It will be a war in Pool C of the Hong Kong Sevens as the Americans battle the Aussies. It will be a very interesting tussle between the North and South American teams, up against the Oceania Olympic qualifier for the Rio Games, the Aussie Thunderbolts. They have have reached three finals in three consecutive tournaments this season, however don’t count out the fourth team in the pool- the Lobos (or Wolves) of Portugal who are out to regain there core status for next season. They need maximum points to stay with the elite. It will be an engaging battle.
Americans Battle Aussies in Pool C At The Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens will run from the 8th-10th of April and it’s the most looked-forward-to tournament on the HSBC Sevens Series calendar. This weekend promises to give another fantastic rendition of the tournament known in the sevens world as the ”Mecca” of sevens rugby. Here is the lowdown of Pool C.
Australia
After three consecutive finals and a third place finish in the last tournament in Vancouver, the Aussies are the form team at the moment doing everything right but not with the finishing-edge to finish a leg with a win. Hong Kong Sevens could be ‘their’ tournament.
With a huge injury list, that includes Tom Caslick, Pama Fou, Nick Malouf, Tom Lucas, Simon Kennewell, Pat McCutcheon, Greg Jeloudev and Henry Speight, the side still have the core of the team that played New Zealand and Fiji in two consecutive finals.
Quade Cooper has gone back to club duties but will be back for the European leg as his quest for Rio continues. The combination of Lewis Holland and James Stannard continue to shine which will make Cooper work hard to earn his spot. This is a group who aren’t afraid of putting in the hard yards and the ‘silent worker’ would be Boyd Killingworth. Watch his work rate in the breakdown. Wonderful.
Head Coach Andy Friend has really fitted in well with his relatively new coaching role and it’s up to the players to step up now. One to watch this weekend, apart from your usual stars will be two try hero against Fiji in the third play-off in Vancouver John Porch. When this kid gets more game time, he will be a star just like the other new men they have unearthed this season–‘Little’ Henry Hutchison and Sam Meyers.
Aussie 7s squad:
Henry Hutchison, Tom Kingston, Sam Meyers, Lewis Holland, James Stannard, Con Foley, Cam Clark, Steffan Van Der Walt, Ed Jenkins (c), Allan Fa’alavau, John Porch, Boyd Killingworth.
USA
The North Americans took the Fijians to the wire in Vancouver and gave us one of the best sevens game this season which saw both teams score tries after tries, only for the Fijians to have the final say in extra-time. Consistency is what Mike Friday will be demanding from his players this weekend.
They are boosted with the return of Zack Test who missed the Vancouver Sevens due to injury and Carlin Isles is back, who was away on trial for the USA Olympics Athletics team. He should be primed and also back into the fold is big Maka Unufe, who will really assist Danny Barett and then their ‘find of the season’ Martin Iosefo. A good combination, Isoefo is their go-forward man, with captain courageous Madison Hughes dictating play along with Folau Niua.
The Americans have the strength, the speed and power to win games so mix that in with the technical know-how of their coach, this squad will be a force to be reckoned with come Saturday. If there is one thing that the North Americans will try to avoid this week is ‘don’t runaway from your support’. Players must try not to get isolated and lose valuable possession, which must be a lesson from Las Vegas.
If Perry Baker and Carlin Isles both turn-up, they will be hard to stop.
Eagles 7s Squad:
Carlin Isles, Ben Pikelman, Danny Barett, Garrett Bender, Zack Test, Peter Tiberio, Folau Niua, Maka Unufe, Nate Augasperger, Madison Hughes (c), Perry Baker, Martin Iosefo.
Argentina
With the late withdrawal of Ramiro Moyano to join the Jaguarez in New Zealand late last week, the Argentine team have lost one of their trump cards but they still have enough firepower to challenge their North American neighbors. They will keep a sharp eye on the Aussies and will be boosted with the inclusion of National representative Javier Ortego Desio.
They also will be relying on the ever improving Axel Muller, the mercurial Bautista Ezcurra and the old war horse in Nicolas Bruzonne. The Pumas look ready for a good outing in Hong Kong, coach Santiago Gomez Cora would be asking his players this weekend to be far more determined and consistent. The South Americans would love to get one over the Aussies this weekend and especially over their North American brothers–for bragging rights of course.
Los Pumas 7s squad:
Barbier Razio, Nicolas Bruzonne, Sebastian Cancelliero, Juan Pablo Estelle, Rodrigo Etchart, Bautista Ezcurra, Fernando Luna, Axel Muller, Javier Ortego Desio, Gaston Revol, Segundo Tuculet.
Portugal
The Portuguese are having one of their worst World Sevens Series so far (far too many 30+ point losses) but are hopeful to turn things around on this crucial Asian leg starting this weekend in Hong Kong, and Singapore to following week after.
The Lobos (Wolves) will again be led by the ‘nippy’ playmaker Pedro Leal and will be assisted by the gentle-giant Aderito Esteves, who with Jose Cabral are solid men with Tiago Fernandes assisting. They have a young side which is building but if they want to keep their core status for next season, at #HK7s it’s make or break for them on the Asian leg, or they will surely miss out come next season.
While the focus will be in the Eagles battle with the Aussies, the Portuguese could surprise both knowing that regaining their core team slot for 2016/2017 is their main aim this weekend.
Lobos 7s squad:
Aderito Esteves, Vasco Ribeiro, Jose Luis Cabral, Pedro Leal (c), Antonio Vindinha, Vasco Poppe, Pedro Silverio, Vasco Di Mendes, Joao Belo, Tiago Fernades, Tomas Appleton, Antonio C. Monteiro.
This pool will be decided by how the Americans battle the Aussies and who make up the two teams to make the Cup Quarters. Really, too close to call but the Last Word On Sports team believe that the North Americans and the Aussies will run out onto Hong Kong Stadium come Sunday, to compete in the qualifying stages. It looks set to be a really closely fought event.
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Follow all the updates and results from the Hong Kong Sevens here on Last Word On Sports.
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