2016-2017 World Sevens Series
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I'm wondering whether they're recruiting players the wrong way. If you look at the women's Going for Gold programme, they held trials in which athletes from all codes could participate. They selected the fastest, strongest and most talented women, including several players who had never played rugby, such as netballers, footballers, league and touch players etc.
Now, I know that way more men play rugby than women, but maybe they should attempt to open up that pool of athletes from other codes as well? Also, what selection criteria do they use? In the interview with Mason Emerson that I posted above, you can read they didn't test players on speed ...
Another question to consider is whether the fact that Super Rugby is a more attractive career option is hurting sevens. There are several aspects to this. One is that if Super Rugby and sevens are fishing in the same pond, SR is getting the best players and sevens gets the left-overs. That may be the reality, but I think that's the wrong approach. Sevens is a different code for 7s specialists, with different requirements. The selection criteria should be different for sevens than for XVs; speed has been mentioned often. There are probably others. Sevens should not get the leftovers from SR, but an different type of player more suited to sevens. Couple that to a centralised programme and good coaches, and maybe we'll be getting somewhere?
Returning to the comparison with the women's sevens: there is an overlap between sevens and XVs. Two of the Black Ferns who played against Ireland last Sunday flew straight to Dubai to play sevens on Thursday (Kelly Brazier and Portia Woodman). A few other sevens players play XVs but not all of them, just like only a few of the XVs players play sevens. There is some overlap, but no hierarchy between the two codes. Some players had never played XVs before playing sevens. I don't think there is one player in the All Black 7s who has never played XVs. I think most or all of them play or have played at NPC level. Maybe they should start the specialisation of sevens straight at junior level? Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.
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From the inteview with interim-coach Tomasi Cama as published on stuff:
Lack of preparation was a factor in the lacklustre start to the post-Sir Gordon Tietjens coaching era, Cama believed. "We had a week to get together, that's not a lot of time an obviously the boys haven't been playing any sevens at all since the Olympics so we were behind from the get-go," said Cama, who is coaching with ex-All Black Scott Waldrom until permanent coach Clark Laidlaw arrives from England in January.I thought he was only available from June?
"It's pleasing to make the top eight considering we were in a pool of death," Cama told The Gulf News in Dubai. "But we got taught a good lesson that if you come under-prepared at this level that's what you're going to get. (..) "I guess it was down to a lot of things," he said. "We weren't smart enough at the start of the game, we had a plan to execute out there but things do change and you have to adapt (..) Cama said New Zealand created enough opportunities, but did not execute effectively, but he felt "the boys were flat in their warm-up" against South Africa."So only one week of preparation will clearly be a factor. Is this all due to the late appointment of the coaches? Why weren't interim-coaches appointed immediately after Titch stepped down (until the moment a new coach was appointed and/or started his new job)? Couldn't they have trained together without a head coach?
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You can't use that as an excuse after the fact. NZ looked OK vs Samoa but were well beaten by England and SA.
Dickson and Stanaway are injured I think, Webber probably is too. I'm not sure what the situation is with Ware. Certainly there hasn't been a big change in players or more importantly tactics that I can see.
Contrast that to the Sevens Sisters who are much more aggressive at the breakdown - which is where Aust dominated them last year.
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@Stargazer said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
From the inteview with interim-coach Tomasi Cama as published on stuff:
Lack of preparation was a factor in the lacklustre start to the post-Sir Gordon Tietjens coaching era, Cama believed. "We had a week to get together, that's not a lot of time an obviously the boys haven't been playing any sevens at all since the Olympics so we were behind from the get-go," said Cama, who is coaching with ex-All Black Scott Waldrom until permanent coach Clark Laidlaw arrives from England in January.I thought he was only available from June?
Hit the bright lights of Rotherham today to watch London Irish play. Clark was chatting to fans pre game. As far as I'm aware he's leaving at the end of the season (June), so would be interesting to know if that had changed.
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@RaGe_X said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
Couple thoughts:
- I'm surprised that the coaching succession plan which the 15's follow was not followed.
