2023 World Sevens Series

[Crucial]

@booboo said in 2023 World Sevens Series:

@Stargazer said in 2023 World Sevens Series:

It's over. Well done to Spain. The second time ever that they've beaten the AB7s (first time in Vancouver in 2019).

FT: AB7s 10 - 14 Spain.

Awful start from NZ. Ill-discipline the biggest issue, but also too many mistakes. For example, that no-look pass from Ng Shiu - after all the good work he'd done - was a coach killer.

I blame Laidlaw...

I kind of get the feeling watching the AB 7s that there is a certain amount of arrogance at times where they take the field thinking they are entitled to the win. In the big games the attitude is different but at the next tier down they are prone to results like this.

[ARHS]

@Steven-Harris Our men's team is transitioning with much néw blood. Lots of rookie errors and not quite the same chemistry between players. But there is a lot of talent out there and the squad will be competitive. Lots of the other teams are transitioning too. So a much more level playing field now.
The key seems to be in instinctively knowing where your team mates will be and what they will do.

[Stargazer]

@ARHS I agree with this. Because of Covid, the Olympic cycle is only 3 years this time and that's unfortunate, because now the team rebuild coincides with the (automatic) Olympic qualification during the World Series. They could only start the team rebuild during the 2023 Series, because - different from previous editions - the Rugby World Cup Sevens and Commonwealth Games Sevens were played in the year immediately following the Olympics. Normally, there's a year in-between.

That affects all core nations, obviously, but it is one explanation of sometimes unexpected results.

[Stargazer]

Just in case it comes down to points differential again, I'd be grateful if the Pumas7s scored a few more tries against Spain (and lose to us).

[Stargazer]

That didn't happen.

FT: Argentina 26 - 0 Spain

Now AB7s v Kenya. A must-win already.

[Stargazer]

Not a good game, thus far.

HT: AB7s 7 - 5 Kenya

[Stargazer]

Much better 2nd half now. Tries to Solo and Leo.

19 - 5 NZ

3 and half minutes to go.

[booboo]

Looking strong in scrums and on D leading to a couple of tries.

Quite impressed with the 5 mins I've seen.

[Stargazer]

Awesome try to Brady Rush. Nice dummy.

26 - 5 NZ

Half a minute to go.

[Stargazer]

Final try scored by Caleb Tangitau.

FT: NZ 31 - 5 Kenya

Better game from the AB7s. Some solid defence.

[Stargazer]

The AB7s game against Argentina is obviously a must-win as well, because Spain - despite its much worse points differential - is still sitting higher on the table than NZ, because they won the head-to-head.

[Stargazer]

The next NZ games are:

12.03am: BF7s v Fijiana
1.48am: AB7s v Argentina

[Bovidae]

This game showed that NZ needs to move forward with the young players.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Agree, although one of their best was/is Sam Dickson. Rokolisoa very good, too.

[Stargazer]

Last week's runners-up, Ireland, just lost to newbies Uruguay. Ireland played a large part of the 2nd half with 6 players, due to one of their players receiving his 2nd yellow card.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer The red card came half way through the first half and then there was the two minutes with only five players as well right near the end.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yes, you're right!

[ARHS]

@Stargazer said in 2023 World Sevens Series:

The AB7s game against Argentina is obviously a must-win as well, because Spain - despite its much worse points differential - is still sitting higher on the table than NZ, because they won the head-to-head.

I can see Kenya beating Spain and NZ getting through in a 3 way count back for second.

[Stargazer]

Fijiana first to score. That came mostly down to speed.

0 -7 Fijiana

[Stargazer]

Awesome try to Blyde. The Fijiana chasers were faster, but her head-start was big enough.

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