2017-18 World Sevens Series
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@stargazer Didn't they win a tournament lately?
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@antipodean Yes, they won Sydney; were third in Hamilton. Fourth on the Series table. Really odd, such a short time before the Commonwealth games.
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The All Blacks Sevens team for Hong Kong has been named. Due to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with other coaches and a truckload of newbies.
The squad is (* denotes debut)
Jordan Bunce (Waikato)
Tima Faingaanuku* ( Ta$man)
Rocky Khan (Auckland)
Luke Masirewa (Bay of Plenty)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki* (Otago)
Tone Ng Shiu ( Ta$man)
Amanaki Nicole* (Canterbury)
Joe Ravouvou (Auckland)
Salesi Rayasi* (Auckland)
Akuila Rokolisoa* (Counties Manukau)
Dan Schrijvers* (Wellington)
Bailey Simonsson* (Bay of Plenty)With the Commonwealth Games team currently preparing in Australia, this All Blacks Sevens team will be coached by Roger Randle and Aussie McLean.“The Commonwealth Games is a pinnacle tournament and it was important for us to make sure that squad had the correct preparation, so they are already on the ground in Australia. “It presented an exciting opportunity for some of the younger players in our contracted squad to form the core of this Hong Kong team and it was imperative to make sure they have a quality management team around them. “Roger brings international sevens experience as both a player and a coach, along with Aussie whose coaching pedigree is top shelf, we are really happy to have these men lead this group. “We’re under no illusion that Hong Kong will present a tough challenge for this group but they have been preparing well and there is a real air of excitement about what they can achieve,” said Philp.The squad features six players with World Series experience alongside seven debutants. Amanaki Nicole, Jona Nareki and Bailey Simonsson are fully contracted with the All Blacks Sevens team while Salesi Rayasi, Dan Schrijvers, Akuila Rokolisoa and Tima Faingaanuku have been involved in training camps over the past X months. Both Nareki and Faingaanuku played in the New Zealand Under 20s in 2017, Rayasi has previously played in the New Zealand development sevens team. The Hong Kong Sevens kicks off on 6 April.http://www.allblacks.com/News/32212/all-blacks-sevens-team-named-for-hong-kong-sevens
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@bovidae said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
A lot of second generation players there - Bunce, Masirewa, Rayasi and Simonsson.
All of the other Commonwealth countries will also have to send understrength teams to the Hong Kong sevens. What a stuff-up.
Argentina to beat the USA in the final, and France finishing 3rd! All other usual contenders from the Top 10 countries are Commonwealth countries.
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Oddly, it looks like just NZ, Australia, England and South Africa are playing second string teams in HK. Should be Fiji all the way, chased by USA. Argentina, France and Scotland teams look strengthened, with Kenya and Canada fairly constant. Any of those 5 have a shot at semi-finals.
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Tv coverage was looking at the wrong breakdown. It was the previous one where Ravouvou was tackled. Happened right in front of the TJ and the 9 was the right guy
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@stargazer said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:
Half time: NZ 7 - 7 Samoa
NZ is struggling against this Samoa team that, by the way, got smashed by Fiji last night. If NZ doesn't improve much, we're going to get crushed by Fiji as well.
There is no way the ABs sevens B team is within shouting distance of beating Fiji
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Blitzbokke are in good hands for the future
I couldn't clearly see what happened. Striking in the ruck or something like that.