Tom Iosefo back for Samoa

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 26, 2011 at 6:32 pm {no comments}

Tom Iosefo and Bryce Heem, Auckland

The Auckland Sevens star played for Samoa back in 2005 but has not been selected.

Iosefo was in scintillating form for Auckland when they won the New Zealand Provincial Sevens earlier this year. He then rejoined the Samoan squad, playing for the Samoan Barbarians in Fiji’s Nakawa Sevens in late February.

Iosefo hadn’t played for Samoa since 2008.

Somewhat surprisingly, World Sevens Player of the Year, Mikaele Pesamino was left out of the Samoan side for the tournament, giving Iosefo another chance.

Todd Clever is back for the USA

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 26, 2011 at 5:57 pm {no comments}

It’s been 2 years since the tall forward has played sevens for his country but he has hardly been resting.

In early 2009 Clever became the first American to play Super Rugby, spending a season with the Lions in South Africa where he spent every weekend in combat with Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks.

The American international was not out of place amongst the Southern Hemisphere’s best.

Then Clever moved to Suntory in 2010 and won the Japanese Top League rubbing shoulders with the likes of George Gregan.

Now he’s back and featuring strongly for the USA Eagles in Hong Kong.

We hope to see more of the long-haired flanker at the World Cup in New Zealand later in the year.

Clever featured prominently in the greatest try in Rugby World Cup history.

2011 Hong Kong Sevens – Day#1 matches to watch

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on February 20, 2011 at 10:06 am {no comments}

Hong Kong is the oldest tournamnet on the IRB World Sevens Series having started in 1974.

It is also the biggest tournament featuring 24 teams, 8 more than in the other IRB sevens events.

To cater for the additional teams, pool matches start on the Friday with 12 games played from 4:30pm local time.

Here are our picks for the most interesting rugby matches on the first day’s play.

[The first 6 matches on Day One feature one of the favoured teams playing one of the minnows of the game and so little interest from a rugby perspective]

Match 7 [6:42pm] Argentina v Canada

At full strength, Canada are a capable side.

They were without playmaker Phil Mack and the hard running Justin Mensah-Coker in Wellington.

Nathan Hirayama stepped up and Thyssen de Goede is a useful player.

Argentina can be a very difficult side to play. They do not always look like the most beautiful team in the world but they can beat them.

There have been some losses from their last year’s side but playmaker Diego Palma remains and Joaquin Todeschini is a great finisher.

Our pick: Argentina too clinical

Match 8 [7:04pm] Wales v Hong Kong

The local side always receives massive support and at just after 7 in the evening, there will be time for people to get along to the stadium after work.

Hong Kong beat Wales by 2 points in a very exciting match here last year and they will be confident of back to back upsets.

Wales lost to Scotland in the Bowl semi-final in Las Vegas so they will be keen to make amends here.

Hong Kong have experienced ball players in Keith Robertson and Rowan Varty and will give a good account of themselves in front of the home crowd.

Our pick: Wales in a nail biter

Match 10 [8:16pm] Scotland v Tonga

Scotland were beaten by Papua New Guinea in pool play in New Zealand but they fared better in Las Vegas winning the Bowl, beating Wales and Canada along the way.

Tonga beat kenya in pool play in Wellington but the Kenyans turned the tables in the Bowl final the next day.

Our pick: Tonga to upset

Match 11 [8:38pm] USA v Japan

This is always a good match-up. USA won the last encounter in Las Vegas 24-7.

The USA’s Zac Test has grown as a player and Marco Barnard has experience and skill. Paul Emerick works hard in the physical exchanges and Roland Suniula has a wicked sidestep.

Japan have strength in their side with their 3 Tongan players Sione Teaupa, Lepuha Latuila and Siliva Ahio.

Our pick: USA in a close one

Match 12 [9pm] France v Portugal

France are as enigmatic in sevens as they are in 15-a-side rugby. They beat South Africa in pool play in New Zealand but then lost to Canada.
Canada beat them again in Las Vegas. This time it was the Bowl semi-final.