- Would swap our good 14 minute performances for your 80 min ones any day.
Re point 1. It really wasn't until last yesr (or so) that Titch looked at all vulnerable. I suspect there will be a revised management of the 7s programme going forward.
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Cape Town Sevens:
Pool A:
SA looked great in Dubai but Aussie and USA are teams on the up well capable of upsets. Still expect them to top it.Pool B:
Fiji should canter through their pool.Pool
Will be a real fight for top spot. Kiwis looked flat in Dubai but I expect them to be much improved in Cape Town. England continue to look great. And don't write off the Argies. Toughest pool in my view.PoolD:
On Dubai form, Wales look likely to be on top, but I expect a much better showing from Samoa. -
@Margin_Walker said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
Hit the bright lights of Rotherham today to watch London Irish play.
That can't possibly have been as much fun as it sounds.
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It was everything I dreamed it would be and more
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@Margin_Walker said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
It was everything I dreamed it would be and more
You might want to lay off the cheese before bedtime...
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NZ squad for the Cape Town Sevens:
Scott Curry (Captain)
Tim Mikkelson
Antonio Kiri Kiri
DJ Forbes
Dylan Collier
Iopu Iopu-Aso
Rocky Khan
Sherwin Stowers
Jonathan Ruru
Isaac Te Tamaki
Sione Molia
Junior NgaluafeTravelling Reserves
Billy Ropiha
Dan HollinsheadPool matches (NZT):
Saturday 10 December
9:59pm: v ArgentinaSunday 11 December
1:20am: v Canada
5:03am: v EnglandSKY Sport Pop-Up 4 (CH058)
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30202/all-blacks-sevens-squad-for-cape-town-tournament-named
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Collier is an absolute tool. Geez, NZ was going well and leading 14-0, when he swung his arm high against the neck/head of his opponent (Hirayama, who had to go off for a concussion test, which he failed). Result: yellow card and Canada took advantage, scoring 2 tries (one converted) when they had one man more on the field.
Final score: 19-19 and with NZ still to play England, which is clearly the best team in the pool, this draw may not be enough for NZ to reach the Cup Quarters!
I also wouldn't be surprised if Collier will get a suspension because that yellow could easily have been red.
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@Stargazer I've never been able to understand Collier's selection, even odder to find out it's not because he had dodgy stuff on Titch.
Anyway, not quite spot on there with England. We rolled them well and truly. The bounce of the ball certainly wasn't going their way but there was a good focused intensity about the team which has been lacking recently. Mikkelson looks to be getting back in great form as does Curry and Forbes looked like a different man, was devastating with the ball!
We are really lacking a dominant play maker though.
Edit: think the score was 33-7.
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@Bones Yes, I liked this game, except for the ref. Thought he was quite pedantic and, initially, thought he hated the colour black and was going to penalise the Kiwis for everything he possibly could. Until the second half, when he did exactly the same pedantic stuff to the English team. There were times I wished he would swallow that whistle. One big difference between the two teams was that when the AB7s were a man down, they kept on playing well (despite letting in one converted try). The English, on the other hand, became disorganised without their 7th man and it became easy for our boys to score points. The Poms never seemed to come back from that, but I found that penalty try quite harsh on them.
Indeed, Mikkelson is looking really good; I also understand why they select Molia and Iopu-Aso, who are powerful runners (although not quite like the Ioane bros). Collier and also Kiri Kiri shouldn't be there. Too early to tell whether Te Tamaki and Ngaluafe add enough to the team. As to a playmaker, Ruru is still a rookie, so I'd give him some time to develop. I do wonder, whether Kaka has left the sevens game for good, or whether he'll return after the Japanese competition has finished. Also, we will maybe see some new players being introduced after the National 7s? We need a fast runner in additional to the powerful guys.
Anyway, NZ still on track (leading their pool) and in the Cup QF.
Next game v Kenya at 11.26pm tonight.
By the way, what's wrong with the Aussies? Didn't make the Cup QF.
