2016 World Sevens Series

Nepia

Somewhere in Christchurch:
 
"FUCK!!!"

kiwiinmelb

Yes that was my thoughts, a super rugby title ahead of a gold medal ?? 
An ab selection is more believable .

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="574468" data-time="1461459639">
<div>
Does this confirm Ardie's made the All Blacks? I'm not convinced he'd pull the pin on a potential Gold medal just to keep playing for the Canes. If it were me, the only reason I'd drop the 7s is if I'm guaranteed something worthwhile for it.
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</blockquote>
 
I'd be a bit surprised if the AB selectors were giving those sort of guarantees - especially to someone who, at best, is going to be the back-up openside.
 
I reckon it's a bit more likely he's protecting his place in the queue - recognizing that if Matt Todd (or even Blake Gibson) gets his foot firmly in the door and plays well, it might be pretty hard to dislodge him.

taniwharugby

Ardie obviously rang Steve...
 
<img src="http://cdn0.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jim-carrey1-428x292.jpeg" alt="jim-carrey1-428x292.jpeg">

booboo

Damn.

hydro11

As a Hurricanes fan, I want to see Ardie play for the Hurricanes.
 
I'm surprised at all the conspiracy theories that come out of the woodwork whenever something happens. Apparently the All Blacks must have shoulder tapped Ardie, even though they say they did not.

Siam

Wouldn't mind betting the physical demands had a part to play, in that apparently you have to lose mass, adopt a different body shape and fitness regimes and perhaps going from 15's to 7's and then back to 15's in the space of a year may have been pretty arduous.
 
On the bright side, it's good that the allure of the AB (reserves) jersey is still a factor
 
As for the thoughts that Shag has somehow instructed this, pffft. How would that conversation go?
 
Ardie is good but NZ do not NEED him, or anyone else for that matter

cgrant

So the AB bench for the forwards could be : Crockett, Taylor, Faumuina, Luatua and Savea.

broughie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="574460" data-time="1461457499">
<div>
From One Sport: 

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</blockquote>
 
Great move. I guess sevens is just not that big a deal to me and in the Olympics? Kind of like golf. Have no interest.

raznomore

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="574495" data-time="1461474244">
<div>
As a Hurricanes fan, I want to see Ardie play for the Hurricanes.
 
I'm surprised at all the conspiracy theories that come out of the woodwork whenever something happens. Apparently the All Blacks must have shoulder tapped Ardie, even though they say they did not.
</div>
</blockquote>
Im surprised that you're surprised.

MajorRage

From what I saw of Savea play, it may be the opposite. Shoulder tapped by Tietjens to say, it' ain't happening, focus on 15's.

Crazy Horse

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Razbra" data-cid="574673" data-time="1461563877">
Im surprised that you're surprised.</blockquote>
 
I'm surprised that you're surprised that he's surprised.

Frye

NZ rugby says they weren't expecting it. 
That means not from either Titch or the All Blacks. 
So it's the Hurricanes where his priorities lie, either because of pressure from Boyd or not.

No Quarter

It's just a personal decision that he wants to crack the ABs as soon as possible, nothing to do with what any coach has said to him. With Cane, Todd and Gibson tearing shit up it's a bit of a no brainer that taking time out for 7s is going to set you back a lot. Become a regular AB and your market value sky rockets.

Mokey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="574683" data-time="1461566381">
<div>
It's just a personal decision that he wants to crack the ABs as soon as possible, nothing to do with what any coach has said to him. With Cane, Todd and Gibson tearing shit up it's a bit of a no brainer that taking time out for 7s is going to set you back a lot. Become a regular AB and your market value sky rockets.
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Yep. Guys like Williams and Messam, they've got nothing left to prove in 15's, they've done it all, at the very highest level. They can afford to go yeah, new challenge, burn it up. But Savea hasn't proven himself fully anywhere yet, and bouncing between 15's and 7's won't help him, especially with the diet and mass and fitness stuff, and other guys who are crazy hungry to be back up flanker to Cane. The AB world won't wait for Savea, and he knows it.

booboo

Shouldn't have committed to it if he wasn't going to follow through. Took up space on the squad in Welly and Sydney for no benefit (apart from jelping win those tournaments). 
I reckon it was Boyd who put the pressure on. My own completely ill informed conspiracy. 
Who is Saveas back up in the Canes' 7 jersey?

