2016 World Sevens Series
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<p>for a fella in the twilight of his career and just back after a lay-off, he certainly hasn't been sitting around talking rugby on the internet! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="564645" data-time="1457992893">
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<p>for a fella in the twilight of his career and just back after a lay-off, he certainly hasn't been sitting around talking rugby on the internet! </p>
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<p>IT is the reason he handed up the captaincy though. Wanted to concentrate on rehabbing and getting himself physically up to one last shot at the Olympics. Titch backed his decision and it may well pay off. His experience certainly showed out there.</p> -
<p>Forbes was rated sexiest man at the Common Wealth Games by the Indian public.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="564634" data-time="1457990998">
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<p>That just shows how different the fitness and body size requirements are for both games. Messam looked ripped when the NZ team did the Haka yesterday. He must be on a strict exercise and diet regime to lose that weight.</p>
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<p>no homo, but he looked fucking great. I never picked him as looking that "athletic"</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="564647" data-time="1457993224">
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<p>IT is the reason he handed up the captaincy though. Wanted to concentrate on rehabbing and getting himself physically up to one last shot at the Olympics. Titch backed his decision and it may well pay off. His experience certainly showed out there.</p>
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<p>I saw a CGW piece on him - he was working with sprinting squads to improve his speed - really pleased it is showing on the field.</p>
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<p>Wonder if Kaka was carrying an injury for a while - his speed is back and it is long-term speed as well which Titch seems to favour over "nippiness".</p>
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<p>The clampdown on high tackles made it a bit of a lottery at times - seemed like any hit around the shoulders was being pinged - and usually that is the target in Sevens as you don't want them offloading.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="564693" data-time="1458008127">
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<p> </p>
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<p>The clampdown on high tackles made it a bit of a lottery at times - seemed like any hit around the shoulders was being pinged - and usually that is the target in Sevens as you don't want them offloading.</p>
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<p>I'm not sure if that was directed or an over application by the ref though. He was consistent, but was pinging any touch above the line of the shoulders much like refs are instructed to do at junior XVs levels. Neck rolls are a definate no-no though and there were some penalties for that at the clear out.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="564693" data-time="1458008127">
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<p>I saw a CGW piece on him - he was working with sprinting squads to improve his speed - really pleased it is showing on the field.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Wonder if Kaka was carrying an injury for a while - his speed is back and it is long-term speed as well </strong>which Titch seems to favour over "nippiness".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The clampdown on high tackles made it a bit of a lottery at times - seemed like any hit around the shoulders was being pinged - and usually that is the target in Sevens as you don't want them offloading.</p>
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<p>Yes, Kaka was one of the many players that got injured in Dubai (ankle injury). He was back in the squad for Wellington and Sydney, but didn't get much game time and clearly wasn't in top form. Good to see him getting back in good shape as he's one of the faster players, but can also defend well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By the way, one of the commentators said that Tomasi Cama travels with the squad. Anyone know more about that? What's his role? Anyhow, good to see that - although he can't play at this level anymore - he can still contribute to the team.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="564695" data-time="1458009334"><p>I'm not sure if that was directed or an over application by the ref though. He was consistent, but was pinging any touch above the line of the shoulders much like refs are instructed to do at junior XVs levels. Neck rolls are a definate no-no though and there were some penalties for that at the clear out.</p></blockquote>
I dont have any data to back this up but it felt like all the refs were pinging high shots very eagerly, so might have been directed from higher up -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="564733" data-time="1458033183">
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<p>By the way, one of the commentators said that Tomasi Cama travels with the squad. Anyone know more about that? What's his role? Anyhow, good to see that - although he can't play at this level anymore - he can still contribute to the team.</p>
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<p>I think Cama was appointed as the assistant coach once he was forced into retirement due to injury. If you can find a photo at the presentation Cama is seen wearing a beanie.</p>
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<p>Here's a photo:</p>
