POOL A
Australia
2008-09 IRB Finish: 30 pts, 8th
2009 USA 7s: Won Bowl
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2005 Cup Semis
Australia 7s coach Michael O’Connor has to feel proud that his program produces players for the 15s Wallabies team. But maybe he feels frustrated, too. Three recent Australia 7s players were called up for the November Wallaby tour to Europe, among them Luke Morahan (photo left) who scored 27 tries last season, good for 4th in the IRB 7s World Series.
Oh well, back to a very productive drawing board, as O’Connor gleans some of Australia’s best and brightest young players to do the job on the 7s field. Among them is big, powerful Ed Quirk, who at 18 is the youngest on an 18-man 7s player pool that features six teenagers and 10 IRB 7s debutants.
The physically imposing Patrick McCutcheon leads the Aussies as captain and at 22 is an old man on this exciting but inexperienced team. Australia loves the physical stuff, and creates gaps by engaging defenders, strong-arming their way through and offloading to free support runners. No surprise that coach O’Connor has a background in Rugby League.
France
2008-09 IRB Finish: 8 pts, 13th
2009 USA 7s: Bowl Finalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2007 Cup Semis
France remains a core team despite dropping out of the top 12 last season, all because Portugal opted not to play in all eight tournaments. So despite a somewhat disappointing 2008-09 season, Les Bleus have another shot to make things right.
Coach Thierry Janeczek has made the most of it, securing an agreement with clubs where he has first dibs on his first-choice players. France 7s contracted several players without pro club contracts who were born between 1988-90. Some of the players he picked fell through the cracks of France’s age-grade system, and Janeczek is proud to give them another shot at international glory.
It won’t be easy. This young group will have to learn on the job, and the IRB World Series is becoming less and less forgiving with each season. But Janeczek says if his players can hang in there and be competitive, they will start to gain confidence. Then, maybe we will see a resurgence of the exciting brand of rugby that France is so well known for.
“I don’t have any illusions because we really have a long way to go,” said Janeczek. “I am satisfied with their state of mind and their attitude . . . but we won’t set any specific goals for this season because we are such an unknown entity.”
Guyana
First time at any IRB World Series Event
North American Caribbean Rugby Association Champions
Guyana comes from the recently renamed North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA, formerly NAWIRA) for the first time since the tournament’s first year in 2004. Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico and the West Indies have all competed and have all struggled to get victories.
In fact, in the previous six tournaments, NACRA teams have only won one game and lost 44. It’s a tough job for these teams to prepare for a level of competition they don’t see regularly and come away with points, let alone victories.
For Guyana, the NACRA championship wasn’t a cakewalk, as they edged T&T 12-10 in the final. But they have been steadily improving every year and with a couple of overseas-based athletes, they hope to not be too shell-shocked when they make their IRB Series debut.
Winning NACRA was just a first step, with the USA 7s and later the Commonwealth Games now on tap for Guyana. President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Noel Adonis recently told Stabroek Sport that he felt the two teams performed outstandingly.
“It is an indication of the level of commitment of the players and coaches to develop rugby at this level,” said Adonis. “It is a credit to the hard work put in over the past two months. It means a whole lot to the GRFU, rugby in Guyana, and sports on the whole, and just shows what is possible with dedication and commitment.”
New Zealand
2008-09 IRB Finish: 88 pts, 4th
2009 USA 7s: Plate Champions
Best Finish at USA 7s: Champions 2005, 2008
New Zealand won every IRB Sevens World Series from 2000 to 2008, except for 2006. So while 88 points and three cup final appearances might be good for many teams, it’s not up to the All Black standard. One warning, though. In 2006 New Zealand also slipped to fourth, and then rebounded almost immediately to win 47 straight games and dominate the circuit for two years.
Head coach Gordon Tietjens had to deal with injured players last year, but he also lacked the luxury of having a group of outstanding athletes working well together. He hopes to recreate the chemistry with the naming of four key returning players—captain DJ Forbes, vice-captain Zar Lawrence, Tomasi Cama and Lote Raikabula.
“They are my core this season and built around them will be some experienced players, some less experienced players and a couple of new ones,” said Tietjens.
On a team that is expected to plug in players and win tournaments, the pressure is ramping up as the Commonwealth Games creep ever closer and New Zealand’s tournament winless streak passes eight.
