IRB Sevens 2012

[p.Tah]

Digby would be the first player I'd pick

Can't believe I forgot Digby...

 

[Swat]

Hypothetically, if we were to pick a sevens team from current players (injured or not) would we be better off using some of those from the 15 man game?
I personally think people like digby, mitchell, JOC (James O'Connor) and Turner could give our chances of winning a medal for sevens a serious boost. Is it likely that other countries would pick players from their 15 man teams? If so, why would we not pick the best players. Even if it is a bit harsh that is the reality of the olympics, you should pick the best. It's like how our individual swimmers will also often be in the relay teams.

 

[spectator]

A couple of trials to test '7''s aptitude might be the go, if the Olympics are considered that important a prize. Anyone wanting to be eligible would have to play in a mini-series, and the best 12 or whatever number selected from that. Some of the specialists might surprise.

Cricket has already shown that success in the long form of the game doesn't necessarily translate to shorter forms.

 

[Badger]

Sorry, I am just assuming that the Captain Thunderbolt connection is part of the plan. As for the lime green, yes it is just a shade of green, but I assume that it is a result of mixing green and gold/yellow tints, it certainly looks like it to a layman like me.

It is certainly no worse than the garish yellow we see on some Australian sporting teams.

Most, if not all, long term Wallabies fans are aware of how the Australian rugby union team became the Wallabies and the background as to why the Wallabies wear gold.

So I would like to learn the same about the Thunderbolts as the team builds its profile progressing towards the Olympics in 2016 and beyond.

Agree on the variations of yellow used by some Australian teams.

 

[WhoDaresWin]

Hypothetically, if we were to pick a sevens team from current players (injured or not) would we be better off using some of those from the 15 man game?
I personally think people like digby, mitchell, JOC (James O'Connor) and Turner could give our chances of winning a medal for sevens a serious boost. Is it likely that other countries would pick players from their 15 man teams? If so, why would we not pick the best players. Even if it is a bit harsh that is the reality of the olympics, you should pick the best. It's like how our individual swimmers will also often be in the relay teams.

because they're good players at 15 doesnt necessarily mean they will be good at 7s. Anyone remember the Commonwealth games that was held in Melb a few years back?? Australia fielded a team consisting of Giteau, Tuqiri, Latham, Pocock (not too sure), Fava and still didnt win.
Wellington 7s in 2000, NZ had Lomu, Cullen, Muliaina but still lost.

It's about showing up on the day mentally prepared and ready to do your bit for that 14mins.

Hell, Wales won the 7s WC without any big names. They've proven that a consistent squad is muche better.

 

[p.Tah]

Australia fielded a team consisting of Giteau, Tuqiri, Latham, Pocock (not too sure), Fava and still didnt win.

I think I may have spotted the problem... We only fielded a team with five players
I understand with what you are saying, but if the top 15s players had more 7s experience I believe they would be the best 7s players available.

 

[sunnysideup]

Regular top 4 - they should be flogged for not coming 1st every time - a bit like the 15 man game - if young and inexperienced is an excuse put in some older lads to enhance results

Maybe its like the 15 man game and MOC is planning big picture with the focus being on developing a good core that will use the next few world series and also the next commonwealth games as building blocks for the Olympics in Rio 2016. Success there guarantees further federal $$$$ which can only be good for our game. It is not always about the here and now

 

[sunnysideup]

Imagine a 7s side with
Genia, Cooper, Beale, JOC (James O'Connor), Pocock, Higginbotham and Mitchell (playing in the scrum)

Cooper would need to improve his one on one defense.

Probably play him as a sweeper and put 6 blokes in front of him who are guaranteed to make their tackles! lol

 

[TOCC]

Its a little bit silly to think that we should just take our best 15 a side players and they will translate to awesome 7's players.

Its a completely different game style for starters, thats the first problem, our 15 a side players wont be allowed enough time to come to terms with the different style.
And secondly, some of the best 7's players were never able to tranlsate that to the 15 person game, and conversely some of the best 15 a side players who stepped in at 7's were fairly lacklustre.

The best way to pick a 7's side for Australia, is to continue the current trend of having a dedicated 7's pathway by promoting further 7's tournaments at schoolboy and opens level.

 

[Jets]

7's and 15's are completely different games. All of the Wallaby players are far too big to play 7's currently. I see someone like Richard Kingi being perfect for the game as he can go flat out for 7 min periods. Outside that maybe a few of the younger outside backs like Shipperly would go ok. If Australia want to qualify, let alone win, they need to have a 7's squad playing for a couple of years together.

If we don't finish in the top 4 teams in the 2015-16 season (may be the season before can't recall) then we would have to win the Oceania series against the likes of Samoa, NZ, Fiji and Tonga if these teams aren't in the top 4. If we finish second in the Oceania series we would go in the repercharge tournament with the teams from the other 6 zones for the final spot.

