2018-2019 World Sevens Series

Stargazer

This is the Black Ferns 7s squad for the Dubai Sevens:

Shakira Baker (Waikato)
Michaela Blyde (Bay of Plenty)
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
Gayle Broughton (Taranaki)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland)
Sarah Goss (captain) (Manawatu)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
Risi Pouri-Lane ( Ta$man)
Alena Saili (Southland)
Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Ruby Tui (Bay of Plenty)
Stacey Waaka (Waikato)
Katarina Whata-Simpkins (Wellington)

The Black Fern Sevens will be without Portia Woodman and Niall Williams for the HSBC Dubai Sevens at the end of this month, after injury ruled both players out of contention.

Their absence sees the return of Gayle Broughton and Stacey Waaka – who will meet the squad in Dubai straight from the Black Ferns XVs tour in France, while Youth Olympic Games captain Risi Pouri-Lane is also named in the 13-player squad that travels to the United Arab Emirates tomorrow.

Coach Allan Bunting said travelling without Woodman and Williams was a loss to the team both on and off the field, but it also presented opportunities for other members of the squad.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33451/three-changes-to-black-fern-sevens-for-dubai

Stargazer

All Blacks 7s team for the Dubai Sevens:

Scott Curry - Bay of Plenty
Luke Masirewa - Bay of Plenty
Tone Ng Shiu - Ta$man
Ngarohi McGarvey Black - Bay of Plenty
Dylan Collier - Waikato
Akuila Rokolisoa - Auckland
Sam Dickson - Canterbury
Andrew Knewstubb - Horowhenua Kapiti
Regan Ware - Taranaki
Kurt Baker - Taranaki
Jona Nareki - Otago
Sione Molia - Counties Manukau
Scott Gregory - Northland

Co-captain Tim Mikkelson will remain in New Zealand with the impending arrival of his first child while Northland's Scott Gregory is in line for his All Blacks Sevens debut on the World Series.

“We are under no illusions that with Olympic qualification on the line, every tournament is going to feel like a pinnacle event and teams will be wanting to finish in the top four at every tournament. So if we can make the finals at these events it would represent a great start to the season,” said Laidlaw.

Sione Molia, Jona Nareki and Regan Ware all re join the All Blacks Sevens squad after impressive Mitre 10 Cup campaigns, with Ware also gaining a Maori All Blacks cap against USA earlier this month.

“It has been a bit of a juggling act over the last six weeks as we assembled our full group again but these guys played well in Mitre 10 Cup and have now been getting back into sevens conditioning and catching up on some of the detail around how we want to play the game,” said Laidlaw.

Vilimoni Koroi remains in New Zealand working on his reintegration to sevens after a long break since the Commonwealth Games, Joe Webber is continuing his recovery from an arthritic injury and Joe Ravouvou awaits his New Zealand citizenship after changes to the World Series eligibility rules prevents him from competing until such time.

Note the last sentence about changes in the eligibility rules. So apparently, players now need the citizenship of the country they're playing for in the World Sevens Series.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33468/all-blacks-sevens-looking-to-start-strong-in-dubai

Machpants

That's due to coming in line with the Olympics. All that it does is punish countries that have some honour when it comes to handing out passports.

Stargazer

Black Ferns 7s team for Dubai Sevens:

1 Ruby Tui
2 Shakira Baker
3 Stacey Waaka
4 Terina Te Tamaki
5 Sarah Goss – captain
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
8 Kelly Brazier
9 Gayle Broughton
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Risi Pouri-Lane
12 Alena Saili

*Kat Whata-Simpkins is the travelling reserve

Youth Olympic Games gold-medal winning captain Risi Pouri-Lane will make her Black Ferns Sevens debut. Bunting said Pouri-Lane has made great progress in her first year in the contracted squad.

“Risi is ready to go. She has had a great build up with the Youth Olympic Games win; there is no pressure on her at all, now its about going out there and enjoying the experience.”

Bunting also paid tribute to Michaela Blyde on being crowned World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, along with nominees Sarah Goss and Portia Woodman.

* Risi Pouri-Lane is set to become the 77th Black Ferns Sevens player when she takes the field in Dubai. Pouri-Lane hails from Motueka and earlier this week was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year at the Nelson Sports Awards.

* Fresh from the World Rugby Awards, Michaela Blyde is on track for another milestone, sitting on 96 World Series tries, she could become just the fifth women’s player to record a century of tries.

* The Black Ferns Sevens team has won the Dubai tournament on three occasions (2012, 2014 and 2016), finishing fifth twice and runners-up once.