“It’s a massive challenge because there is a lot of added interest and coverage now that Sevens has become an Olympic sport,” Tietjens said. “We’ve been at the top or thereabouts, winning eight of the 10 World Series titles so far, and the expectations are always very high. People assume that I’ll pull some new players out of nowhere and they’ll do the job, but I don’t think a lot of people realize how close this game of Sevens is now. You’ve got to be at your very best to beat these teams and I think we can do well if we start well and my players really get their act together here.”
POOL B
Canada
2008-09 IRB Finish: 3 pts, 15th
2009 USA 7s: Won Shield
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2004 Plate Final, 2005 Bowl Champs
Rugby Canada unceremoniously dismissed head coach Shane Thompson and brought in former Canada captain Morgan Williams. It will be the longtime Canadian great’s job to get Canada back in the core group of 12 teams and take advantage of 7s being the newest Olympic sport. Williams will lead his team in five tournaments.
“Our main goal is to really push and do well in those events,” said Williams. “If we can regain core status, that would be a big bonus. It would just act as an important building block in looking ahead to [the 2016 Olympics].”
Williams remembers when the Canadian team was a regular in Cup Quarterfinals, and he wants to get back there again. He will have his work cut out for him, chiefly in scouting for players in a country that does not have a serious domestic 7s season.
Williams will do that through passion for the sport. Having played for Canada in both the 7s and 15s World Cups, as well as the Commonwealth Games, he will be singing the Olympics theme song to young players around Canada to bring the Maple Leaf’s glory.
Fiji
2008-09 IRB Finish: 102 points, 2nd
2009 USA 7s: Plate Semifinalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2007 Champions
It all looked like it was going to fall apart for Fiji last season, as ongoing disputes saw coach Waisele Serevi ousted, returned, and replaced once more. Halfway through the 2008-09 season, Fiji was 5th in the IRB standings. Coach Iliesa Tanivula helped the squad pick it up after the World Cup, and some personnel changes saw a young, exciting Fijian team emerge as a major player.
They won Hong Kong and later in Edinburgh to finish 2nd in the World Series standings, with Vereniki Goneva 4th among all players with 27 tries, and Pio Tuwai and Seremaia Burotu among the best scorers as well.
This year there’s less drama and more rugby. Fiji warmed up for the World Series by winning the Sri Lanka 7s over a South Africa Vipers side.
The long-legged William Ryder rejoined the squad, and while he was exposed on defense in Fiji’s first tile against all-time rivals New Zealand this season, he racked up 11 tries in the first two tournaments. Add to that captain Emosi Vucago’s eight, and you’ve got a team that is always dangerous with the ball.
Just one or two moments of indecision or defensive miscues have prevented them from nabbing at least one trophy. So Tanivula has laid down the challenge to his players.
“One thing I have found out in Fiji is that we need to change our mindset of what it is to be a professional rugby player,” Tanivula told Zanzeer Singh of the Fiji Times. “Fijian players need to take fitness as a personal thing and not wait for the camps, coaches and trainers to direct what to do. They need to get out there and do it on their own.”
One of the great things about Fijian rugby is their ability to score amazing tries out of nothing. But Tanivula wants his team to concentrate and be more consistent. His public statements show he is putting his foot down. He wants his team to be amazing, but in control.
A year ago Fiji’s preparation threw up red flags, and they started below their normal standard. This year, the flags are all green, for go.
South Africa
2008-09 IRB Finish: 132 pts, 1st
2009 USA 7s: Cup Semifinalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2008 Cup Finalists
The plan all came together in 2008-09 as South Africa coach Paul Treu brought together a mixed group of athletes and dedicated them to working as a team. It worked. South Africa won three tournaments and were finalists in two others, winning the IRB World Series by a considerable margin.
Ryno Benjamin was second in the 7s World Series with 28 tries, while Renfred Dazel, Robert Ebersohn and Vuyo Zangqa all chipped in 22 apiece.
Treu has appointed Paul Delport as team captain and brings back many of the leading players of the Springboks team to defend last year’s title.
“We want to create a platform for all our players to excel as leaders,” said Treu. “This is part of the legacy we want to build. In the future, there will be new captains and leaders who will take over from Paul, so it’s important to have many leaders in our setup.”
