2016-2017 World Sevens Series
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Played like a bunch of amateurs, embarrassing.
The thing which kills my spirit is when you see guys like Booth, Joass, Ormond, etc who if you saw them playing for Japan or Russia or something, you'd think they were a plucky battler. These guys just aren't the calibre of player we're used to seeing in the NZ 7's.
Think Scooter was a bit out of his depth too. The stark contrast is whenever they cut to the halftime huddles and he's there saying basic, generic stuff - "Let's keep our d-line", etc, then they cut to the other huddle and the opposition coach is bringing up detailed observations and tactics from the first half.
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More than half the NZ squad has been gradually introduced this year, on average two new players per tournament, Houston and Samuels this tournament. All due to an incredible number of injuries and several of last year's players leaving (including the Ioane brothers and Kaka). The most talented newbie (Koroi) has been handed over to his Mitre 10 Club side. I guess we couldn't expect much more with an equally inexperienced coach.
Apart from lack of experience, the constant changes in the squad didn't help creating good combinations. The players simply didn't know each other well enough on the field.
Looking forward to next year, with hopefully some positive changes.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
That's not the first time NZ have been run down from a big lead this season. Happened multiple times - almost happened in pool play vs Canada.
I wonder why. Fitness? Loss of concentration? Is it an age thing (so many young players)?
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When 7s was purely a feeder into 15s we were the best as our 'up and comers' where quite a bit better then most other countries. But now that is no longer the case, and you need specialised 7s players that have to commit all of their time to the game, we don't have that talent available as the best players are focusing on 15s - and fair enough too.
We are a small country, and I'm not convinced we have the depth of players available to make up both the best 7s and 15s teams in the world. And TBH I'm pretty comfortable with our focus on 15s.
One thing we should never have done though is give them the 'All Blacks' name when it was pretty obvious they would never be able to produce the quality of performance associated with that brand long-term.
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Breaking (cause everything is breaking these days): Hamilton to be home of the NZ 7s. Wellington gggooonnnee.
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So Scotland has won the London Sevens. At least the AB7s were stopped from reaching the Cup SF by the tournament winners!
Scotland has been good all year. The signs were already there last year, when they also won the London Sevens.
In the overall standings, South Africa are the Series winners, with England and Fiji finishing second and third. New Zealand ended the season at fourth place without any tournament win.
Japan has dropped out of the core group and Spain will take its place in the 2017/18 Series.
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@No-Quarter said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
When 7s was purely a feeder into 15s we were the best as our 'up and comers' where quite a bit better then most other countries. But now that is no longer the case, and you need specialised 7s players that have to commit all of their time to the game, we don't have that talent available as the best players are focusing on 15s - and fair enough too.
We are a small country, and I'm not convinced we have the depth of players available to make up both the best 7s and 15s teams in the world. And TBH I'm pretty comfortable with our focus on 15s.
I think we probably do, it's just that those who can play 15s appear to do so and the NZR doesn't appear to be providing direction on this.
For example, if you take the three Ta$man players in the Sevens squad - Trael Joass was the Mako$ 4th ranked midfielder last year - behind Havili, Fonotia and Nankivell.
Tone Ng Shui got called in for a while as loose forward cover - I think he even got a few minutes off the bench.
I'd never heard of Knewstubb and to the best of my knowledge he's never been in the 15 a-side frame for the Mako$.
Now 15s and 7s are different games - but, not that different. IMO Sevens is not close to tapping the best players it could, because pretty much anyone who can play Super rugby is choosing it over Sevens - with maybe a handful of exceptions e.g. Stowers.
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This is the Black Ferns 7s team for the Canada Sevens (in Langford), which will be played this weekend (* indicates new cap):
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Captain) - Auckland
Shakira Baker - Waikato
Michaela Blyde - Bay of Plenty
Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga - Manawatu
Jess Drummond - Ta$man
Theresa Fitzpatrick - Auckland
Crystal Mayes - Manawatu
Cheyelle Robins-Reti - Waikato
Alena Saili - Southland
Ruby Tui - Canterbury
Katarina Whata-Simpkins - Wellington
Niall Williams - AucklandTravelling reserves:
Lyric Faleafaga - Wellington
Tayla Reti* - ManawatuPool games:
Sunday 28 May 2017 (NZT)
5:52am: v The Netherlands
8:36am: v USA
11:20am: v EnglandWhere to watch?
I wish I knew. Nothing in the Sky schedule (yet), apart from the finals on Monday morning.http://www.allblacks.com/News/30796/new-look-black-ferns-sevens-squad-named-for-canada-tournament
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Five top players are missing from the squad because they have been selected for the Black Ferns, who are preparing for their International Series (3 tests in June) and the Women's Rugby World Cup:
Captain Sarah Goss
Portia Woodman
Kelly Brazier
Stacey Waaka
Renee WickliffeEspecially the first three players will be sorely missed, but hopefully their 10 point lead over Australia (12 pnts over Canada) will be enough to win the Series this year. These main opponents are also preparing for the June tests and the World Cup after all.
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The Black Ferns 7s have beaten the Netherlands 17 to 10 in their first game of the Canada Sevens.
Couldn't watch the game because Sky isn't broadcasting the women's games and has the World Rugby livestream geo-blocked. My geo-unblocker doesn't work on that site for some reason. Fuck Sky!
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@Stargazer said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
Fiji 24 - 24 Australia. Great result for Fiji!
That's a massive improvement.
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