2018-2019 World Sevens Series

[Snowy]

That seems really wrong and unfair. The players should get to choose their own future.

[Machpants]

@Snowy they have chosen their own future, they've signed a contract to a super rugby team. If they really want to play sevens they can sign for that the sevens side instead.

[Snowy]

@Machpants Did they know this when they signed, or did they think that they had a chance to be Olympians as well? Could they have chosen a different franchise if the way was blocked by another sevens player in a particular team?

[Stargazer]

So who could these players be, if they wanted to? My guess:

Blues: Clarke
Chiefs: Nanai-Seturo
Hurricanes: ?? I doubt Ardie will give it another crack. Salesi Rayasi?
Crusaders: Reece
Highlanders: ???

[Tim]

Wouldn't DMac be a great sevens player?

[Stargazer]

@Tim I think he'll be too busy next year to re-gain a spot in the ABs.

[Bones]

@Stargazer said in 2018-2019 World Sevens Series:

So who could these players be, if they wanted to? My guess:

Blues: Clarke
Chiefs: Nanai-Seturo
Hurricanes: ?? I doubt Ardie will give it another crack. Salesi Rayasi?
Crusaders: Reece
Highlanders: ???

Think you're probably closer to the mark but in fantasy land I'll take...
Akira
Weber/DMac
Beauds
Todd
Hunt

[taniwharugby]

I know he is someone who cops alot of shit here, but I reckon Tevita Li would be excellent in 7s.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Fast enough, but too many brain farts.

[Stargazer]

All Blacks 7s squad for the London Sevens this weekend:

1 Scott Curry (c)
2 Tim Mikkelson (c)
3 Tone Ng Shiu
4 Jona Nareki
5 Dylan Collier
6 Vilimoni Koroi
7 Scott Gregory
8 Andrew Knewstubb
9 Regan Ware
10 Kurt Baker
11 Joe Webber
12 Sione Molia

*Joe Ravouvou is the travelling reserve.

“It’s really encouraging to have most of the guys fit and available, we are really excited by this team we’ve got,” said All Blacks Sevens Coach Clark Laidlaw.

Speedstar Joe Ravouvou has been named as 13th man, which Laidlaw says shows the strength of the backline and rewards players like Jona Nareki and Regan Ware who are having breakthrough seasons. 

Olympic Qualification is also front of mind, the All Blacks Sevens currently sit in third behind USA and Fiji. They are nine and 23 points ahead of South Africa and England respectively and need to produce two solid performances over the coming weekends to cement their position in the top four.

Pool games
Saturday, 25 May (NZT)
10.42pm: v Scotland

Sunday, 26 May
1.48am: v Ireland
5.16am: v England

LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 2 (Channel 56)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34174/all-blacks-sevens-prepared-for-tough-challenge-in-london

[Stargazer]

I missed most of the first half, but saw that great try from Scott Curry after the hooter.

Half time: NZ 14 - 0 Scotland

[Stargazer]

Yes, great try from Gregory! He's so hard to stop. Strong. The conversion from Knewstub is good.

21 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Try Scotland.

21 - 7 NZ

[Stargazer]

NZ dominating the breakdown. Looking good.

[Stargazer]

Full time: New Zealand 21 - 7 Scotland

Good start.

[Stargazer]

Results of the last two pool games:

New Zealand 34 - 7 Ireland
New Zealand 12 - 17 England

Despite that loss, the AB7s will play the Cup QF, tonight.

10.20pm: New Zealand v France

But more importantly, by reaching the Cup QF, this happened!

[ARHS]

Not sure why they kept their big guns on the bench for the England match, as it seemed to cost them the game. We were only effective in contesting the tackle in the last few minutes.

[Tordah]

France beat NZ in the quarters after a strong 2nd half by them and a weird penalty try for a deliberate knock back from Webber (that was deemed a knock on but clearly went backwards). Pantsy 2nd half anyways

[ARHS]

Same again in the quarter-final. Why oh why bring on Ravouvou and take off Mikkelsen? His two errors cost us dearly. Did they think they had it won after Mikkelsen's stunning effort before halftime? Same players making errors again, Gregory, Ravouvou, Nareki and unfortunately not effective at the contact in second half. You can't blame Webber for the final error!

Our aggressive contact work in defence has been the strength of this team - but the penalty counts a killer!

[Stargazer]

WTF was that? France beat NZ in the Cup QF thanks to a penalty try in referee's time. Not sure I agree with that decision. Joe Webber was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, but I'm not really sure it went forward. It looked flat. And also not sure the Frenchman was certain to score the try, although he was in a good position; he wasn't close to the try line yet, I think.

Ah well, another missed opportunity. AB7s were leading 14 - 0 at half time, but let the French back in. Particularly, Nareki and Ravouvou not good enough on defence. Add a high tackle from Gregory, and Ng Shiu not supporting his body weight at the breakdown, and it rained penalties. Some penalties were a bit tough though.

FT: NZ 14 - 19 France

The AB7s will play South Africa (that lost 22 - 29 to Australia) in the 5th place semi-final at 1:04am.