<p><img height="401" src="http://www.namibian.com.na/public/uploads/images/56e6c2ba7da84/NZSevens.jpg" width="640" alt="NZSevens.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Edit: he's the performance analyst for both the mens and womens teams.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="564735" data-time="1458033651">
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<p>I think Cama was appointed as the assistant coach once he was forced into retirement due to injury. If you can find a photo at the presentation Cama is seen wearing a beanie.</p>
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<p>Here's a photo:</p>
<p><img height="401" src="http://www.namibian.com.na/public/uploads/images/56e6c2ba7da84/NZSevens.jpg" width="640" alt="NZSevens.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Edit: he's the performance analyst for both the mens and womens teams.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role</a></p>
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<p>Yep:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/74401911/New-Zealand-Sevens-legend-Tomasi-Cama-retires-moves-into-analysis-role</a></p>
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<p>He's now a performance analyst for both the men's and women's teams, which is a nice move from Titch and the NZRU.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="564733" data-time="1458033183">
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<p>Yes, Kaka was one of the many players that got injured in Dubai (ankle injury). He was back in the squad for Wellington and Sydney, but didn't get much game time and clearly wasn't in top form. Good to see him getting back in good shape as he's one of the faster players, but can also defend well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By the way, one of the commentators said that Tomasi Cama travels with the squad. Anyone know more about that? What's his role? Anyhow, good to see that - although he can't play at this level anymore - he can still contribute to the team.</p>
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<p>Kaka actually looks like he's slimmed down a tad as well - has certainly got his pace back. Mikkelson also looks to be in good shape and upping his pace back to previous levels.</p> -
<p>Next men’s tournament</p>
<p><strong>Hong Kong 7s</strong> (Fri 8 - Sun 10 April):</p>
<p> </p>
<p>NZL games (in NZT)</p>
<p>Fri 8, 11.44pm: v France</p>
<p>Sat 9, 3.40pm: v Kenya</p>
<p>Sat 9, 7.40pm: v Samoa</p>
<p>All finals on Sunday.</p>
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<p>Next women’s tournament</p>
<p><strong>Atlanta 7s</strong> (Fri 8 - Sat 9 April):</p>
<p> </p>
<p>NZL games (in NZT)</p>
<p>Sat 9, 5.58am: v Japan</p>
<p>Sat 9, 8.42am: v Spain</p>
<p>Sat 9, 11.26am: v USA</p>
<p>All finals on Sunday (NZT).</p> -
Just a quick comment on Shag's comment on the non selection of ABs in the 7s, particularly Ben Smith. (Veitch's show Saturday and in the NZ Helrad.)<br><br>
I have no issue with the process and generally no issue with Hansen's position, or Smith's or Titch's.<br><br>
However i have an issue with comment he made along the lines of "perhaps Gordon could have been more flexible and then he'd have got more players".<br><br>
I disagree that he should have been at all flexible more than he already is. He is trying to build a team for a shot at the Olympics. Taking a gamble on a player who has not played 7s for 6 years that he could learn the game and get 7s fit after only two tournaments, as good a player as Smith is, and as good a coach as Titch is, is to my mind a long shot.<br><br>
Would Hansen be as flexible building for an RWC? -
I meant to add that the form of some of the incumbents would have meant that there'd be no guarantee for Smith anyway.<br><br>
And dropping a Kaka (say) to trial Smith risks Kaka losing form and the team losing momentum. -
Question: how big is the Squad for Rio?<br><br>
Some good players going to miss out. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="567748" data-time="1459119148">
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<p>Question: how big is the Squad for Rio?</p>
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<p>12 is the usual squad size. </p>
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<p>I read Hansen's comments too, and agree with you. Smith wanted to have the best of both worlds (play a full Super rugby season and sevens). Sevens has changed a lot so Tietjens needs as much time with the players as possible. It's a shame that the team won't be as strong as it could be but they will still have a good squad.</p> -
<p>I thought the squad was being extended for Rio, or was that just what was being asked for? </p>
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<p>Reckon Eric Murray could sit on the bench if they needed him to! </p>
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<p>It is a tough really, I mean the lure of a shot at gold, over a normal lengthy Super season, making ABs and then hoping to cement the spot for the Lions...</p>
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<p>Even someone like Ben Smith knows that if he was to step away from the AB environment, and someone else stepped in and up, it might cost hiim a shot at the Lions and he may live to regret it. </p> -
It's just a pity that the Lions tour next year, otherwise a number of players would have jumped across IMO.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567786" data-time="1459126846">
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<p>Reckon Eric Murray could sit on the bench if they needed him to! </p>
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<p>He was in my year at school and played in the first 15... which wasn't a particularly successful team to be fair. He was quite a bit chunkier back then and his engine has probably improved :)</p>
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<p>He'd get in amongst it, that's for sure.</p>
