IRB Sevens 2012
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ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
Excellent win by Australia. Massive sideline conversion and then some good last minute defence to hold out a top class Samoan side
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
Well done to the lads. I missed the Hong Kong tournament but I can't get over their improvement from the tournament before, in Las Vegas, I think.
Their win over England was dominant but in the final against Samoa a dropped pass with the line wide open made me think that it could have been a key moment in losing later in the game. Sure enough Samoa scored not too long after and took the lead. Then our guys fought back and won, which cheered me after seeing a few unfavourable results on the weekend.
What a top conversion from wide out by Lucas to win the game - and what a good quarterback he is; maybe this is his rugby niche.
I know that Shannon Walker was signed last year from the Titans at the same time as Tomane, but I can't remember that he actually played; mind you, I can't remember any league game he played in either. What a dominant player in this code of the game he is: a stepper, but so fast with it that the half break becomes a full one. He's a keeper.
It could have been his debut and maybe Lucas' also. Whatever, they are both new and have lifted the team.
The others have improved too. They are no longer getting muscled off the ball nor getting nervous about mundane matters like clearing the ball from from the ruck or scrum. They got to the breakdowns quicker too. Before you were pleasantly surprised when there were players on both sides of the ball runner to take a pass; today it was expected and one was seldom disappointed.
Their defence was well orchestrated too. It's all good. I can't wait to see the last two tournaments.
PS - something I didn't realise until after the game, as I don't watch the preliminaries or half time stuff, but the team had only 8 fit players to play in the final.
Their win over England was dominant but in the final against Samoa a dropped pass with the line wide open made me think that it could have been a key moment in losing later in the game. Sure enough Samoa scored not too long after and took the lead. Then our guys fought back and won, which cheered me after seeing a few unfavourable results on the weekend.
What a top conversion from wide out by Lucas to win the game - and what a good quarterback he is; maybe this is his rugby niche.
I know that Shannon Walker was signed last year from the Titans at the same time as Tomane, but I can't remember that he actually played; mind you, I can't remember any league game he played in either. What a dominant player in this code of the game he is: a stepper, but so fast with it that the half break becomes a full one. He's a keeper.
It could have been his debut and maybe Lucas' also. Whatever, they are both new and have lifted the team.
The others have improved too. They are no longer getting muscled off the ball nor getting nervous about mundane matters like clearing the ball from from the ruck or scrum. They got to the breakdowns quicker too. Before you were pleasantly surprised when there were players on both sides of the ball runner to take a pass; today it was expected and one was seldom disappointed.
Their defence was well orchestrated too. It's all good. I can't wait to see the last two tournaments.
PS - something I didn't realise until after the game, as I don't watch the preliminaries or half time stuff, but the team had only 8 fit players to play in the final.
p.Tah
John Thornett (49)
I thought (hoped) Walker would be a great acquisition from the Titans to 7s. he was hampered by a hamstring injury when he first came across.
Type his name into you tube and click on a video from 2008. (i cant access the link. Youtube is blocked where i am). You can see then he was made for 7s. I hope he isn't seduced by super rugby and stays in this format. He is electric. He was reputatedly the fastest man in Rugby League.
p.Tah
John Thornett (49)
I can't play it but I think you can see the final day highlights here
http://www.irbsevens.com/video/index.html
Or here
http://www.irbsevens.com/destinatio...61729.html#australia+strike+gold+tokyo+sevens
disco
Chilla Wilson (44)
Check foxsports.
Yeah they were awesome in the semi against England also I can't believe how young that team is. Hopefully they can keep the squad together for a while I remember Shannon Walker being touted as the next big thing in league after carving up the QRL but he never really lived up to the hype.
Bowside
Peter Johnson (47)
Shannon Walker use to absolutely kill it in qld cup but like disco said he never really cemented a spot at the titans.
He was good though wasn't he, so was Allan "the butcher" faalavaau and Sean McMahon as well. Matt Lucas's crisp passing got the Australians on the front foot a few times which is what they have been lacking in previous tournaments - and that kick was a cracker.
I hope they let all four of them stay in the 7's team for another season as I think we will benefit greatly from the consistency in the line up.
He was good though wasn't he, so was Allan "the butcher" faalavaau and Sean McMahon as well. Matt Lucas's crisp passing got the Australians on the front foot a few times which is what they have been lacking in previous tournaments - and that kick was a cracker.
