Rugby 7s general chat

[KAOPointman]

I don't think that cost us the game,but he had no shame in gobbing off at team mates when they scored off it.
It's not like he's never fallen off a tackle..

Certainly not.....but it destroyed our
chances of a comeback.....gifting them the ball with a crazy 40m kick straight to their standoff. 1 min is enough time for a comeback in sevens quite often......but not without the ball......

 

[Nusadan]

Amazing game, GB v Argies, nil all at full time! Gb gets a try after a penno attempt hits the post at extra time

 

[barbarian]

Renaming the thread 'general chat' as I think there's a broader discussion to be had away from the Olympics thread.

There is a blog post in this, but I think our Men's team need to go back to the drawing board after their Rio effort.

For the last five years they have been a very workmanlike side, full of scrappers and battlers. Getting beyond individual players, I think this is something that needs to change.

Aussie rugby at every level should share a similar identity, a similar playing style. That to me is defined by the 2011 Reds, 2014 Waratahs and 2015 Wallabies - fast, skilful, smart. Ball in hand and aggressive at every facet.

I don't think our Men's 7s team fit this mould at the moment. They are to 7s what the Force are to Super Rugby - an honourable team of scrappers.

I'd like us to rebuild our team to play fast, exciting 7s. We need blokes who can break tackles, run around defenders, and generally lift the heart rate of fans around the country.

That can't be done overnight, but I'd like them to start soon.
.

 

[I like to watch]

First step,new coach.
He wanted to continue trying to play a risk free pattern.
It gets you out of the pools each week,but it's not good enough to beat the good teams unless you get lucky and score early.
There should be a changing of the guard in terms of playing personnel which is also a good thing.
They need a new culture in the group.

 

[Highlander35]

In the short term, who goes in and who comes out? Chucky will probably retire, Fou and Clark have signed Super deals, and you'd imagine that Hutchison will have a go at 15s sooner rather than later, while Cutch and Jenkins may end up choosing to go overseas for a well deserved paycheck.

That's a lot of players, and particularly good players to be replaced. Beyond wait till some of the Box Hill Fijiians have been here 3 years then give 'em a go, I can't offer any suggestions for replacements. Who'd be a good chance?

 

[Braveheart81]

It would seem likely that the ARU needs to pay the 7s players more to be able to attract better talent. It's hard to know exactly how much that increase needs to be or what the ARU can afford.

Clearly this needs to be about the 4 year cycle to recruit athletes that can develop through the team with the goal of succeeding at the Olympics. This is the only time frame that will work if we are going to bring in some elite athletes from other sports who don't come from a rugby background.

Australia are likely to have some specialist 7s players who really suit the game that spend the bulk of their careers in the game. Their alternative is probably a lower end Super Rugby contract so it needs to be competitive with that. Think Ed Jenkins.

What we need to avoid is becoming a home for rugby players who want to be professionals but can't make it in the XV a side game. The world standard is better than that and if we want to challenge the top 3 sides we need to have a higher base standard for our team.

 

[RugbyReg]

Strike power and speed are critical element.

Now is the time to look at be likes of that Barba guy from leave and the like.

We do need a Caslick type of player although the men's game seems more possession related and relying on patience then full throttle attack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lindommer]

In the short term, who goes in and who comes out? .....Cutch and Jenkins may end up choosing to go overseas for a well deserved paycheck.

Ed Jenkins has signed to stay with Oz 7s for the next two years. Read here: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/68a0365ee9c609a522221a242a5f2154

 

[Scrubber2050]

Ed Jenkins has signed to stay with Oz 7s for the next two years. Read here: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/68a0365ee9c609a522221a242a5f2154

Tough gig for Ed. Hope they pay the poor bugger a big bonus for services rendered,

 

[barbarian]

It's a tough one for the ARU. They can pump in cash, but they aren't getting anything really in return.

I'd be inclined to fill the team with hungry youngsters for the next few years, then look to up the ante in about 2018 before Tokyo.
.

 

[Braveheart81]

It's a tough one for the ARU. They can pump in cash, but they aren't getting anything really in return.

I'd be inclined to fill the team with hungry youngsters for the next few years, then look to up the ante in about 2018 before Tokyo.
.

