2018-2019 World Sevens Series

[Stargazer]

C'mon Fiji, please win this final. If only, for the points table.

[Bones]

@stargazer right, so how many tries have been scored against us directly from his offensive and defensive errors? He misses more tackles than any other player I've noticed. He's made shitty mistakes with the ball too.

Annnnd Collier winds back the clock and finishes the game in true Collier style. Has a free run to the corner, tries to bump off the tiny player and throws the ball out at the same time.

[Bones]

@stargazer that and these yanks seem like dicks.

[Stargazer]

Good to keep things in perspective. The AB7s were missing Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Akuila Rokolisoa, Regan Ware, Kurt Baker, Joe Webber, Luke Masirewa (all injured), Tim Mikkelson (parental leave) and Joe Ravouvou (waiting for his NZ citizenship).

[Stargazer]

Walk in the park for Fiji, this final.

[Stargazer]

Fiji win the Cape Town Sevens; their first win in SA since 2005!

Fiji 29 - 15 USA

[Stargazer]

[ARHS]

@stargazer

Agree there. Koroi did not look fit enough from the early matches. I think that leads to the ineffectual or high tackles, and the poor passes and ball security.

Knewstubb had a very high workrate. but I still think his kicking needs some work still.

[Stargazer]

The 16th team has already been announced: Tonga!

.

[canefan]

Understandable that we got bounced early, considering that mammoth effort in Dubai last round

[booboo]

So you win a tourny and get RSA and Samoa in your pool.

Finish 4th and get Spain, Canada and Japan.

Yes I know all of them are capable of beating us but ...

I suppose it shows the development in the game.

[Stargazer]

@booboo Just the consequence of teams' performances this weekend. Spain did very well finishing 6th this weekend, after finishing 11/12th in Dubai last week.

[Stargazer]

Some stats from the World Rugby website (Dubai 7s and Cape Town 7s combined). The stats only list the first 30 players.

Points:
1- John Porch (AUS): 98
2- Andrew Knewstubb (NZ): 85

Teams:
1- Fiji: 375
5- NZ: 250

Tries:
1- Alamanda Motuga (Samoa): 12
10- Andrew Knewstubb (NZ): 7

Teams:
1- Fiji: 61
8- NZ: 38

Conversions scored:
1- Andrew Knewstubb (NZ): 25

Teams:
1- Fiji (35)
3- NZ (30)

Yellow cards:
1- There are 8 players with 2 yellow cards, including Vilimoni Koroi
9- There are at least 22 players with 1 yellow card, including Andrew Knewstubb, but we don't know whether there are more because the WR list is only 30 players long.

Teams:
1- Fiji: 6
3- NZ: 5

Red cards:
1- Amenoni Nasilasila (Fiji). He's the only player on the list.

Tackles made:
1- Dylan Collier (NZ): 36
2- Sione Molia (NZ): 32
19- Andrew Knewstubb (NZ): 21
25- Tone Ng Shiu (NZ): 19
27- Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (NZ): 19
28- Luke Masirewa (NZ): 18

Teams:
1- NZ: 222
(2- AUS: 180)

Clean breaks:
1- Perry Baker (USA): 12
13- Tone Ng Shiu (NZ): 8
21- Sione Molia (NZ): 7

Teams:
no stats available

Restarts:
1- John Porch (AUS): 45
4- Andrew Knewstubb (NZ): 35
27- Vilimoni Koroi (NZ): 6

Teams:
1- Fiji: 63
7- NZ: 42

Runs:
1- Maurice Longbottom (AUS): 50
10- Sione Molia (NZ): 40

Teams:
no stats available

[Snowy]

Well I'm happy because that little arsehole Rasta has been destroying sevens for me for over a decade. Prick. I wince whenever I see him come on to the field to ref us.

How long do you have to hold a player up for it to be a maul FFS?

I wonder who he is going to hate in the super "pick a number" and ruin that too?

[antipodean]

The fact Rasta is promoted to Super Rugby is sufficient proof to me that there is no professional review or merit based system.