“We have great 7s performers such as Mzwandile Stick, Mpho Mbiyozo, Marius Schoeman and Kyle Brown, to name but a few, who are all natural leaders and people who I am going to work with as a team to achieve our objectives,” added Delport.
There is no reason to think there will be a letdown with South Africa. They didn’t win with smoke and mirrors, but with brilliant coaching, smart play, and athleticism. All that returns for this season.
All they lack is a USA 7s title.
USA
2008-09 IRB Finish: 20 points, 11th
2009 USA 7s: Cup Semifinalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2009 Cup Semis
Last year’s USA 7s Tournament was a great one for the US team. They were outstanding in beating Australia, Canada and Kenya. Their one-point loss to Series champs South Africa and their 19-14 defeat at the hands of eventual USA 7s champs Argentina showed they could have gone all the way.
Last season provided a glimpse of the Eagles’ potential. They advanced to the Cup Quarterfinals three times and won the Shield three times, in spite of having the highest rate of player turnover of any team. Coach Al
Caravelli had to use more than 30 players, as overseas pro contracts, injuries, and 15s National Team call-ups decimated his squad. Only two who played in the first 2008-09 tournament also played in the last, and Caravelli had to name three different captains.
This year has necessitated still more changes, as school commitments and injuries have taken away some of the team’s best performers from previous tournaments (Justin Boyd, James Gillenwater, Steve St. Pierre, Thretton Palamo). No matter, says Caravelli. He’ll just forge ahead with a new group.
Central to the cadre of new players is Leonard Peters, the former NFL player and University of Hawaii football demigod, who began playing 7s this past summer and took to the game like he’d played it all his life. There’s also Mile Pulu, who has emerged this year as an exciting and intelligent young center of greatly increased maturity, and Nick Edwards (our cover boy) who reminds one of Kevin Swiryn with his power in the tackle and nose for the tryline.
Speaking of Swiryn (photo center) it was unknown at press time if he’d be back in time for Vegas. Injured playing wing in a 15s Rugby World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay, Swiryn is no stranger to playing hurt—he scored 20 tries for the US 7s team with cracked ribs—but the Eagles will want the versatile star to be healthy.
Among the veterans, nobody is as experienced or important as Jone Naqica (photo bottom left), the halfback maestro who gets the Eagle offense started. Backing up Naqica is Nese Malifa (see feature on him and twin brother Ata, page 38), another general on the field, and two experienced forwards in Mark Bokhoven and Matt Hawkins, both hungry to lead from the front. But injuries have felled all four; Bokhoven lasted six minutes in Dubai and Hawkins needed several months to get over an ankle injury suffered while scoring a try at last year’s USA 7s. Malifa missed Dubai, while Naqica’s concussion in that tournament also put his presence on the Vegas strip in doubt.
Overall, the USA’s 2008-09 record was more remarkable because of the lack of consistency in their lineup. With a more settled cadre of players, they can make one semifinal appearances more common than just once a year.
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POOL C
Chile
2008-09 IRB Finish: 0 pts
2009 USA 7s: Did not play
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2008 Shield Finalist
With Uruguay not making the cut this year, Chile is back at the USA 7s after missing the tournament last year. In 2008, the underdog Chileans’ nifty footwork made them a USA 7s crowd favorite.
Despite winning only one of six matches in that tournament, Chile showed they could score, pushing Canada, the US and especially Australia, which beat them 24-12 in the Shield Final.
While the team roster will be significantly different from the group that played in ’08, experienced heads Pablo Llorens and Javier Reyes should return to lead the squad.
Chile features multi-skilled rugby players who just need more exposure to the international stage to further develop those skills.
Chile did well in the South American 7s Championships, making the semifinals with wins over Columbia and Venezuela and a close loss to Uruguay, before being eliminated by Argentina. Then in the Mar del Plata International 7s, they lost 29-5 to a South African Barbarians side, and 24-12 to a USA developmental team.
Kenya
2008-09 IRB Finish: 64 pts, 6th
2009 USA 7s: Lost in the Plate Final
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2008 Cup Semifinal
Always one of the most popular teams on the IRB World Series circuit, Kenya established itself in 2009 as one of the best teams in the world, making the World Cup semifinals and the semifinals in three other events.