I guess if they're going to add their next Pama Fou to the squad they need to plan that more than two years out from the Olympics.

We're clearly never going to make it a better option financially than XVs nor are we going to bring in players from other football codes. There is presumably an opportunity for a talented sportsman who is playing a sport that you can't play professionally in Australia (like volleyball).

The bulk of the squad being the hungry youngsters certainly makes sense though. Apart from the really specialised 7s players, it is definitely a young mans' game for players without the 7s background.

 

[Pfitzy]

Our coaching just doesn't look right. Defensively we are porous at best and the communication isn't there. Some of the gaps we left were just rubbish. Pure place is something the Blitzbokke had in spades, and we don't.

 

[I like to watch]

^^^^ like my mate, Jake the Muss used to say.
Too much weighsts,not enough speed.......
Friend was obsessed with winning the breakdown,at the expense of everything else.
Including speed.
You can't win breakdowns if you can't get there.

 

[barbarian]

Also if I were the ARU I'd be starting the PR campaign to recruit players for Tokyo now.

Step 1: get a few snaps of the team pissing it up in the Olympic Village with Swedish handballers/Romanian gymnasts/Brazilian volleyballers.

Reckon that would attract a lot more people to play the game than anything that has happened on the field.......
.

 

[Mustafa]

It would seem likely that the ARU needs to pay the 7s players more to be able to attract better talent. It's hard to know exactly how much that increase needs to be or what the ARU can afford.

Clearly this needs to be about the 4 year cycle to recruit athletes that can develop through the team with the goal of succeeding at the Olympics. This is the only time frame that will work if we are going to bring in some elite athletes from other sports who don't come from a rugby background.

Australia are likely to have some specialist 7s players who really suit the game that spend the bulk of their careers in the game. Their alternative is probably a lower end Super Rugby contract so it needs to be competitive with that. Think Ed Jenkins.

What we need to avoid is becoming a home for rugby players who want to be professionals but can't make it in the XV a side game. The world standard is better than that and if we want to challenge the top 3 sides we need to have a higher base standard for our team.

I think focussing on the youth for a start who are athletes with speed to burn who have a rugby background. The ARU should not muck around with signing these type of players up either. I have been told there are a couple of really fast athletic youngsters that have the skills required to do well in this sport who are under the notice of Friend, but are playing other sports now because they were not given any communication on what was happening and being stuffed around

 

[Viking]

^^^^ like my mate, Jake the Muss used to say.
Too much weighsts,not enough speed...
Friend was obsessed with winning the breakdown,at the expense of everything else.
Including speed.
You can't win breakdowns if you can't get there.

Absolutely! Speed is number one in rugby sevens!

I think at worst the forwards need to be similar athletically to League forwards, solid but with pace. One play-maker and the rest wingers with exceptional speed/footwork.

 

[Mustafa]

Absolutely! Speed is number one in rugby sevens!

I think at worst the forwards need to be similar athletically to League forwards, solid but with pace. One play-maker and the rest wingers with exceptional speed/footwork.

Agree mate. The ARU needs to stop pussyfooting around and if they see the talent and skills sign them up quickly, get some new fresh blood into the squad, like the NRL and AFL does. We miss opportunities. There you have a couple of really fast youngsters representatives, keen as mustard to get into the squad. However being stuffed around. Friend knows about them and is also very keen to have them and further develop / train them but the ARU is so slow getting around with contracts and signings. The squad trains just about everyday day

 

[Strewthcobber]

Do the ARU gave any "development" contracts for 7s?

And if they do can they afford to offer any in an Olympic year? Given all of the other options the best players gave wouldn't they be better off spending the money on the players ready right now?

 

[Braveheart81]

They have enough contracts that they can keep a balanced list in terms of being able to compete in the current year but also build towards the next Olympics.

Better planning and commitment regarding players being signed up from Super Rugby/Wallabies in the lead up to the next Olympics would be good. The challenge is getting agreement from all relevant parties, picking the right players who are keen and suited to 7s (and possibly have a history in it) and making it work financially both for the player and ARU.

 

[I like to watch]

There have been a cast of thousands down there this year on short term contracts.
They have sent a development squad to international events this year.
They appear to be looking in the wrong places for potential squad members IMO.