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="574705" data-time="1461571281">
<div>
Shouldn't have committed to it if he wasn't going to follow through. Took up space on the squad in Welly and Sydney for no benefit (apart from jelping win those tournaments). 
I reckon it was Boyd who put the pressure on. My own completely ill informed conspiracy. 
Who is Saveas back up in the Canes' 7 jersey?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah I'm with ya, it's a conspiracy, common sense, common schmense!

Unco

I don't know if Boyd had anything to do with it but I do think it's pretty shit Ardie went back on his word this close to the Olympics, wasting a lot of time and energy put into him that could've gone to someone else. I guess it's a good thing he did end up withdrawing before it was too late though, no point including someone who isn't committed to the cause.

No Quarter

TBH who would want to go to Rio anyway? It's a bloody shambles. Cycle tracks collapsing, stadiums not completed, protests at the government as they really should never have even bid for the Olympics due to the extreme cost, all compounded by the Zika virus which they now say can be contracted by men and passed on to their partners. Personally I'd rather take my chances with the ABs. He's pulled out with plenty of time for Tietjens to adjust any plans he had with his squad - Ardie wasn't even a sure thing at this stage.

Stargazer

The NZ Men's olympic trial squad / squad for Paris and London Sevens has been named: 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Olympic Games trial squad confirmed 
 ALLBLACKS.COM 02 MAY 2016 
 The All Blacks Sevens squad for the last two legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Paris (13-15 May) and London (21-22 May) begins training in Mt Maunganui today. 
 The 16-man squad also doubles as an Olympic Games trial squad. The squad is: 
Pita Ahki (North Harbour) 
Kurt Baker (Taranaki) 
Dylan Collier (Waikato) 
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty) 
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau) 
Akira Ioane (Auckland) 
Rieko Ioane (Auckland) 
Gillies Kaka (Hawkeâ€™s Bay) 
Liam Messam (Waikato) 
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato) 
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau) 
Lewis Ormond (Taranaki) 
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau) 
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty) 
Regan Ware (Waikato) 
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau) 
Not considered because of injury; Sam Dickson, Ben Lam, Joe Webber 
 All sixteen players will travel to Europe on Saturday as part of preparations for the Olympic Games in August. The squad includes injured captain Scott Curry who will train with the squad, but not play in the tournaments. 
In mid-June all 16 players will take part in trials for the New Zealand Olympic sevens team which will be named by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in early July. 
All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said Dickson and Webber were still in the frame for selection depending on their progress with injuries. The door also remained opened for others in the event of injuries to squad members. 
â€œWeâ€™re taking 16 to Europe so we can share the workload and give all players the opportunity to make the final team so to that end weâ€™ll be using a different 12 for Paris and London. 
â€œItâ€™s a very experienced group coupled with an exciting core of young players who are tasting sevens for the first time this season so itâ€™s great we can take a larger group then normal to these two tournaments as we build towards Rio.â€ 
New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A in Paris alongside Singapore Sevens winners Kenya, Portugal and Russia. The team is currently third in the season standings behind South Africa and series leader, Fiji. 
Note: The All Blacks Sevens are in camp at the same time as the New Zealand Womenâ€™s Sevens squad which is preparing for the last tournament of the Womenâ€™s Sevens Series in Clermont-Ferrand (28-29 May).
</blockquote>
 
One name that's not mentioned: Beaudein Waaka. Can't remember him being injured; out of favour? I thought he was much better than Dylan Collier.

The Silver Fern

2016 World Sevens Series