2016 World Sevens Series
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="581516" data-time="1463872454">
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<p>Australia had Fiji and England in their pool. Can't be surprised they are in the bowl.</p>
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<p>We also decided to rest our best 5 players for some reason this week. Apparently 10 tournaments over the course of six months is too many, and they need a fucking break.</p>
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<p>So we basically waved the white flag and went to the Bowl, in the last tournament before Rio. Shrewd stuff there.</p> -
Did anyone follow QC in Aussie sevens ? Was he simply not up to scratch ? Also it's pretty hard for J.Jayne to warrant selection off one tournament, esp since he had never played union. I guess it goes to show how skilled SBW is to actually make the starting team.
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<p>Aussie coach said he hadnt had enough time in the team...</p>
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<p>SBW has committed to it since the start of the year, and didnt look good in the first couple of tournies but he is looking more comfortable.</p>
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<p>You would think Hayne will struggle just to get up to the levels of fitness required from what he has been doing, let alone learning a whole new game.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sinclair sector" data-cid="581533" data-time="1463879059">
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<p>Did anyone follow QC in Aussie sevens ? Was he simply not up to scratch ? Also it's pretty hard for J.Jayne to warrant selection off one tournament, esp since he had never played union. I guess it goes to show how skilled SBW is to actually make the starting team.</p>
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<p>He could make it if he did it full time like SBW. But trying to play footy for Toulon, and then coming in for a week at a time just wasn't working.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sinclair sector" data-cid="581533" data-time="1463879059">
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<p>Did anyone follow QC in Aussie sevens ? Was he simply not up to scratch ? Also it's pretty hard for J.Jayne to warrant selection off one tournament, esp since he had never played union. I guess it goes to show how skilled SBW is to actually make the starting team.</p>
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<p>In addition to previous replies:</p>
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<p>QC himself said that it wasn't possible to obtain Aussi citizenship in time, because that requires that he's been in Oz for an x-number of days in a certain period; he can't meet this requirement now because he's playing in France. You can play for the Wallabies with a foreign (NZ) passport, but the Olympics require a team member to have the citizenship of the country he represents.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="581517" data-time="1463873515">
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<p>I have copied this from someone else's post back in the thread to try and work out the 12 for Rio based on who looks to be available. Bolded are what I think are certainties </p>
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<p>FORWARDS<br><strong>Akira Ioane</strong><br><strong>DJ Forbes - </strong><em>as long as fit, will be there for experience. Has shown he still has it if not injured</em><br><strong>Sonny Bill Williams</strong> - <em>finding his feet as a part of the game plan. Too much ability to create opportunities to leave out. Titch has him working as a forward now</em></p>
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<p>BACKS<br><strong>Augustine Pulu</strong> - <em>shown enough to be the backup playmaker</em><br><strong>Gillies Kaka </strong>- <em>number one playmaker</em><br><strong>Rieko Ioane - </strong><em>looking like more of a freak than his big bro at the moment</em><br><strong>Tim Mikkelson -</strong><em> given</em></p>
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<p>So that leaves five places to come from</p>
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<p>Forwards (3) Probables in bold</p>
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<p>Dylan Collier</p>
<p>Liam Messam<br><strong>Sam Dickson<br>
Scott Curry</strong></p>
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<p>Backs (2)</p>
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<p>Joe Webber ??<br>
Kurt Baker<br>
Lewis Ormond<br>
Pita Ahki<br>
Regan Ware<br>
Sione Molia<br>
Teddy Stanaway</p>
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<p>So Messam quite possibly to get through. I would prefer him over Collier anyway.</p>
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<p>In the backs I think Baker is likely as backup to the Mikkleson role, then it's a need for a 'striker' to cover Reiko</p>
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<p>First choice lineup if all fit and playing for a medal.</p>
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<p>Ioane</p>
<p>SBW</p>
<p>Forbes</p>
<p>Curry</p>
<p>Kaka</p>
<p>Mikkleson</p>
<p>Ioane</p>
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<p>I agree with Kaka ahead of Pulu in a 1st choice line-up.</p>
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<p>Tbh, I don't think Messam is good enough; he hasn't had that much game time to improve his game, because of injury and suspension (Las Vegas or Vancouver). Having said that, he's still better than Collier, so if they indeed select 6 forwards, he will probably be in.</p>
<p>Baker is a near certainty for me, just as Joe Webber if he's fit. It will be more difficult if both Webber and O'Donnell are fit; in that case Baker might miss out.</p> -
Well Kaka the only interested looking player on day 1, although Stanaway and SBW tried hard but definitely looked lost at times. <br><br>
The Ioanes drift in and out. <br><br>
Mikkelson is well out of sorts. <br><br>
Our defence is atrocious and really passive. Could do with Forbes back in that regard. -
<p>I wonder whether Mikkelson has fully recovered from his injury..?</p>
<p>I was screaming at Pulu, nearly cost us the match, guilty of rabbit in headlights stuff and sheer stupidity.</p>
<p>SBW put in a couple of big hits, and got the team out of trouble a few times, also for all the fitness levels - Kaka seems short of a gallop was blowing big time and struggled with the pace.</p> -
Is that 3 missed tackles by Baker that have let the US score now
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="581645" data-time="1463914842">
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<p>It's almost like NZ isn't even trying.</p>
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<p>I reckon they're just not good enough. Regressed immensely in the last year</p>
