Rio Olympics

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^ strongly suspect that whereas they'll give it a good shake they like all the other scratch teams won't be able to keep up with the full-timers.

 

[Highlander35]

I think so too, but it's been fun to have seen them lose only 1 match since yhey started about 12 months ago, using only the U23 academy boys. Can see them being potentially the most likely to beat the two series regulars, especially if they top up a little.

 

[Quick Hands]

We made it; finally.

 

[matty_k]

Can only one team qualify from the repecharge?

 

[D-Box]

Men's Running Qualification

Host - Brazil

1st WS - Fiji (164 points) - Qualified
2nd WS - South Africa (154 points) - Qualified
3rd WS - New Zealand (152 points) - Qualified
4th WS - England (GB) (132 points) - Qualified

Regional Qualifiers
Africa - 15th November
Asia - Japan
Europe - France
North America - USA
Oceania - Australia
South America - Argentina

Final Qualification tournament
Lucky bastards

Woman's Running Qualification

Host - Brazil

1st WS - New Zealand (108) Qualified
2nd WS - Canada (96) Qualified
3rd WS - Australia (94) Qualified
4th WS - Great Britain (76) Qualified on a count back

Regional Qualifiers

Africa - South Africa
Asia - 29th November
Europe - France
North America - USA
Oceania - Fiji
South America - Columbia

Final Qualification tournament

Lucky Bastards -

Qualification Schedule

2015 CONSUR 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 June 2015 TBAhttp://www.consur.org/index.php/component/k2/item/2411-resultados-parciales-dia-3
2015 NACRA 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 14 June 2015 Cary, United States http://www.worldrugby.org/news/76391
2015 Rugby Europe 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 12 July 2015Varioushttp://www.worldrugby.org/news/77487http://www.worldrugby.org/news/80309
2015 ARFU 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 November 2015 Hong Kong http://www.asiarugby.com/news/2015/11/japan-off-to-rio-2016-olympic-games (Women's Qualification finishes November 27/28
2015 CAR 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 November 2015 Kenya
2015 FORU 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 15 November 2015 Auckland, New Zealand http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=103745&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

Men's Final Qualification Tournament

Spain, Russia, Germany, Ireland
Africa 1, Africa 2, Africa 3
Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka
Tonga, Samoa
Canada, Mexico
Chile, Uruguay

Women's Final Qualification Tournament

Russia, Spain, Ireland, Portugal
Kenya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Asia 1, Asia 2, Asia 3
Samoa, Cook Islands
Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago
Argentina, Venezuela​

 

[D-Box]

Can only one team qualify from the repecharge?

Yes

 

[Marcelo]

With an alliance between ARU and NRL, Australia could win the gold medall easily. Maybe for the 2020, when the NRL see the Sevens in Rio 2016 and how big is the sport. They will want to participate.

Sevens is an hybrid between Union and League for that reason the NRL players are perfect for it.

Fiji and ABs 7s play in another league, and SA with all the 15s is really dangerous. ARU doesn't has the money to invest in Sevens without damage the Super Rugby franchises so we need the help of the NRL. Their players are perfect for Sevens

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Kenya 21-17 Zimbabwe* to win the African Qualifying Tournament. Not sure who else goes into the repechage as its the only main draw result I can find so far.

EDIT: going by D-Box's running qualification watch looks like both beaten SFists may be off to repechage, in which case Tunisia & Morocco.

*Possibly 19-17 depending on whether you go with the PR story linked below or the Rugby Afrique Twitter feed.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/kenya-qualify-for-rio-olympics/

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

With an alliance between ARU and NRL, Australia could win the gold medall easily. Maybe for the 2020, when the NRL see the Sevens in Rio 2016 and how big is the sport. They will want to participate.

Sevens is an hybrid between Union and League for that reason the NRL players are perfect for it.

Fiji and ABs 7s play in another league, and SA with all the 15s is really dangerous. ARU doesn't has the money to invest in Sevens without damage the Super Rugby franchises so we need the help of the NRL. Their players are perfect for Sevens

You're so wrong about so many things it's had to know where to start, but:

1. There's no way the NRL would dare consider releasing players for the best part of their season to prepare for & play in the Olympic 7's, the Clubs & broadcaster(s) wouldn't stand for it. You want e.g. Thurston in your 7's squad, you're gonna have to go out & buy him (& good luck with that).

2. With a very few exceptions, Thurston & Ingliss bring two, league players are very much NOT suited for 7's as most of the big guys wouldn't handle the pace & most of the little guys don't have the skills.

 

[Scotty]

Plus they still need some idea of what to do at the breakdown!

 

[gel]

I very much believe a large number of NRL guys have the fitness and pace to undertake a game of 7s. Modern NRL is almost 80minutes of beep test and apart from AFL it's unbelievable how these guys manage to just keep going and going and going whilst getting smashed. Rugby 15s is a very tough game, but has migrated towards a power game, thus all the guys are getting bigger and bigger. 7s appears to be more suited to the aerobic athlete and the NRL is already there.

