2017-18 World Sevens Series
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I'm still hoping they'll find someone with speed ...
All Blacks sevens coach Clark Laidlaw says a tournament victory has come sooner than he anticipated. New Zealand had gone 21 months without a world series tournament victory before before easily beating Argentina in the final in South Africa today. ... "I'm not sure if we were expecting it - it's come a bit sooner than we thought. It's very pleasing," said Scot Laidlaw, on his team's progress in the last two weeks. "We were pretty lucky with the group we've got, no brand new players, got a real mix (of experience), a lot of confidence out of last weekend." ... Laidlaw told the Radio Sport Breakfast that New Zealand lacked the outright speed of players such as American flyer Perry Baker. It was up to the coaches to find ways of compensating for that "(through) anticipation, reading play and decision making".http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11957263
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@stargazer said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
I'm still hoping they'll find someone with speed ...
It would be nice but can't always have everything. Have done well in sevens for many years with more of a power game and being accurate at the breakdown / tackle area. Seem to be developing a better off load game (and better decision making again- whether to throw the pass or take the contact).
I do wonder if things just got a bit stale in Titch's last few years but they look pretty organised again. Titch also bemoaned some lack of speed at times so played to our strengths.
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@stargazer said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
I think this was the first time the All Blacks 7s performed their own, new haka?
They might have been waiting to do this haka for the last 18 months.
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@kiwimurph said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
Looks like schoolboy sensation Etene Nanai (who was thought to be NRL/Warriors bound) is training with the NZ 7s team. Wonder if he might turn out at the national 7s tournament.
Good news. Titch was very good at identifying up and comers but his method of spotting/assessing them only at Nationals faded over the years as the players that shone there were usually already on a XVs pathway they didn't want to disrupt.
Catching these guys even earlier and getting a season or two out of them as part of their development toward XVs has shifted to a younger age group now.
There is no way the likes of Cully or Jonah would have had time in Sevens these days as they would be in Super rugby extended squads before leaving school.I have heard stories through the grapevine that may be indicative of where Sevens lost its way a little. Players like Ambrose Curtis felt stuck in no mans land with both 7s and 15s teams wanting him but with no medium/long term security from either he just kept wobbling between the two and has never really kicked on. I got the impression that if a proper plan/pathway had been put in place for him he could have developed into a much better player in 7s then transferred those skills back to XVs
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All Blacks 7s squad for the Sydney Sevens (* indicates new caps):
Kurt Baker (Manawatu)
Caleb Clarke (Auckland)*
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
Andrew Knewstubb ( Ta$man)
Vilimoni Koroi (Otago)
Luke Masirewa (Bay of Plenty)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Joe Ravouvou (Auckland)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Regan Ware (Bay of Plenty)
Joe Webber (Bay of Plenty)The squad’s only debutant, 18-year-old Caleb Clarke, son of former All Black Eroni Clarke, has been named, while Luke Masirewa returns to the national team after last appearing in 2013.Laidlaw said the squad returned from the summer break in fantastic condition. “We had 15 out of 17 players record Personal Bests in the fitness testing which seems ridiculous after a few weeks away. But the break was good because we’d had a lot happening since we centralised, so the players time away and they have returned really refreshed.” The only changes from the Cape Town tournament see Clarke and Masirewa replace the injured Trael Joass and Dylan Collier.Clarke joins the All Blacks Sevens environment from Investec Super Rugby pre-season training with the Blues. “We’ve worked closely with the Blues to have Caleb released to train with us and he is part of our plan to build depth heading into the Commonwealth Games. He’s a big, powerful winger and we are really excited about unleashing him.” Masirewa joined the squad on Monday after an impressive Bayleys National Sevens campaign with Bay of Plenty. Laidlaw said it has been a long-term plan getting Masirewa back in the back jersey.Pool games
Friday, 26 January
9.50pm v RussiaSaturday, 27 January
6.31pm v Samoa
9.42pm v Fijihttp://www.allblacks.com/News/31936/new-and-old-faces-named-in-first-all-blacks-sevens-squad-of-2018
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Black Ferns 7s squad for the Sydney Sevens:
Shakira Baker (Waikato)
Michaela Blyde (Bay of Plenty)
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
Gayle Broughton (Taranaki)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland)
Sarah Goss (Manawatu)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
Alena Saili (Southland)
Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Ruby Tui (Bay of Plenty)
Stacey Waaka (Waikato)
Niall Williams (Auckland)
Tenika Willison (Waikato)
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau)Bunting has made two changes from the team that finished fifth at the Dubai tournament in December. Waikato players Shakira Baker and Terina Te Tamaki return to the playing squad with the last appearance for both players being France last June. They replace the injured Kat Whata-Simpkins and Kayla McAlister (overseas).Pool games
Friday, 26 January
1.06pm v Japan
3.50pm v England
6.12pm v USAIt looks like the women have a much tougher schedule than the men, playing earlier in the day - so much hotter temperatures - and 3 games on day 1.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/31937/experienced-black-ferns-team-named-for-sydney
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How many of the NZ sevens squad played in the National sevens tournament?
