Hong Kong Sevens is the ”Mecca” of sevens rugby and it will host the first round of the Asian leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series from the 8-10 of April, three days of mouth watering sevens rugby on the ground where the game took International recognition, the So Kon Po Stadium.
It’s every teams dream to win in Hong Kong and this year it’s no different as 15 core teams and South Korea, the invitational side, fight it out for who will win the crown in the ”Mecca” of sevens this weekend. Pools are divided in four with four teams each and our first look is at Pool A.
Hong Kong Sevens: Pool A – The Pool Of Death
Pool A is the toughest pool this weekend because it has this season’s three time champ New Zealand, also the fiery Kenyans, the unpredictable French and the ever improving Samoans.
New Zealand
As the only team to win three tournaments this season the Kiwis are in good form to win another in the Asian leg and are blessed with the return of Sonny Bill Williams and Pita Ahki who returns after a long hiatus from sevens to pursue a ticket to the Rio Olympics.
The Kiwis have retained the core of the team that played in the North American leg, with the loss of Ben Lam and Joe Webber to injury chances are high for Ahki to earn that rover spot for Rio. We will also see the return of Liam Messam and the debut of speedster Sione Molia in Hong Kong.
In the forwards the ”Shadowhunter” Lewis Ormond continues his sevens education in the shadow of Tim Mikkelson, DJ Forbes and Sam Dickson. While in the backline Regan Ware and Isaac Te Tamaki fight out their spot which is good competition moving forward beyond this season.
New Zealand Squad:
Dylan Collier, Pita Ahki, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Gilles Kaka, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson (c), Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond, Teddy Stanaway, Isaac Te Tamaki, Regan Ware, Sonny Bill Williams.
Kenya
Kenya is bogey team for most of the big boys of sevens and their latest victim was the Kiwis in Las Vegas. Their Achilles heel has always been the way they approach the game, if they treat all teams the same the Kenyans will be one of the best sevens team in the world today.
Their team will be built around the brothers, World Series top Try scorer of All-time Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange. They will be supported well by Willy Ambaka and Andrew Amonde with young Samuel Oilech to show some of his speed that left the Fijian backline in awe from a set-piece move from a scrum in Vancouver where he ran 70 meters to score untouched.
Head Coach Benjamin Ayimba has also handed young Alvin Otieno his debut in Hong Kong.
Kenya Squad:
Andrew Amonde, Collins Injera, Humphrey Kayange, Augustine Lugonzo, Oscar Ayodi, Alvin Otieno, Biko Adema, Willy Ambaka, Franck Wanyama, Samuel Oilech, Robert Aringo, Nelson Oyoo.
France
The Les Bleus have been greatly boosted by the return of kingpin Virimi Vakatawa, the Fiji-born utility flyer who was away on Six Nations duty and his inclusion has added depth to the French team who seemed lost without him in the team.
As highlighted in the previous article on the opening six rounds, the French need speed in their side and they heard our call and have called up former French U20 and current Toulouse winger Arthur Bonneval to add depth in their side with his speed to finish off the moves that Vakatawa and nippy playmaker Terry Bouhraoua will create.
France Squad:
Jeremy Alcardi, Steeve Barry, Arthur Bonneval, Terry Bouhraoua, Julien Candelon, Damian Cler, Manoel Dall Igna, Jonathan Laugel, Jean-Baptise Mazoue, Pierre Gilles Lakafia, Stephen Parez, Virimi Vakatawa, Sacha Valleau.
Samoa
Samoa’s English Head Coach Damian McGrath has named a team consisting of mainly the team that has played over the series and with the inclusion of Alex Samoa the team is looking good for another good outing as they continue to build combinations to find the right team that will win them that final spot to Rio that is up for grabs in Monaco in June.
The combination between Alex Samoa and Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa, who is their find of the season, was outstanding in the American leg and together with Belgium Tuatagaloa and Falemiga Selesele leading from the front with some breathtaking finishing from Samoa Toloa the Samoans could surprise many this weekend.
Samoa Squad:
Alefosio Tapili, Faalemiga Selesele, Siaosi Asofolau, Savelio Ropati, Ed Fidow, Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa, Alex Samoa, Tomasi Alosio, Tila Mealoi, Samoa Toloa, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Alamada Motuga.
This is one of the toughest pool to call apart from New Zealand making it through, the runner-up is a tough one to call because it could go either way. In their current form we would say Kenya but with the inclusion of Virimi Vakatawa look forward to seeing the Les Bleus joining the Kiwis in the Cup Quarters come Sunday.
Follow all the updates and action from the Hong Kong Sevens here on Last Word On Sports.
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