Having said that they would have absolutely no friggen idea about what to do at the breakdown, when isolated, line out etc etc so would be found out by any technically competent opposition. The basics must come instinctively and that takes a serious amount of time - not just one season (or a couple of tournaments).

This is why I am a teeny bit concerned about the inclusion of guys like Quade. 7s is almost a different beast these days and despite his crazy level of skill and talent, will he be superior to some of the specialist 7s players that he will replace? It is tantalising to image what he could do with the space 7s offers, but will his instincts be right?

Interesting to see.

 

[blindsider]

Congrats to the boys. Great effort.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Marcelo]

You're so wrong about so many things it's had to know where to start, but:

1. There's no way the NRL would dare consider releasing players for the best part of their season to prepare for & play in the Olympic 7's, the Clubs & broadcaster(s) wouldn't stand for it. You want e.g. Thurston in your 7's squad, you're gonna have to go out & buy him (& good luck with that).

2. With a very few exceptions, Thurston & Ingliss bring two, league players are very much NOT suited for 7's as most of the big guys wouldn't handle the pace & most of the little guys don't have the skills.

Well, you are a Kiwi and must to defend your superheros of the NZ 7s buuuuuuut everyone know that the NRL players have the fitness and the pace to play 7s easily.

There are 4 or 5 times more players League players than Union players in Australia. SBW is a former League forward and he's going to play 7s. Let see his performance and we will know if the League forwards can play Sevens, (Most of the League forwards have a similar body) the League backs can play 7s, not doubts about it. Just look the NRL backs who made the switch to Union. Lote Tuqiri, Sailor, Folau all of them can play 7s.

I have doubts about a deal between ARU and NRL, but maybe the NRL players will want to make a switch because is the only way that they could win an Olympic medall. We must wait the impact of the Rio 2016 and Sydney Sevens in Australian Media, maybe the Media, League players and investors can see the 7s game like a prosperous way for a gold medal for the country.

If the Sydney Sevens is a succes, could attract many League supporters.

Plus they still need some idea of what to do at the breakdown!

I agree buuuut you forget that the Sevens breakdown is very very different that the XV breakdown. For example Fiji sucks at the XV breakdown buuuut they are a power nation at Sevens. So that's the best example about it.

At 7s breakdown you don't face monsters like David Pocock, Bismarck du Plessis or Agustin Creevy. You face lighter players who aren't the best at the XV breakdown. So the switch is easily. Henry Speight isn't the best at the breakdown and he's going to play 7s. Bryan Habana isn't dominant at the breakdown and he's going to play 7s too. At the 7s breakdown you don't face a 130 kg front rower or a 2,02 m second row, is very different. Almost another sport IMO.

The 7s breakdown is faster, involving fewer players and lightest players.

 

[I like to watch]

I have no doubt the right League players would excel in 7's with sufficient lead time.
The question is,who are the right type of players.
And then,are they much better than the alternatives.
I wouldn't be looking at any League forwards at all.lets remember that not many are as mobile as SBW and none of them understand running lines & breakdowns.
I struggle to believe many league halves would excel either.
So how many wingers do we need?

 

[Marcelo]

I have no doubt the right League players would excel in 7's with sufficient lead time.
The question is,who are the right type of players.
And then,are they much better than the alternatives.
I wouldn't be looking at any League forwards at all.lets remember that not many are as mobile as SBW and none of them understand running lines & breakdowns.
I struggle to believe many league halves would excel either.
So how many wingers do we need?

Well, the current Aussie 7s players aren't the best Union players. Most of them can't get a Super Rugby contract so I think an NRL starter could win a spot in the squad

 

[barbarian]

It's all hypothetical though. The appeal of the Olympics is strong for sure, but we just don't have the money to pay these guys a competitive wage.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Henry Speight isn't the best at the breakdown and he's going to play 7s.

Just another example of where you are so wrong.

 

[Marcelo]

It's all hypothetical though. The appeal of the Olympics is strong for sure, but we just don't have the money to pay these guys a competitive wage.

The Australian Olympic Committee should be the mediator between ARU and NRL, and therefore the funder. Sevens program should be funded entirely by them, is an Olympic sport. They have money to invest, it's an olympic discipline and Australia could win gold quickly

 

[barbarian]

The Australian Olympic Committee should be the mediator between ARU and NRL, and therefore the funder. Sevens program should be funded entirely by them, is an Olympic sport. They have money to invest, it's an olympic discipline and Australia could win gold quickly

Yeah but the AOC isn't flush with cash either. How many Aussie Olympians make a decent wage? All of those sports are run on the smell of an oily rag.
.

 

[I like to watch]

Well, the current Aussie 7s players aren't the best Union players. Most of them can't get a Super Rugby contract so I think an NRL starter could win a spot in the squad

I've seen NRL players look like chumps playing touch against guys who could never play NRL.Being a god NRL player is just evidence that they are strong athletes.
Some NRL players would no doubt excel,many would not.
It's no good being big & strong enough to smash anyone on the paddock,if you can't work out who is going to get it and when.