2016-2017 World Sevens Series
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I always wondered what the fringe AB7s players do to stay match fit, just in case they get a call-up when a regular squad member gets injured. You know they hold camps, also in-between tournaments, but that's not the same as real game time.
The fringe ABs (XVs) play Mitre 10 Cup during the Rugby Championship; fringe Super Rugby players first play for their franchise's Development or U20s team, and then club rugby. But for 7s? Playing XVs doesn't really seem the right preparation.
That's apparently where all those invitational 7s tournaments come in. Mason Emerson, who is one of those fringe AB7s players, posted a photo on his instagram of a jersey he's wearing this weekend while playing for the NZ Borneo Eagles. So I started googling and found an article (link below) with more info. Interesting, this invitational side is basically the NZ Development team (at least for this tournament). I couldn't find a team list, unfortunately. I did notice that some other teams participating in this tournament also include NZ players.
However, following the tournament on FB and via a live stream, they beat the Singapore 7s team 60-0 and another invitational team, Cobra, 57-0. You may only hope they'll still meet tougher opposition; otherwise, how much do they gain from playing these games?
Tournament schedule (Borneo time is 5 hours behind NZT): http://borneoeagles.com/?page_id=119 (have to scroll down)
The NZ Borneo Eagles next games are at 7.20pm & 10.20pm NZT.Livestream: http://www.facebook.com/eaglesrc/videos/900240433491039/
Article: http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/14296
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Update: The NZ Borneo Eagles have won the Cup Final of the Borneo 7s Tournament, just like last year. In the Final, they beat Tribe 7s 19 to 14.
Earlier today, they won the QF 21-17 against DBKL and the SF 34-0 against Sabah Eagles.
Here's the team photo, so we can see who some of these fringe AB7s are. Several familiar faces, but - as usual - I cannot put names to them, except Jonathan Ruru (holds trophy with ribbon) and Mason Emerson (front row, with bandage below his right knee). Edit: Billy Ropiha is not in this group, but maybe he's injured.
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Interesting to read how carefully NZR is planning the rugby future of Koroi (and players like him), and the way they're hoping to build a seamless transition back and forth between the All Blacks 7s and Super Rugby/All Blacks.
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All Blacks 7s squad for the Hong Kong 7s:
Scott Curry - Captain (Bay of Plenty)
Dylan Collier (Southland)
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Iopu Iopu-Aso (Taranaki)
Trael Joass ( Ta$man)
Vilimoni Koroi (Otago)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Joe Ravouvou (Auckland)
Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki)
Regan Ware (Bay of Plenty)Thirteenth player:
Andrew Knewstubb ( Ta$man)Travelling reserve:
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)Pool games in NZT:
Friday 7th April 2017
11.32pm: v WalesSaturday 8th April 2017
4.50pm: v Japan
9.12pm: v FijiWhere to watch in NZ?
Sky Sport 6 (ch 56)http://www.allblacks.com/News/30580/all-blacks-sevens-team-for-hong-kong-named
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As you can read in the article on the All Blacks website, this week are also the Hong Kong 10s and several fringe AB7s (or players coming back from injury) will take part. For example, Joe Webber, Tone Ng Shiu, Lewis Ormond and Teddy Stanaway will play for the Penguins. The same team also includes Johan Bardoul, Tau Koloamatangi, Bay of Plenty's Jesse Parete and Lalakai Foketi, and North Harbour flanker Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a. If experience from previous years is something to go by, other teams will have a few Kiwis on their team lists as well (that page of the website hasn't been updated yet).
Draw: http://www.hongkongtens.com/match.php?cid=10
NZT = Hong Kong time + 4 hours
The GFI HKFC 10s is broadcast live on the official website (www.hongkongtens.com) and YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/hkfc10s
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When does the coach turn up?
@antipodean After his last season with London Irish has finished. According to the NZ Herald, he starts at 1 June.
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There are a few players in that squad that have looked ordinary so I wouldn't be pointing the finger at just Collier. Iopu-Aso is one of them.
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Good to see Ravouvou added. I was surprised he wasn't selected after the national 7's
He's got the attributes you would expect - big, fast etc - but it was his decision making stood out in the provincial 7's. In particular his decisions on defence saved Aucklands arse a few times
Hopefully that ability stays with him at international level.
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About the Hong Kong Tens:
Just watched the Penguins with all those Kiwis, including AB7s players. They beat the Silver Dragons 36 to 0.
The stream quality is not great, and the commentary is terrible (more general chat than commentating).In the draw, if you click on the "i" on the right, you can see the team line-ups ("show players"). As I said, quite a few Kiwis also in other teams. To give a few examples: Regan King in the Irish Vikings squad; Penikolo Latu (former Magpies & Waikato Dev player) playing for UBB Gavekal; Isaac Ross, Atunaisa Masirewa, Cardiff Vaega for the Asia Pacific Dragons; Luke Masirewa for A-Trade Overseas Old Boys; Sam Vaka, Penitoa Finau, Kurt Eklund, Baden Kerr & Mark Jackman for Tradition YCAC; Trent Hape (2016 Hastings BHS) for GoCloudWifi East Africans.