They were led by the superb Collins Injera, (photo above) who topped the World Series in tries by a staggering margin with 42 (second were Ryno Benjamin of South Africa and Santiago Gomez Cora of Argentina with 28). Humphrey Kayange was no slouch either, scoring 18 tries. The reason for that success is consistency. Kenya led the World Series circuit with seven players who competed in all eight tournaments.
Certainly the professionalizing of the team (and a new sponsorship deal with Kenya Airways) has allowed the Kenyans to dedicate themselves to 7s and let their natural athleticism come through. Kenya coach Benjamin Ayimba has kept the core of that team together for this year, depending once again on Injera, captain Kayange, and vice-captain Gibson Weru to lead the way. But he has also brought in a few youngsters who have been developing on this ever-improving program. Some day, maybe, we will be talking about the likes of Brian Nyikuli, Wilson K’Opondo, and Leon Adongo in the same hushed tones reserved for Injera.
Kenya almost tasted victory in Adelaide, making the final before losing to South Africa. This time they want it all.
“This year we want to build on the success of reaching a first-ever Cup final,” Ayimba says of their Adelaide performance. “We are going out to win the main Cup titles.”
No one doubts that they can.
Samoa
2008-09 IRB Finish: 40 pts, 7th
2009 USA 7s: Lost in Plate Semifinal
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2008 Cup Semis
Samoa slipped significantly last season, dropping from 4th in 2007-08 to 7th a year later. Only once, in Hong Kong, did Samoa make the Cup Semifinals and that’s a big change from previous years when at every stop they were a contender to win everything.
The dropoff was clearly not acceptable and Samoa has thrown itself into preparation for this season, playing in the Gold Coast 7s and then beating Fiji in the final of the Pacific Mini Games just days after their nation was slammed by a tsunami. They followed that up with wins over Fiji and Tonga to win the Oceania title.
“That was a good win and great preparation for the start of the IRB World Series,” said new Samoa coach Stephen Betham. “The standard was higher than that of the Mini Games and the competition was tough. Many teams have improved. Papua New Guinea in particular is going to be a team to watch when they compete in the IRB Sevens World Series events next year.”
With several of Samoa’s leading players on tour in Europe with the senior national side, notably captain Ofisa Treviranus (photo center)and playmakers Uale Mai (who has played in more IRB tournaments than anyone) and Lolo Lui, the tournament was also an opportunity to blood some fresh talent.
Scotland
2008-09 IRB Finish: 24 pts, tied for 9th
2009 USA 7s: Lost in Bowl Semifinal
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2007 Plate Semis
Scotland’s 24 IRB World Series points came in the final two tournaments of the year when they made the Cup Semifinals in both London and Edinburgh. So which team are they: the squad that failed to do better than the Bowl Semifinals in the first six tournaments of last season, or the outfit that made two straight semifinals?
Our bet is the latter. Scotland has set up a professionalized, central squad of players and coach Stephen Gemmell already knows what that means.
“There’s some continuity in our squad now—we’ve got Scott Forrest, Mike Adamson and Colin Shaw, who have 7s as their main competition,” said Gemmell. “It’s nice to have that backbone, and also have Hefin O’Hare and Andrew Turnbull involved in the squad, who were in London and Edinburgh last season. That’s five players there who have been involved in consecutive semifinals.”
Coaches agree that continuity breeds good results. It also helps to have professional teams demonstrate the far-sightedeness to release players to get that invaluable IRB Series international experience.
“If we want people to get behind Scottish rugby, then we need to be performing,” said Gemmell. “It’s a new World Series and it’s an exciting year to be a part of it.”
POOL D
Argentina
2008-09 IRB Finish: 68 pts, 5th
2009 USA 7s: Champions
Best Finish at USA 7s: Champions 2004, 2009
The team you overlook at your peril is Argentina. World Cup runners-up, two-time USA 7s champions, including 2009, the Pumas are deceptive. They don’t look fast, and yet defenders find it really difficult to catch them on breaks. They don’t approach the game aggressively, and yet defend without fear. The Pumas’ game begins in the head—they make smart and often risky decisions, and they make them so quickly that defenses are caught by surprise—and ends in the heart. They simply don’t give up.