Portugal are a physical side who really turned it on in Dubai in December.

They beat France in 26-14 and then England 14-12 in pool play but failed to kick on on Day#2.

Portugal’s draw in South Africa was tough but they still managed to beat Kenya in the Bowl quarters.

Our pick: Portgual in an upset

England are building …

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on April 1, 2010 at 1:06 am {no comments}

England were convincing in their Pool matches in Hong Kong and it took the in-form Samoan team to stop them in a very exciting Cup semi-final.

I had caught them training on the Thursday while walking to my hotel from the ground after picking up my press pass.

There were 1-2 supporters watching from a makeshift micro-stand and 3-4 photographers in tow.

England training on thursday - the day before the tournament began

Tom Powell, England

Training per se is never all that exciting but England have some very good sevens players.

  • Ben Gollings is class
  • Chris Wade and Mat Turner are very quick and Nick Royle isn’t far behind
  • James Rodwell works hard up from and Tom Powell has pace for a tall man
  • New boy Jacob Abbott looks quick as well as strong

I had picked England to do well in Adelaide.

Unfortunately Ollie Phillips was injured so we didn’t get to see the 2009 Player of the Year and England didn’t fire. Losses to the United States and Australia in pool play banished them to the Bowl where they beat Kenya in the final to restore some respectability.

Good teams bounce back and Hong Kong provided the opportunity.

Jacob Abbott looks to have ability

England easily accounted for Hong Kong in their first match 45-0 and then beat Japan by the same margin.

Wales were the other seeded team in Pool E and England moved past their neighbours comfortably 26-5.

They then turned the tables on an improving Australian side in the Quarter Finals 26-19.

Chris Wade turned on the pace to open the scoring out wide but Australia replied 2 minutes later to level things at 5-5.

Then Wade scored his second try from 80 metres but Australia leveled again just before the half-time break, 12-12.

Australia took the lead in the second half after England dropped the ball.

James Rodwell then showed his pace by running 70 metres to even things again at 19-19.

England then stole an Australian line-out throw and Tom Powell sealed it with a try under the posts.

The semi-final against Samoa was probably the most exciting match of the tournament

Mikaele Pesamino opened the scoring and then Chris Brightwell showed good strength to evade 2 defenders to square it up for England, 7-7.

Samoa’s big men are their key – very few teams can contain them. Fa’osiliva powered through teh defensive line to score and restored Samoa’s lead.

Just before the the half-time hooter, Lindsay-Hague squirted over to narrow the margin to 2 at the break, 14-12.

Lindsay-Hague had a big tournament. He has improved throughout the season and gives England a second playmaker, taking pressure of Gollings and freeing him up to express himself, which he did by way of a well weighted kick through which Mat Turner gathered to score and give England the lead for the first time, 19-14.

The crowd were behind the English and starting to believe they could do it. But the World Series top try scorer, Mikaele Pesamino had other ideas and kicked through for himself to score, beating Nick Royle to the ball.

Lolo Lui added the extras to put Samoa i front by two points, 21-19.

England coach Ben Ryan substituted Chris Wade on for Royle but it was too late. Wade may have been the only man in the tournament who could have beaten Pesamino but the decision to start with him on the bench backfired.

Questions have ben asked of Wade’s defense. Royle is a bigger man and has a rugby league background and is considered a better defender.

Samoa scored one further try to seal the result. Lolu Lui took 2 defenders over in the corner and then converted his own try to give Samoa an unassailable lead 28-19.

England had the last say in the match when Rodwell scored down the right side.

Final score 28-24.

England out but pride and self-belief restored.

I expect England to make the final in front of their home crowd in 22-23 May.

Russia perform admirably in Hong Kong

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 29, 2010 at 6:56 pm {no comments}
Russia pushed the winners Samoa in their pool match

I enjoyed watching the Russians over the course of the tournament. They clearly know how to play the game and seemed to enjoy the spirit.

They had success in their last 2 Hong Kong Sevens, winning the Bowl in 2007 and 2008.

