but in fantasy land I'll take...
Akira
Weber/DMac
Beauds
Todd
Hunt

[taniwharugby]

I know he is someone who cops alot of shit here, but I reckon Tevita Li would be excellent in 7s.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Fast enough, but too many brain farts.

[Stargazer]

All Blacks 7s squad for the London Sevens this weekend:

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

*Joe Ravouvou is the travelling reserve.

“It’s really encouraging to have most of the guys fit and available, we are really excited by this team we’ve got,” said All Blacks Sevens Coach Clark Laidlaw.

Speedstar Joe Ravouvou has been named as 13th man, which Laidlaw says shows the strength of the backline and rewards players like Jona Nareki and Regan Ware who are having breakthrough seasons. 

Olympic Qualification is also front of mind, the All Blacks Sevens currently sit in third behind USA and Fiji. They are nine and 23 points ahead of South Africa and England respectively and need to produce two solid performances over the coming weekends to cement their position in the top four.

Pool games
Saturday, 25 May (NZT)
10.42pm: v Scotland

Sunday, 26 May
1.48am: v Ireland
5.16am: v England

LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 2 (Channel 56)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34174/all-blacks-sevens-prepared-for-tough-challenge-in-london

[Stargazer]

I missed most of the first half, but saw that great try from Scott Curry after the hooter.

Half time: NZ 14 - 0 Scotland

[Stargazer]

Yes, great try from Gregory! He's so hard to stop. Strong. The conversion from Knewstub is good.

21 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Try Scotland.

21 - 7 NZ

[Stargazer]

NZ dominating the breakdown. Looking good.