[Bones]

@antipodean that's probably been obvious since Mark Lawrence didn't make the world cup.

[MajorRage]

@bones said in 2018-2019 World Sevens Series:

@antipodean that's probably been obvious since Mark Lawrence didn't make the world cup.

and his namesake Bryce did.

[Bones]

Interesting to see Molia hitting similar speeds to the other fastest players.

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2019 season:

Shakira Baker (Waikato)
Michaela Blyde (Bay of Plenty)
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty)
Gayle Broughton (Taranaki)
Rhiarna Ferris (Manawatu)
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland)
Huia Harding (Waikato)
Sarah Hirini (nee Goss) (Manawatu)
Jazmin Hotham* (Waikato)
Tyla Nathan Wong (Auckland)
Mahina Paul* (Bay of Plenty)
Risi Pouri-Lane ( Ta$man)
Alena Saili (Southland)
Montessa Tairakena* (Waikato)
Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Ruby Tui (Bay of Plenty)
Stacey Waaka (Waikato)
Kat Whata-Simpkins (Wellington)
Niall Williams (Auckland)
Tenika Willison (Waikato)
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau)

Three, young newbies. Not surprised to see Jazmin Hotham's name in this list; she was already a stand-out when she played for Hamilton Girls' 1st XV and 7s two years ago.

Will take some time to get used to Sarah Goss' new surname, Hirini.

“We have a great balance to the squad. There is a really good bunch of experienced players and now this younger group of new players that add real excitement to the mix.

“This year we need to qualify for Tokyo. We have started the season well but that just means more eyes are on us. The first focus is Hamilton, which is awesome for us to play at home for the first time and you can see all the players can’t wait to get there.”

Bunting said 2019 training contracts will be offered to players after this week’s development trial. Those players will be involved in the development team programme and train alongside the Black Ferns Sevens squad for 50 days throughout the year.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33604/youthful-injection-to-black-ferns-sevens-in-2019

[Stargazer]

2019 contracted All Blacks 7s players:

Kurt Baker - Manawatu
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black - Bay of Plenty
Dylan Collier - Waikato
Scott Curry - Bay of Plenty
Sam Dickson - Canterbury
Scott Gregory - Northland
Trael Joass - Bay of Plenty
Niko Jones - Auckland
Andrew Knewstubb - Horowhenua Kapiti
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Luke Masirewa - Bay of Plenty
Tim Mikkelson - Waikato
Sione Molia - Counties Manukau
Jona Nareki - Otago
Amanaki Nicole - Canterbury
Joe Ravouvou - Auckland
Akuila Rokolisoa - Counties Manukau
Tone Ng Shiu - Ta$man
Regan Ware - Taranaki

Just days out from the first HSBC World Series Sevens event of the year, the All Blacks Sevens have confirmed the final places in their 2019 squad.

Commonwealth Games gold medallists and World Cup winners Sam Dickson and Dylan Collier have recommitted to the side, Dickson through to the Tokyo Olympics and Collier for the 2019 season.

Also confirmed in the squad are Luke Masirewa, Tone Ng Shiu and Amanaki Nicole.

Dickson, 29, debuted for the All Blacks Sevens in Dubai in 2012 and is one of the team’s most experienced players with 42 World Series tournaments along with appearances as the Rugby World Cup Sevens, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. 

Waikato’s Dylan Collier debuted in Wellington in 2015 and has gone on to be a regular fixture in the All Blacks Sevens, amassing 29 World Series caps. 

“Sam and Dylan have been two of the most consistent players in this team over the past few years and it’s important to have that sort of experience because in big moments they have been there and done it.”

Tone Ng Shiu, Amanaki Nicole and Luke Masirewa have all re-signed for the 2019 season.

Ng Shiu has been a part of the squad for two years, while Nicole made his debut in Hong Kong last year. 

Masirewa was selected last year after first appearing for the All Blacks Sevens in 2013, he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury. 

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33617/sam-dickson-and-dylan-collier-re-sign