I hope they let all four of them stay in the 7's team for another season as I think we will benefit greatly from the consistency in the line up.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
This news is a few days old but nobody has mentioned it to my knowledge:
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Sevens curtain raiser set for Sunday afternoon Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Crusaders
Iain Payten and Jamie Pandaram
The Daily Telegraph
April 13, 2012 12:00AM
THE Waratahs could draw one of their biggest crowds at the SFS in years with an exciting curtain raiser in the pipeline for their next afternoon clash later in the month against the Crusaders. NSW, ARU and NZRU officials are finalising negotiations for the Australian sevens team to do battle with the New Zealand sevens team ahead of the Waratahs' round 10 clash with the Crusaders on Sunday, April 29.
Fresh from their win at the Tokyo Sevens and ahead of the Scotland leg, the Aussies will play IRB series leaders New Zealand in a "friendly'' with 10-minute halves at 3pm ahead of the 4pm main game.
The curtain raiser is being bankrolled by long-time NSW sponsor HSBC, who also sponsor the IRB Sevens series.
Credit where it's due: this is a smart move by all concerned. After the success of last month's afternoon game against the Sharks, the appetite for running rugby in the sun is huge and this sevens clash will give Sydneysiders a chance to see some rare, top-level sevens action.
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Where's that clapping icon when you need it?
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Sevens curtain raiser set for Sunday afternoon Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Crusaders
Iain Payten and Jamie Pandaram
The Daily Telegraph
April 13, 2012 12:00AM
THE Waratahs could draw one of their biggest crowds at the SFS in years with an exciting curtain raiser in the pipeline for their next afternoon clash later in the month against the Crusaders. NSW, ARU and NZRU officials are finalising negotiations for the Australian sevens team to do battle with the New Zealand sevens team ahead of the Waratahs' round 10 clash with the Crusaders on Sunday, April 29.
Fresh from their win at the Tokyo Sevens and ahead of the Scotland leg, the Aussies will play IRB series leaders New Zealand in a "friendly'' with 10-minute halves at 3pm ahead of the 4pm main game.
The curtain raiser is being bankrolled by long-time NSW sponsor HSBC, who also sponsor the IRB Sevens series.
Credit where it's due: this is a smart move by all concerned. After the success of last month's afternoon game against the Sharks, the appetite for running rugby in the sun is huge and this sevens clash will give Sydneysiders a chance to see some rare, top-level sevens action.
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Where's that clapping icon when you need it?
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RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Innovative thinking re the marketing of the game in Australian rugby: I thought that capability was now extinct.
Good on HSBC and the other RU bodies for this program. What will be interesting is to see how well this program is promoted in Sydney media pre 29/4, so that it's not merely a delight for patrons arriving early only to discover the bonus on show.
Good on HSBC and the other RU bodies for this program. What will be interesting is to see how well this program is promoted in Sydney media pre 29/4, so that it's not merely a delight for patrons arriving early only to discover the bonus on show.
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
Some good footy on Fox Tonight - Glasgow sevens. Pity it is not live, but at least we get to see something.
I realise that the Thunderbolts playing strip looks rather interesting, but is anyone watching Fox now?
WTF are the Soap Dodgers Wearing? Looks like the Safety clothing that they wear on night road works around Sydney. How much flouro can you wear?
I didn't think that the Soap Dodgers could do worse than their other horrible "alternate" strip, but I reckon that their guernseys in Glasgow take the cake.
I realise that the Thunderbolts playing strip looks rather interesting, but is anyone watching Fox now?
WTF are the Soap Dodgers Wearing? Looks like the Safety clothing that they wear on night road works around Sydney. How much flouro can you wear?
I didn't think that the Soap Dodgers could do worse than their other horrible "alternate" strip, but I reckon that their guernseys in Glasgow take the cake.
p.Tah
John Thornett (49)
They ended up showing the finals on Tuesday night. Overall quite good games. I don't understand why Fox don't make more of this series (I.e showing both days live). If they don't want it I'm certain that a free to air network such as 10 would love the content.
I genuinely believe that 7s will bring more to rugby because it's easier to understand. It's a shame the ARU and the networks don't make more of it. If they just rely on the Olympics to generate interest here they're going to be bitterly disappointed. They need to build the interest first.
Unsure about Glasgow as a leg for the series. Stands were about half full and the crowd was vocal at times. Definitely not HK, Dubai or London
I genuinely believe that 7s will bring more to rugby because it's easier to understand. It's a shame the ARU and the networks don't make more of it. If they just rely on the Olympics to generate interest here they're going to be bitterly disappointed. They need to build the interest first.
Unsure about Glasgow as a leg for the series. Stands were about half full and the crowd was vocal at times. Definitely not HK, Dubai or London
frontrowimages
Frank Row (1)
Watching it now. Kiwi's killed our ball in the 2nd half of the semi, ref was blind to it. But at least they did the right thing and denied the poms of first place. Chooseday footy up next with a reds game last year. Gotta love a unreality TV free night.
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