This year, however, is a little different, as the Pumas will venture onto the IRB 7s stage without their ageless superstar, Santiago Gomez Cora. The all-time leading try scorer in IRB 7s history with 225 (49 more than #2 Ben Gollings of England), has retired and that means it’s a new era in Argentine 7s rugby.
And it’s not just a case of being without Gomez Cora. Only two of the 12 men who finished second at the World Cup are back for more this season—Dino Tomas Caceres and Santiago Piccaluga.
Can they recreate the success that saw them win one tournament, finish second at the World Cup, and finish top four in three others? It will be tough. The younger squad that played in last May’s London and Edinburgh 7s tournaments failed to garner any IRB World Series points, although it’s worth noting that the team went 4-5-1, so they’re not far off.
England
2008-09 IRB Finish: 98 pts, 3rd
2009 USA 7s: Cup Finalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2006 Cup Champions
It’s generally accepted that 7s is the sport for teams from the Pacific Islands and other nations known for their speed. But then how do you account for England? Perhaps it’s not the first country fans would mention when they think about 7s, yet the English continue to put up huge numbers in these matches.
England won two tournaments in 2008-09, and finished second twice—good enough to make them the third-best 7s team on the circuit. They are led, once again, by the amazing Ben Gollings (photo above) who has obliterated the all-time points record.
Unlike many teams that have made major changes in their lineups, England has stood pat. Coach Ben Ryan returns seven of his main squad of 12, although he does lose his captain and 7s Player of the Year, Ollie Phillips. Ryan is looking for an injection of youth, and U20 speedster Christian Wade looks set for his IRB 7s debut.
Japan
2008-09 IRB Finish: 0 pts
2009 USA 7s: Shield Semifinalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2009 Shield Semis
Japan did not win a game in the 2009 USA 7s, losing to Samoa, England, Scotland, Wales and Uruguay. But 7s hasn’t been a regular competitive option for Japan in the last few years, as they have concentrated on improving their 15s national team and domestic professional league.
But maybe the Olympics will change that. The Japanese tried to play a high-tempo, exciting style but struggled against the more experienced defenses of the regular World Series teams. By the time they got to Uruguay, they were beaten up and overwhelmed.
Still, the USA 7s served as a springboard to the World Cup and Hong Kong, where wins were still hard to come by, but their scorelines were much improved. No one will ever accuse a Japanese player of quitting—they simply don’t. But they need regular time on the international stage and more time together to compete for some hardware.
And that’s where the Asian Rugby Sevens Series comes in. Japan warmed up for the USA 7s with a five-tournament series throughout Asia, modeled after the IRB World Series. Japan did well, clinching the series with two tournaments left. They hope to use that momentum to improve on their results in the World circuit.
Wales
2008-09 IRB Finish: 24 points, tied for 9th
2009 USA 7s: Bowl Semifinalist
Best Finish at USA 7s: 2008 Bowl Winners
Despite a relatively disappointing performance at last year’s USA 7s, and a 9th place finish in the IRB World Series, Wales can point to the 2008-09 season with significant pride as they won the 7s World Cup, to the surprise of just about everybody.
But anyone who watches the Wales 15s team knows they have the capability to play exciting, fast-paced rugby and have the types of players who can convert turnovers into sparkling tries on a dime.
Buoyed by their World Cup success—albeit a success based on some razor-thin victories—the Welsh RFU has put more money and support behind their 7s program. The WRU put eight players under contact for the IRB World Series, with a further plan to contract as many as 10 more.
Wales 7s head coach Paul John is now also the Wales National Academy skills coach. He has quickly made some big changes, retaining only four players: captain Chris Davies (photo center), Craig Hill, Jevon Groves and Ifan Evanshave (all of whom have suited up for Wales 7s in the past). Coach John also signed Chris Morgan, Nicky Thomas and Lloyd Williams to contracts.
“This initiative will radically alter our preparation for international 7s tournaments,” said John. “It will give us a consistency of selection that we have never achieved. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do as nothing’s going to miraculously change overnight.”
Oh really? Full-time status for the World Cup champs means a team that always had the tools will now be much more consistent from tournament to tournament . . . and a threat to win any competition.
