There always seems to be a point during each Series where Australia tend to play really well. It shouldn’t come to much surprise that it’s usually somewhere during the last few tournaments when this happens.

Lolo has nailed so many important drop-goals. It’s funny how commentators always bring up the kick he made in Wellington 07, but never mention a far more important kick that he made to seal the deal for the Series title in Edinburugh ’10.

Surprising to hear that they don’t care with them being a medal chance. Maybe once they get closer to the Olympics, they’ll start to care – especially as they’re not certain to even qualify.

I’m looking forward to the moves teams make from here until Rio. I can imagine some of the star stalwart players getting cut.

You could be right about players getting called up, especially if they belong to the Reds’ region.

They must have been gutted losing to England in Hong Kong in the last seconds after playing so well and they managed to pick themselves up a few days later, make way less mistakes and really take their chances – all 12 of them!

I’ve seen Lolo Lui nail some wonderful conversions – up there with ben Gollings for consistency.

I spoke to a prominent Australian rugby figure about the level of priority given to their sevens programme and he said that the ARU ‘didn’t give a shit about sevens’.

They do tend to make players available for the Commonwealth Games but I doubt that adding 1-2 individuals who have been playing only 15s will be enough. Everyone else’s programmes will be based on moulding a champion, dedicated sevens team from now until Rio.

It’s going to be interesting to see how things develop between now and Rio with 2013 7s World Cup in Moscow and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Australia’s Super Rugby teams aren’t performing very well & with a lot of injuries, we could see some of their Sevens guys plucked before the Glasgow and London tournaments.

I was a bit disappointed with the loss but because I know Allan, I couldn’t help but be happy for him and his family(especially his dad, who is rugby mad).

There’ll come a time when Australia will need to select a team that mostly sticks together for consecutive seasons as preparation for the Rio Olympics. They might have to do some sort of contracting scheme like England.

Malakai Fekitoa was named player of the tournament at the 2011 NZ Nationals and he was the new revelation (and lightening quick) but for me it was Iosefo by far.

Good point about the breakdown. Fiji were so focused and strong at post-tackle time in Hong Kong (and Wellington). It takes a lot to combat. New Zealand aren’t bad in that area also.

But tactics change and surely Iosefo will come back into contention. At the very least he can change things up coming off the bench or like Auckland in 2011, he could be an option closer to the ruck. England’s Mat Turner creates so many opportunities with his pace and step from close in.

In Hong Kong I didn’t think England were quite as strong as they have been – especially on defense. Some of their new players were a little wanting in the tackle and they will miss Chris Cracknell. Their attack may not be as strong without Damu.

I remember that final quite well. I’ve never seen so many players on the field looking like they needed oxygen masks. It just shows that playing back to back 3 day tournaments isn’t easy.

He had a great tournament in 2011. I think I was like you, I actually had seen him prior to the tournament, but didn’t realize he was as quick as he was. That tournament was the reason he got back into the Samoa 7s team.

I actually think Iosefo is a great defender. He probably saves as many tries as much as he scores them. I do think he’s more a liability at the breakdown, which is probably his biggest weakness.

I agree totally with your 2nd point. The two big players on each flank has been a constant thing under Betham. With Treviranus out, there is need for another big player, and Perez seems to have taken that role.

Here’s hoping they do. If they make the quarters, they’ll most likely be up against England or Fiji. Pretty tough.

Although I may be a jinx for the Kiwis because the other time I went, they lost to Samoa in an epic final (2010).

I couldn’t swing Tokyo but am working on London and Glasgow.

Tom Iosefo is a very effective player. I remember being baffled how quick he was when I first saw him at the NZ Nationals in Queenstown in 2011. He was able to create a try from the smallest of gaps.

Wicked step & excellent top end speed

The only reasons I can think of why he’s been benched are:
1. There could be a perception that his defense can be vulnerable
[maybe a particular missed tackle has stuck in Stephen Betham's mind]

2. Paul Perez return & form
With Faosiliva on one flank & Perez on the other, perhaps there is a need for a distributor in the centre

Definitely a shame for Iosefo. I’m picking Samoa to bounce back after Hong Kong.

I do feel for Iosefo though, he was the top try scorer in the the whole competition in the earlier tournaments and somehow he’s been riding the bench since George.

Hope you had fun in Hong Kong. Are you in Tokyo this weekend?

I agree that Titch went very light on forwards this time. He was lucky to have Jack Wilson at the last minute.

Altho he had Webber & O’Donnell both in the team in your tournaments before Xmas.

Titch tends to play Heem in the forwards but he played Mikkleson there a fair bit also over the weekend.

Might have been a bit lucky not to have met Samoa & may need some serious tactical thinking to stop tr Fijians who were devastating in rucks (& elsewhere)

It will be interesting to see how things go in Tokyo.

Also agree that Samoan international contention is next for Ken Pisi. Along with a contract abroad.

All the best to Ken. Very good, consistent player.

We could see an All-Pisi brothers assault for the Samoan 15s team later this year.