Pool games

Thursday, 29 November (NZT):
10.50pm: v Kenya

Friday, 30 November (NZT):
1.46am: v Russia
4.43am: v Ireland

Where to watch

Poolgames: World Rugby Sevens facebook page
Finals: Sky Sport 1

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33499/black-ferns-sevens-named-for-dubai-tournament

Stargazer

All Blacks 7s team for Dubai Sevens:

1 Scott Curry (co-captain)
2 Luke Masirewa
3 Tone Ng Shiu
4 Ngarohi McGarvey Black
5 Dylan Collier
6 Akuila Rokolisoa
7 Sam Dickson
8 Andrew Knewstubb
9 Regan Ware
10 Scott Gregory
11 Jona Nareki
12 Sione Molia (co-captain)

*Amanaki Nicole is the travelling reserve.

Northland’s Scott Gregory will make his World Series debut in the black jersey this weekend, after his first hit out with the All Blacks Sevens at the Oceania Sevens earlier this month.

“Scott has only been in our environment a short time, but he has proved to be a quick learner and we are excited to see what he will achieve on the field. He’s already had an impressive year with New Zealand Under 20s and a strong Mitre 10 Cup campaign, he’s looking forward to this next opportunity.”

Sione Molia will join Scott Curry as co-captains for the tournament, with Tim Mikkelson in New Zealand awaiting the arrival of his first child.

“We can’t stress enough how tough the series is going to be with Olympic Qualification on the line. Every tournament is important which means every time you step on the field you have to be ready,” said Laidlaw.

Kurt Baker had originally travelled with the team but returned to New Zealand with a calf injury earlier this week.

Pool games

Friday, 30 November (NZT):
6.22pm: v Wales
9.22pm: v Spain

Saturday, 1 December (NZT)
3.22am: v USA

Where to watch
Sky Sport 1

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33503/debutant-named-in-all-blacks-sevens-team

Stargazer

Forgot to watch, but the BF7s have won their first game 34 - 7 against Kenya.

Stargazer

Stargazer

Full time: Black Ferns 7s 29 - 12 Russia

Great game. The Ferns are missing Woodman, but Stacey Waaka is looking very strong. She scored two tries in this match. Injury to Nathan Wong, who limped off. Hopefully not too bad, because her replacement is playing her first tournament and her lack of experience may cost us in the bigger games. Not sure who would be the third playmaker. Maybe Broughton?

Stargazer

The Black Ferns 7s also won their last pool game against Ireland: 24 - 17.

They'll meet Russia again in the Cup QF at 6.00pm tonight.

As the women's Cup Quarter Finals games and the men's pool games will be played at the same time, I suspect that we can only watch these women's games on FB again. The women's Cup Semis and Final should be on Sky Sport 1.

.

Interestingly, the Aussies were beaten by the USA (17 - 22, last US try scored after the hooter) and England (10 - 26)! These two teams have always been good, but in previous years, the Aussies have always beaten them. I know they've signed a lot of their usual stars (e.g., Sharni Williams, Ella Green and Charlotte Caslick are in this weekend's squad), so I'm not sure what has changed. Missing a few other key players?

Australia finished 5th in the first leg of the Series. It will be interesting to see where they'll finish this week. I think that they'll still make the Cup QF as the best third placed team if the tie breaks on points differential. In that case, they'll play England again.

Bovidae

@stargazer

Terina Te Tamaki.

I haven't seen the games but I would have expected that she is the backup to Nathan Wong. Pouri-Lane below her.

Stargazer

@bovidae That's possible, although in the game against Russia, Pouri-Lane took over the playmaker role when Nathan-Wong left the field. She looked pretty good for such a young player. I didn't watch the Ireland game.

Stargazer

The Black Ferns 7s won their Cup QF against Russia 31 - 0 and will play the USA in the semi at 10.28pm NZT.

The All Blacks 7s beat Wales 28 - 7 in their first pool game. They'll play Spain next at 9.22pm.

Stargazer

Power is down in Dubai, so impossible to watch the games at the moment. Apparently, Spain is dominating possession.
Spain scored the first try (0 - 5), but NZ has hit back with a converted try scored by Scott Curry. 7 - 5 NZ

Stargazer

Karl Te Nana is livescoring the game on Twitter. Try to Knewstubb, after dummying through the Spanish defence. 14 - 5 NZ

Things are going fast. Turnover by Spain on NZ 22m, break in middle of park, try Spain. 14 - 12 NZ That's the half time score.

Stargazer

Scott Curry just scored his 2nd try of the game: 21 - 12 NZ

Stargazer

Try Collier: 28 - 12 NZ. According to KT, the Spanish players are looking very tired.

Stargazer

Spain finally manages to get through the NZ defence and they score their third try: 28 - 17 NZ.

Stargazer

It's full time. The All Blacks 7s beat Spain 28 - 17.

Higgins

Goodness what went wrong there. Did half the team miss the bus to the ground and we had to front with just three players and fill out numbers with the coaching and management staff?

ShadowTrooper

What the hell has happened to the power? (Both in the AB 7's and at the ground) Sky says temp fault....

The Silver Fern

2018-2019 World Sevens Series