It's only a 12 team comp at the Olympics so it will be hard to qualify. I guess the one thing in our favour is that the UK teams will have to compete as the one team so will reduce some of the competition.

 

[barbarian]

It's only a 12 team comp at the Olympics so it will be hard to qualify. I guess the one thing in our favour is that the UK teams will have to compete as the one team so will reduce some of the competition.

I don't know, the word is qualification will be done within your regional Olympic body, so for us it would be Oceania. That means we will have to play NZ, Fiji and Samoa, and there is a distinct possibility the IOC will only allow two or three teams from each region.

So teams like Argentina and South Africa will have a very easy pathway, but we may be pushing shit uphill...

 

[qwerty51]

Little OT but does anyone know why the Irish don't play 7s?

 

[Jets]

The qualifying process is that the top 4 teams from the previous years IRB 7's series will qualify directly. Then the top team from the IRB's 6 regional tournaments qualify and then the other teams will play off for one spot. As hosts Brazil qualify automatically.

My guess would be
Top 4 - Fiji, NZ, SA and Great Britain (England)
Host - Brazil
Asia - Japan
Oceania - Samoa/Aust
Africa - Kenya
Europe - France
Nth America - USA/Canada
Sth America - Argentina
Repercharge - Samoa/Aust/USA/Canada/Tonga one of these teams.

There is a 7's World Cup in Russia in 2013 and I would like to think that Australia has a pro squad of at least 15 players by this stage. If we had players solely focused on 7's I see no reason why we wouldn't finish in the top 4 IRB teams and make life much easier for us.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Preparation for our women's squad appears to have started in earnest. Also useful as evidently the IRB are currently working on establishing a women's World Series to run alongside the men's.

http://www.rugby.com.au/sevens/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1754/ArticleID/5063/Default.aspx

 

[TOCC]

Little OT but does anyone know why the Irish don't play 7s?

money, and a general disdain towards 7's.. they are slowly coming around now that the broader commercial picture is starting to open up thuogh..

 

[wamberal]

7's and 15's are completely different games. All of the Wallaby players are far too big to play 7's currently.

Have you seen the Fijian team recently? England also has some big players. I do not think it is a matter of size, it is a matter of specialisation.

 

[qwerty51]

7's and 15's are completely different games. All of the Wallaby players are far too big to play 7's currently.

We've got the one of the smallest backlines in the world..

JOC (James O'Connor), Genia, Cooper, Beale, Turner, Mitchell, Ioane, Horne these guys would not be monsters in the 7s circuit at all.

 

[Mr Tank]

This is a few weeks old but I couldn't find news of this elsewhere in the thread.

Rugby on the rise in the USA

USA Rugby announced an exciting development for rugby in the country with the inception of full time contracts for 23 Sevens athletes in 2012.



Starting in January 2012, a partnership between the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Rugby will allow 23 Sevens athletes to receive full time training contracts at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Chula Vista, California.


Fifteen men and eight women will receive contracts, which will provide monthly stipends, meals, world class training facilities and high performance support services at the OTC, marking a crucial step on rugby's journey to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.


The news comes as both the US men's and women's teams prepare to compete in Dubai, the venue for the second round of the HSBC Sevens World Series and for the first IRB-sanctioned women's Sevens event.


"As we prepare as a nation for Rio 2016 making our men's and women's Sevens teams full time is a crucial step for our sport," said USA Rugby CEO, Nigel Melville.


"There are so many advantages to living and training in a high performance environment year round - fulltime coaches, trainers, dieticians, sports psychologists, and so on. It really is necessary if the USA are to be on the rugby podium in 2016."


The athletes will live off-site but nearby the OTC with full time access to training and recovery facilities, high-performance specialists and coaches.


"The USOC is a fantastic partner to have on our journey to 2016. They have been very supportive of our national teams and are also invested in developing American rugby athletes for 2016 and beyond," Melville added.


The sport of rugby has grown drastically in the United States over the last six years.


In 2005 USA Rugby had roughly 62,000 members and it recently tallied over 98,000. The inclusion of Sevens in the Olympics has provided momentum for the sport at all levels.


While the contracted players will enjoy the excellent OTC facilities all year round, high performance training opportunities will also be extended to USA Rugby's All-American athletes at the high school, Under 20 and college levels, an added benefit to rugby's new status with the USOC.

 

[Jets]

Have you seen the Fijian team recently? England also has some big players. I do not think it is a matter of size, it is a matter of specialisation.

I'm not talking about height I'm talking about muscle mass. While the Fijian and English teams had some big guys they aren't as solid as a Test player. I think you need player who solely focus on 7's. That is what all the major countries have.

 

[wamberal]

I'm not talking about height I'm talking about muscle mass. While the Fijian and English teams had some big guys they aren't as solid as a Test player. I think you need player who solely focus on 7's. That is what all the major countries have.

I certainly agree that specialisation is the way to go. We should actually have a domestic Sevens circuit, to act as a selection tool.