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Good call having Caleb Clarke in there. I forgot how young he is (18) given he has already played NZ U20s last year. As much as i'd love to see him unleashed for the Blues there is no need to rush him this season - 7s is a good option for his development at this stage.
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@bovidae said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
How many of the NZ sevens squad played in the National sevens tournament?
I may have missed one or two, but I only remember seeing Baker, Masirewa and Stanaway in the men's tournament.
Almost all female players played; I think only Tui didn't play due to a minor injury.For context, the AB7s played in Dubai (1-2 Dec) and Cape Town (9-10 Dec), while the BF7s only played in Dubai.
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Super interested to see how Caleb Clarke goes. Was awesome schoolboy and at u20 WC last for some one only turned 18!! Big boy too, 188cm, 107kg. Interested because we can compare in some respects to Reiko who at just turning 18 also played NZ7s and dominated, and we all know how he has developed! Can Clarke have a similar impact at same age?
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Not surprisingly Caleb Clarke named as 13th man for Sydney so won't play unless injuries to others.
What is surprising is Etene Nanai has made the squad - out of St Kents/NZ Schoolboys - turned down the Warriors and signed to Chiefs I believe.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/31951/fresh-faces-named-in-all-blacks-sevens-team
1. Scott Curry 2. Tim Mikkelson 3. Teddy Stanaway 4. Joe Ravouvou 5. Luke Masirewa 6. Vilimoni Koroi 7. Sam Dickson 8. Andrew Knewstubb 9. Regan Ware 10. Kurt Baker 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo* 12. Sione Molia 13. Caleb Clarke* -
@kiwimurph Nanai indeed wasn't originally in the squad (named last week). It looks like he has been brought in to replace Joe Webber.
All Blacks 7s - Pool games
Friday, 26 January - LIVE on SKY Sport Pop Up 2 (Sky Sport 6 - Ch 56)
9.50pm v RussiaSaturday, 27 January - LIVE on SKY Sport Pop Up 1 (Sky Sport 5 - Ch 55)
6.31pm v Samoa
9.42pm v Fiji -
Black Ferns 7s for Sydney:
1 Ruby Tui
2 Alena Saili
3 Stacey Waaka
4 Niall Williams
5 Sarah Goss – captain
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
8 Kelly Brazier
9 Gayle Broughton
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Portia Woodman
12 Tenika WillisonShakira Baker and Terina Te Tamaki seem to have missed out. They were the extra players brought in to replace injured Whata-Simpkins and Kayla McAlister (who's joined Pita Ahki in Ireland, I believe, with their daughter).
Pool games
Friday, 26 January
1.06pm v Japan
3.50pm v England
6.12pm v USALIVE on SKY Sport Pop Up 2 (Sky Sport 6 - Ch 56)
http://www.allblacks.com/News/31949/black-ferns-sevens-team-named-for-sydney-sevens
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@bovidae It's weird, isn't it? I remember that last year they said she was not selected because she was too keen, or something like that. Bunting has been spot on with his selections since he's been in charge, having such a huge success rate, but I don't get this.
