Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens
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This will be interesting, with some very tough calls. 23 players used in squad, including Cook-Savage, and Mikkelsen who did not play. I was hoping to see much more of Moses Leo and Rhodes Featherstone, but others got more chances. Felt they might be the types to surprise the better teams with their pace and energy at the collision respectively. Cook-Savage is one for the future with his precision kicking capability. For me, Rokolisoa is the big improver, but some of the other more experienced hands are at risk from the likes of Tangitau, Carter, Solo, Rush and Clark.
I think they need a new threat or two, who the big teams are not familiar with - to vie for gold or silver. Else, I think we can be shut down too readily. It won't be Vai, with his injury. Just hope Mikkelsen can be fit for this one, as his ability to change the line of attack quickly, or force errors with his defence in the middle of the park, will be missed hugely.
What do others think? Not a lot of discussion on the men's sevens this year.
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So some youth in the mens squad. More info here:
https://www.allblacks.com/news/rugby-sevens-teams-named-for-commonwealth-games/
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@Bovidae I am pretty happy with that selection. Looks like Knewstubb and Mikkelsen were injured, so Carter and Clark come in. Leo and Tangitau both make it, and add that extra pace (and will push Molia for a spot). I was hoping Featherstone would be a bolter with his energy and physicality, but Clark's greater pace holds him out. Reckon they need to change the handling technique though, or it will be targeted by defenders.
It might all come down to our accuracy with kick-offs an kick reception. They have got a well balanced squad.
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@ARHS said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
@Bovidae I am pretty happy with that selection. Looks like Knewstubb and Mikkelsen were injured, so Carter and Clark come in. Leo and Tangitau both make it, and add that extra pace (and will push Molia for a spot). I was hoping Featherstone would be a bolter with his energy and physicality, but Clark's greater pace holds him out. Reckon they need to change the handling technique though, or it will be targeted by defenders.
It might all come down to our accuracy with kick-offs an kick reception. They have got a well balanced squad.
And conversion kicking! Man this side shits me all the time when they seemingly don't care about the extras.
Players make no effort to score close to the posts and whoever kicks always looks like they drew the last straw on the way out.I feel the selectors could have taken a bit more risk with the side but I guess I'm not responsible for the outcome here.
For the Wahine I see that Ruby won't get the chance to play CG and RWC. You have to wonder if there was an ultimatum in the end as all of Hirini, Woodman, Brazier, Fluhler would have also been very useful in the BFs
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@Stargazer said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
@ARHS Knewstubb has done his ACL (quite badly, I heard), so he'll be unavailable for a while.
I watched the Oceania sevens and he was interviewed and can confirm this.
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Changes to the NZR sevens accounts on social media:
The allblacks7s handles have been discontinued. There were no separate blackferns7s accounts.
On Facebook and Instagram the new handle is @nzsevens.The result of the change is that finally all NZ sevens news - men's and women's - are posted by one single account.
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@Dice said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
The men definitely got put in the toughest pool.
Barring the usual Sevens boilovers this should end up as Fiji v NZ/SA for the gold in the mens.
There's no quarters in the women so NZ should make semis easily where they should play either Aus or the fast improving Fiji.
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@Crucial said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
@Dice said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
The men definitely got put in the toughest pool.
Barring the usual Sevens boilovers this should end up as Fiji v NZ/SA for the gold.
I haven't been following sevens recently but I'd be very happy if we medal honestly.
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@Crucial said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
@Dice said in Commonwealth Games (2022) - Sevens:
The men definitely got put in the toughest pool.
Barring the usual Sevens boilovers this should end up as Fiji v NZ/SA for the gold in the mens.
Australia should be in the conversation.
Samoa is a dark horse. Had 9 or 10 debutants in the 7s series this year and made 3 semifinals in 4 tournaments.
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Not related to the CGs, but an interesting story about the BF7s extra-time SF win over Fiji in Tokyo. Let's hope for a repeat performance...