Earlier in this year’s World Series, Russia made the Shield Final in Dubai and the Bowl Final in George. Their 2008-09 record included wins over Kenya and the USA and draws with Australia and England.

Russia’s pool matches were hard-fought encounters.

  • They went within one try against Argentina (19-12) in a match-up of similar styles
  • They had a narrow and  unlucky loss to Italy (14-12); and
  • They were competitive against Samoa (24-12) which is not something that many teams can say

They continued their early form into the finals day on Sunday.

Their Shield Quarter Final was against China in a clash of playing styles

This promised to be a good matchup but Russia were too strong in the end, winning 31-17.

Russia went out to an early 2-try lead and it was looking like they might run away with it. But things see-sawed in the second half as China got more possession and fitness started to play a part – with China having the edge there.

They got within 7 points with their 3rd try but the Russians rallied when it counted and finished the them off with a try to Alexander Yanyuskin – a good playmaker with vision and speed off the mark.

Playing styles

Asian teams tend to play a classic style. They move the ball well, probing for gaps. They avoid contact and draw teams out with quick passing and speedy playmakers, emulating Fiji albeit not quite as successfully.

Russia opt for a more physical approach, like Italy, Portugal, Zimbabwe, Canada and Argentina.

They are comfortable with a confrontational game. They tackle well and use contact up the middle to create chances out wide and around the rucks.

The Russian players are very strong and they have pace out wide in Vasily Artemyev and Evgeniy Matveev. Other players like Vladimir Ostroushko have a turn of pace as well as strength and they are also quite effective around the ruck where Yanyuskin directs play.

Shield Semi-Final Russia 17 – 14 Zimbabwe

This was another hard-fought encounter between strong forward packs.

Dimitriy Perov opened the scoring off a good pass from Vasily Artemyev. Then Vladimir Ostroushko got their second and third tries to take Russia out to a commanding lead 17-0.

Zimbabwe’s Nechironga got 2 tries to get within 2 points but that’s where it finished.

Shield Final – Russia 17 – 19 Hong Kong

Hong Kong received great support from the home crowd. The Russian players may not have experienced such a reception. I’m sure it was more passion for their own team rather than hostility towards the Russians.

The Cup semi-finals were boil-overs and the crowd was primed for a home victory.

Hong Kong scored first with a try to local hero, Keith Robertson who turned defenders inside out with his side-stepping. Robertson then converted his own try to give Hong Kong a 7-0 early advantage.

Anthony Haynes then stretched the lead with another try. Robertson converted again for a 14-0 lead but Russia came back.

An Artemyev try and Yoshyuskin conversion brought it back to a 7 point advantage at the half-time break.

Hong Kong have several players with pace and one of them – Rowan Varty – went around 2 defenders to score Hong Kong’s 3rd try and stretch the lead to 19-7.

Russia then managed to get their hands on the ball and mount several attacks resulting in a good try to Yanyuskin. Russia’s ball movement left Hong Kong short out wide. The conversion was missed leaving Russia trailing 19-12.

Russia kept the pressure on Hong Kong and a tough call at the scrum presented them with the ball in a great attacking position and reserve Evgeniy Matveev scored in the corner to reduce the margin to just 2 points after a great kick by Yanyushkin

The crowd was nervous but it was short-lived as the final whistle brought silverware to the hosts for the first time with a final score of 19-17.

Russia left as Shield runners up and pride intact from another notable performance in Hong Kong.

Argentina – hard to work out sometimes but they can beat anyone

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 28, 2010 at 2:36 pm {no comments}

Argentina are not a stylish Sevens team. They have none of the grace of Fiji or Kenya.

They are not consistent like New Zealand or Samoa and they are not full of young talent like Australia and South Africa.

But they do play good sevens.  They are tough, they are accurate in contact and are not afraid of physical confrontation.

On the softer side, Argentina have playmakers and pace out wide.

These attributes combine to make them very difficult to play.

South Africa found that out last week when Argentina beat them in the Cup quarter finals.

