2017-18 World Sevens Series

[Stargazer]

The 2017-2018 World Sevens Series starts next week in Dubai.

The women's tournament runs from Thu 30 November to Sat 2 Dec, and the men's tournament starts and finishes a day later.

The travelling squad for both teams has been named:

All Blacks 7s
Dylan Collier - Waikato
Scott Curry - Bay of Plenty
Sam Dickson - Canterbury
Tim Mikkelson - Waikato
Tone Ng Shiu - Ta$man
Teddy Stanaway - Bay of Plenty
Kurt Baker - Manawatu
Andrew Knewstubb - Ta$man
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Sione Molia – Counties Manukau
Joe Ravouvou - Auckland
Issac Te Tamaki - Waikato
Regan Ware – Bay of Plenty
Joe Webber - Bay of Plenty

Coach Clark Laidlaw has today announced Scott Curry and Tim Mikkelson will co-captain the team for the busy 2017/2018 season that includes the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens.

“It would be tough to captain on your own over such a long season as it’s impossible for a player to play every minute of every match in a sevens season so we feel doubling up helps our group.

Laidlaw has selected 14 players to travel, all with previous Sevens World Series experience.

“We wanted to pick as many players that have been with us throughout the pre-season as possible. They have the best understanding of what we are trying to do and deserve this first opportunity.

“What is exciting is knowing that the six or so players staying behind, will be working hard to get up to speed and that will make it tough to pick squads for the tournaments ahead.”

www.allblacks.com/News/31801/all-blacks-sevens-team-named-for-world-series-opener

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Black Ferns 7s
Alena Saili
Gayle Broughton
Katarina Whata-Simpkins
Kayla McAlister
Kelly Brazier
Michaela Blyde
Niall Williams
Portia Woodman
Ruby Tui
Sarah Goss
Stacey Waaka
Tenika Willison
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Tyla Nathan-Wong

Returning to the squad are Kayla McAlister, back after maternity leave, and Kelly Brazier, returning from injury.

The squad is already in Dubai since last weekend.

www.allblacks.com/News/31781/black-ferns-sevens-squad-to-travel-to-dubai

[antipodean]

Be interesting to see what effect the new coach has had with a pre-season under the belt.

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns 7s team for the Dubai Sevens:

1 Ruby Tui
2 Alena Saili
3 Stacey Waaka
4 Niall Williams
5 Sarah Goss (captain)
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
8 Gayle Broughton
9 Kat Whata-Simpkins
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Portia Woodman
12 Kayla McAlister

So from the travelling squad, Kelly Brazier and Tenika Willison have missed out.

Pool games (in NZT)
Thu, 30 Nov:
10.50pm: v South Africa

Fri, 1 Dec:
1.46am: v France
4.43am: v USA

LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-Up (Ch 56? aka Sky Sport 6) from 1.30am.

[Crucial]

Russia just beat England in the womens pool match.

Deserved win too.

[Stargazer]

@crucial In the women's game, Russia is quite good. Surprised they beat England though. Any more interesting games? Sky isn't broadcasting until 1.30am NZT. Any chance you can give us updates of the Black Ferns game in 20 minutes?

[Crucial]

@stargazer said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:

@crucial In the women's game, Russia is quite good. Surprised they beat England though. Any more interesting games? Sky isn't broadcasting until 1.30am NZT. Any chance you can give us updates of the Black Ferns game in 20 minutes?

Sure. I can get the feed on the WR site.

France leading USA 12-7 on the last play of the first half

[Crucial]

Stays that scoreline. Kiwis up in next game. Have a strong pool with France, USA and SA

[Crucial]

Final score France beat USA 19-17 but both teams fairly even in ability.

[Crucial]

Blyde in from first play of the game with a 75 metre run. Girl has some pace!

7-0

[Crucial]

Woodman in under the sticks. Should be 14-0

[Crucial]

SA making big errors in defence by sending one player rushing up. It leaves the outside defender with a two on one.
Now Broughton in beside the posts. This is a slaughter so far. 21-0

[Crucial]

Halftime and SA have already resorted to high kicks to try and get a lucky bounce.

21-0

[Crucial]

Waaka mistimes a tackle and takes out a player in the air. YC.

[Crucial]

McAllister just blasts straight through the middle and gasses the rest of the way. Another 7 pointer.

[Crucial]

Now Fitzpatrick in. Love the way the tries are all being scored close to the posts. The mens team could learn from that, too often they rely on 5s instead of 7s

35-0

[Crucial]

Now Waaka in as well. 40-0 kick to come.

Kick off the post. 40-0 final score

[Stargazer]

@crucial Geez, that's going fast. I know the SA women aren't as good as their men's team, not even remotely, but this is a massacre!

[Crucial]

SA started well and I thought they made good ground up the middle but after a couple of turnovers and tries they gave up that path and completely lost their way, going through the basics and providing NZ with a good practice run.

[Stargazer]

[Higgins]

The result in match three must see a lot of coughing and spluttering over their gins at RFU Headquarters after they diverted all their womens 15 professional budget into their 7s. Fancy the Ruskies coming in an spoiling the party.