2018-2019 World Sevens Series

[Stargazer]

Bugger. Fourth it is.

FT: South Africa 10 - 5 NZ

[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