Santiago Bottinni and Mariano Baud provide go ahead up front and Joaquin Tuculet and Diego Palma have pace and enterprise out wide.

While somewhat scrappy in appearance, Argentina can play a fast paced game or a physical game -

There is an element of unpredictability however and their form has been patchy this season. It’s like we don’t know which team is going to show up on the day.

If it’s the good team, they can beat anyone!

Argentina were too good for Italy on Day 2 in Hong Kong

Hong Kong – Early Upset on Day 2

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 27, 2010 at 8:53 pm {no comments}

Hong Kong beat Wales, 21-19

In a very close match, Hong Kong managed to run the length of the field to win the game in the final minute with a try and conversion.

Wales scored first in the match and will have been confident after a strong showing in Adelaide the week before, beating Fiji on their way to the Cup Quarter finals.

Hong Kong tough it out against Wales

Hong Kong tough it out against Wales

Wales opened the scoring with a try to Lee Rees then Tom McQueen replied for the home side and the scores were locked at 7-7.

Wales looked willing and were starting to get the upper hand. Alex Cuthbert scored the first of his 2 tries showing good pace to go around the defense.

Wales had a 5 point lead going into the half-time break 12-7 but Hong Kong went ahead  in the second half from a try to Rowan Varty that was converted  to take the score to 14-12.

Alex Cuthbert scored his 2nd try to give Wales back the lead 17-14. It looked like Wales were going to win with 3 minutes to go. They seemed fitter and with more pace out wide.

But with one minute to go, Hong Kong winger Anthony Haynes scored the winning try from a break down the left. The scores were level so it was down to the conversion which Keith Robertson slotted to give Hong Kong the win.

Hong Kong – Day #1 of play

Filed under Hong Kong, IRB Sevens Series by on March 27, 2010 at 3:18 pm {no comments}

Adelaide is played over 3 days but with just 16 teams there are only 8 matches on day 1. Hong Kong has 24 teams and so there were 12 matches on the first day with the women’s final played as well so there is a lot more happening.

While Adelaide will be famous for the number of upsets, Day 1 results in Hong Kong went to form but not without some very close matches.

Russia were a tough match-up for Agrentina

Russia were a tough match-up for Argentina

Argentina 19 – 12 Russia

This was a physical encounter. Neither team are afraid of confrontation and both had their moments but the Russians made more mistakes and appeared less fit than their opponents. They clearly know the game and have skills but they would benefit from more competition and professional fitness standards.

France 12 – 7 Scotland

Scotland are an average team and France are somewhat unpredictable. The French have some pace out wide (Delmas) and Scotland have a great playmaker in Andrew Turnbull. The match was more close than exciting per se.

USA 17 – 15 Portugal

Portugal proved tough for the USA

The USA went very well in Adelaide last week making the final but they made hard work of beating Portugal in their first game in Hong Kong.

Portugal are a physical side who seemed like they would be tough to play against (a bit like Argentina)

Portugal scoring on the final whistle to narrow the margin and had the kick gone over, it would have been an upset draw.

Canada 21 – 10 Tonga

Canada v Tonga was a close match. Tonga were probably the favoured team with solid performances in Adelaide but that didn’t stop the Canadians taking it to them. The Canadians were unfazed by the physicality of the Tongans and showed resolve in defence.

Wales 12 – 10 Japan

After a solid performance in Adelaide, Wales only just beat Japan. An upset was on the cards with 2 mins to play with Japan in front 10-5 but the Welsh came back with a try from long range against the run of play to close the game out, 12-10.

Tupuailei is a real force for Japan. His size and strength make things happen on a Sevens field and Japan have the speed and vision to maximise the opportunities that this creates for them. Japan are well-balanced and highly capable. This game was there for the taking.

The top 3 were very convincing

  • Samoa opened proceedings by thrashing Italy 40-12
  • New Zealand drilled Chinese Taipei 52-5
  • Fiji looked very good in their demolition of Thailand 82-7

England, South Africa, Kenya and Australia all won comfortably.

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