2023 World Sevens Series
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Some observations from the ground. Not sure the cameras pick up everything.
For NZ women Blyde Fluhler and Miller were fantastic. Jorja has gone next level. But there are synching issues in backline when Blyde runs from deep. I am sure it will be improved and make us even better. Hotham now finding her legs at this level and promising a lot. Was notable that Hirini Woodman and Williams spent a lot of time on the bench so a changing of the guard was visible.
Was hugely impressed by Japanese women who have improved markedly. Bodes well for the competition.
The approach from USA was weird. Always took the crash and did not look to put the runner into space when they had one there.
NZ men do well with restricted patterns that use well the players they have. Solo was a breath of fresh air. Tactics and players must change forward around him. Rokolisoa was hot and cold but he and Carter posed plenty of threats. Webber was much improved until the final but lacks players running off him. Dickson was great and Collier was far better than comments on here suggest. Our big pair shepherd opposition runners into the tackle and are then quickly at breakdown to contest. Works well. Brady Rush is becoming more effective now too.
We missed having Ng Shiu and Mikkelsen as our power runners making line breaks. And we need a couple of speed threats. Solo should be one. Molia has lost his sharpness and Ware has declining work rate. Wish we had a Henry Patterson type in NZ.
Crowd was up and down with the Fijians leaving in droves after a loss. Brilliant when they were there and for the finals. Ground announcer left a bit to be desired with no updates on pools or finals draws or ground 2 results and an apparent ban on saying if an upcoming match was men or women. Could hear a huge amount of confusion in the crowd about matches coming up. The app was confusing a lot too with separate achedules. Finally it was annoying the announcer would not call scorers names properly always trying to change tone or elongate like an American boxing mc. Hard to understand the name quite often if you wondered who had scored a spectacular try.
That grumble aside everything else was great for spectators. Great atmosphere and such a shame the series is leaving NZ now. -
@Stargazer said in 2023 World Sevens Series:
@Bovidae Do they play in the same position?
Both fullbacks at 1st XV level although Tito-Harris was at 2nd 5 in the NZ Schools team to accommodate both. Tito-Harris also played at the World Schools 7s so has more sevens experience.
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Sydney 7s is over 3 days which is always a bit clunky.
Friday schedule.
BF 7s vs PNG - 1.06pm local (3.06pm NZT)
AB 7s vs Uruguay - 3.28pm local (5.28pm NZT)
BF 7s vs France - 7.05pm local (9.05pm NZT)
@KiwiMurph said in 2023 World Sevens Series:
Sydney 7s is over 3 days which is always a bit clunky.
Friday schedule.
BF 7s vs PNG - 1.06pm local (3.06pm NZT)
AB 7s vs Uruguay - 3.28pm local (5.28pm NZT)
BF 7s vs France - 7.05pm local (9.05pm NZT)
Better that way than the crammed schedule in Hamilton in my view
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Teams for Sydney:
All Blacks Sevens team is:
2 Brady Rush
4 Akuila Rokolisoa
5 Dylan Collier
6 Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
7 Sam Dickson (Captain)
9 Amanaki Nicole
11 Joe Webber
12 Leroy Carter
21 Che Clark
23 Lewis Ormond
27 Sione Molia
44 Roderick Solo
74 Payton Spencer
Unavailable for selection: Andrew Knewstubb, Kitiona Vai, Moses Leo, Regan Ware, Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson, Tone Ng Shiu (injury).
Black Ferns Sevens team is:
3 Stacey Fluhler
4 Niall Guthrie
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
13 Jazmin Felix-Hotham
22 Shiray Kaka
26 Tysha Ikenasio
34 Sarah Hirini (Captain)
77 Risi Pouri-Lane
83 Jorja Miller
99 Tenika Willison
Unavailable for selection: Alena Saili, Kelly Brazier, Mahina Paul (injury).https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-and-black-ferns-sevens-teams-set-for-sydney/
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Haven't seen the game, but the Black Ferns 7s beat PNG 48 to 0 in their first game.
https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/stage/2120/match#match-30935
