New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Teitjens introduced four new players into the 16 man squad to play at the 6 IRB World Series events in 2012.
Here is how we rated their performance.
Mark Jackman
Jackman was somewhat of a revelation in sevens rugby this year. He plays for Hawkes Bay in the NPC at fullback or wing and is a skilled footballer.
But he did not play sevens for Hawkes Bay at any of the provincial tournaments in the last 2 years. He emerged playing for Canterbury at the Bay of Plenty Invitational tournament in early January this year.
Canterbury had been absent from provincial play for a time, returning at the 2011 Nationals led by ex-international Craig DeGoldi.
This year it was Jackman who led Canterbury and they went quite well making the final of the BOP Invitational and then the semi-finals of the Nationals in Queenstown the week after.
Jackman showed pace and awareness at the first receiver position and won selection into the 30 man trial squad.
Wellington
Jackman was introduced into the playing team a little earlier than many would have expected. Toby Arnold hurt his knee minutes into New Zealand’s first match against Scotland and Jackman replaced him from that moment forward.
The World Sevens Series is a step up in pace and intensity from anything he would have played in before but the Hawkes Bay man handled it well.
There were 1-2 nervous mistakes but he settled quickly and built in confidence with more game time.
Las Vegas
Jackman made a significant contribution to the team’s performance. His fitness, speed and scoring nous got him into several scoring opportunities.
Our verdict: Jackman will go on from here to become an integral part of Gordon Teitjens’ magnificent seven for the remainder of the series
Ardie Savea
Savea has maturity beyond his 18 years. He captained Wellington at the Nationals earlier in the year and has taken the promotion to the New Zealand team in his stride.
Wellington
In his limited game time Savea did everything that was asked of him.
International Sevens is a step up in physicality as well as pace and intensity but Savea did not look out of his depth.
Las Vegas
Like Mark Jackman, Ardie Savea grew in confidence with his first hit out in Wellington.
His positioning was excellent and he scored the try that kept New Zealand in the final, cutting back, beating defenders as showing enough pace to score under the posts.
Our verdict: Savea will go from strength to strength as we start to see what he can do in the rugby field. I just hope it will be playing sevens rather than as a squad player among strong competition in a loose forward bunch.
Waisake Naholo
[Only played in Las Vegas]
Naholo came into the New Zealand squad with a lot of anticipation.
In Las Vegas he got taken around the outside a couple fo times which is a worry. We don’t see this happening in New Zealand domestic sevens very often but the international game is clearly a lot quicker.
THere was also a time when Naholo’s disciline let him down. He was of on a run down the left hand touchline and put his foot on the chalk. When he was pulled up for it, he threw the ball down in frustration and was penalised for time-wasting.
This kind of rookie mistake will nto sit well with coach Gordon Teitjens. It’s this kind of ill-discipline that can cost a team. The competition among the top 4 teams in the Series in fierce and a penalty can make all the difference.
Our verdict: Hopefully Naholo’s first hit out was just that and he will settle in. The spot is open in the New Zealand team and so it’s u to him to do the hard yards and make it his. If he can do this then he could be hitting his straps in a year or so and spearhead New Zealand’s build up for gold in Rio.
Jono Malo
[Only played in Las Vegas]
It was tough for the young Waikato man to come into the playing squad ahead of others who were in the tighter group of 15 (i.e. Kylem O’Donnell). Also, he was brought in mainly as cover for Tomasi Cama and Mark Jackman.
Cama had another wonderful tournament in Las Vegas backing up from his sublime effort in Wellington. Jackman also played well and so Malo’s game time was severely restricted – only getting on in weaker games and when the injuries forced everyone off the bench.
Our verdict: Malo is more of a utility than O’Donnell or Joe Webber and so this gives him an advantage when he is there to provide cover. As a specialist half, it remains to be seen what Gordon Teitjens plans are. Hopefully New Zealand will have the resources to keep players like Malo in sevens full time to provide positive selection choices and the best possible team.
Waisake Naholo is a 6ft 1in 20 year old wing who has been in the Taranaki development squad for the last 3 seasons.
The next issue with the USA Sevens – bending to suit TV schedules
Filed under Commentary, IRB Sevens Series, USA by Maru on February 6, 2011 at 11:48 pm {no comments}The playing field at Sam Boyd stadium in Las Vegas is 12 metres narrower than the playing fields at every other tournament on the IRB World Sevens Series.
The narrow playing field at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas
This poses huge tactical challenges for teams as they must adjust both attacking and defending strategies to cope with the difference.
Classical sevens rugby involves moving the ball and using the width of the field to gain an advantage. The best teams avoid contact rather than look or it. Fiji are probably the best example, Kenya are another.
A New Challenge
The draw for the USA Sevens has been changed to accommodate the wishes of TV broadcasting. All teams will now play 4 matches on Day#1.
And the Championship Final will be played before the finals for the Plate and Bowl.
The teams playing in the final will receive sufficient rest time after their semi-finals because these are scheduled prior to the semi-finals for the plate and bowl.
TV Rules
The NBC televising the USA Sevens is seen as a huge step for the game in the USA (and maybe the world).
Olympic inclusion came first, then a greater focus in the developing rugby nations.
But there is a cost
American sports have evolved to meet commercial interests.
The NBA shortened the attacking possession by 6 seconds and banned the most effective means of defense (the zone). The game of Basketball is very different to that played by the rest of the world.
Sevens is already in an advertising-friendly format with 7 minute halves and breaks in between each match.
Scheduling is the next issue and the USA Sevens this year will be the first trial of a TV-friendly format.
Let’s hope the Americans viewers like it!
And what does it mean for he game if they do?