Rio Olympics

[Marcelo]

Just another example of where you are so wrong.

If Speight is so dominant at the breakdown, just open the door to Pocock's exodus and pick Henry to the backrow.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The Australian Olympic Committee should be the mediator between ARU and NRL, and therefore the funder. Sevens program should be funded entirely by them, is an Olympic sport. They have money to invest, it's an olympic discipline and Australia could win gold quickly

Is Australia really a genuine chance of gold? I haven't watched much so just judging on recent results we'd be more chance of missing a medal all together?

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[Marcelo]

Is Australia really a genuine chance of gold? I haven't watched much so just judging on recent results we'd be more chance of missing a medal all together?

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I said: "Fiji and NZ Sevens play in another League and SA with all the XV Stars is dangerous".

Buuuuuuuuuuuuut with an alliance between ARU and NRL, Australia has the potential to win the medall gold quickly, quickly would be 2020, the second edition of Olympic Sevens.

 

[qwerty51]

We can beat everyone but NZ.

Not that NZ are necessarily the best, usually Fiji but we seem to have a mental block vs NZ.

 

[wamberal]

We can beat everyone but NZ.

Not that NZ are necessarily the best, usually Fiji but we seem to have a mental block vs NZ.

It's the old rock, scissors, paper game. Each of the three sides has different strengths and weaknesses. I don't think it is a mental block, the Keewees are usually just a bit stronger at the breakdown and a bit quicker and sharper with the ball than us. Whereas the Fijians usually try to outmuscle us and sometimes fail.

Conversely, they both play more balanced games against each other, and that is where the Fijians seem to have the occasional edge.

 

[Quick Hands]

The Australian Olympic Committee should be the mediator between ARU and NRL, and therefore the funder. Sevens program should be funded entirely by them, is an Olympic sport. They have money to invest, it's an olympic discipline and Australia could win gold quickly

But that's not how the Olympics work. The IOC recognise one governing body for each Olympic sport and it's that governing body which is responsible for qualifications and lead-up events, drug protocols, referees etc. World Rugby is the body reognised by the IOC and only organisations afiliated with World Rugby have any standing in this at all - in Australia that is the ARU, so there's no need for any mediation at all.

The NRL have the same standing as the NFL in the US - none.

 

[Brumby Runner]

If Speight is so dominant at the breakdown, just open the door to Pocock's exodus and pick Henry to the backrow.

You can't seriously suggest a back (or for that matter most other forwards in the world game) should be compared with Pocock as to their ability at the breakdown. It is true though that Henry Speight is one of the top breakdown ball winners amongst Super Rugby wingers and he will not be deficient in this aspect when he plays 7s.

 

[Marcelo]

But that's not how the Olympics work. The IOC recognise one governing body for each Olympic sport and it's that governing body which is responsible for qualifications and lead-up events, drug protocols, referees etc. World Rugby is the body reognised by the IOC and only organisations afiliated with World Rugby have any standing in this at all - in Australia that is the ARU, so there's no need for any mediation at all.

The NRL have the same standing as the NFL in the US - none.

And the World Rugby don't recognise the NRL but League Superstars like SBW, Sam Burgess, Lote Tuqiri or Israel Folau have played the World Cup

You can't seriously suggest a back (or for that matter most other forwards in the world game) should be compared with Pocock as to their ability at the breakdown. It is true though that Henry Speight is one of the top breakdown ball winners amongst Super Rugby wingers and he will not be deficient in this aspect when he plays 7s.

And you can't compare the 7s breakdown with XV breakdown because you face different kind of players. In Sevens you usually don't face a Bismarck du Plessis or a prop like Scott Sio. So a physical NRL player can do it at the 7s breakdown better than the XV breakdown

I played both (XV and 7s) and are completely different kind of games. 7s is another sport IMHO, almost an hybrid between Union and League.

The average Union prop and lock can't play 7s because is a game for back rowers and backs. And that's the kind of body that you usually see in the NRL. Michael Hooper is a perfect athlete for 7s and he would be a great NRL player

 

[Quick Hands]

And the World Rugby don't recognise the NRL but League Superstars like SBW, Sam Burgess, Lote Tuqiri or Israel Folau have played the World Cup

While playing with unions afiliated with WR (World Rugby) - the NZRU, ARU and RFU, never picked straight from RL.

Why would any sport throw away an advantage like Olympic status to another sport with which it is in direct competition? Not even the ARU is that silly.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ further, why would the code that doesn't have Olympic status gift any of their leading players to the one that does?

As for the handful of league converts to have played RWC, can't think of a single one who has yet played for their National 7's side. That may or may not change when SBW goes into camp with AB7's but it's a steep learning curve & I wouldn't be surprised to see him not in the 12 for the first coupla tournaments.

Back to the African QT for a moment, there's an AAP story confirming that Tunisia & Morocco, beaten SF, will join runner-up Zimbabwe in the repechage. No date or venue for that yet, but must be held before June 2016.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...pot-with-late-try-in-african-qualifiers-final

 

[Strewthcobber]

As for the handful of league converts to have played RWC, can't think of a single one who has yet played for their National 7's side. That may or may not change when SBW goes into camp with AB7's but it's a steep learning curve & I wouldn't be surprised to see him not in the

Lote Tuqiri played 7s at the comm games in 2006. Was a few years into his union career by then though.

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[RugbyReg]

Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote all played 7s for Australia when they switched. Before they played Super Rugby.

Rogers was a natural.

Lote was decent (in very wet conditions).

Sailor was good but got lost a bit.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote all played 7s for Australia when they switched. Before they played Super Rugby.

Rogers was a natural.

Lote was decent (in very wet conditions).

Sailor was good but got lost a bit.

That's right! Ballymore 2002? That was a great day as I (only just) remember. Beat the kiwis in the final.

 

[RugbyReg]

Yep, Rogers and Dell played in 2002 and Lote in 2003.

That 2002 event was fantastic. Richard Graham as captain.

2003 was a very wet weekend which impacted it big time.

 

[wamberal]

Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote all played 7s for Australia when they switched. Before they played Super Rugby.

Rogers was a natural.

Lote was decent (in very wet conditions).

Sailor was good but got lost a bit.

7s has changed a lot since those days, specialised fitness regimes are now essential, it would be a big risk to parachute marquee players in unless they already meet the fitness criteria.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote all played 7s for Australia when they switched. Before they played Super Rugby.

Rogers was a natural.

Lote was decent (in very wet conditions).

Sailor was good but got lost a bit.

I stand corrected..................

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Kenya v Zimbabwe highlights & reaction:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

More highlights:

 

[D-Box]

Almost final list - just need Asia Womens

Men's Running Qualification

Host - Brazil

1st WS - Fiji (164 points) - Qualified
2nd WS - South Africa (154 points) - Qualified
3rd WS - New Zealand (152 points) - Qualified
4th WS - England (GB) (132 points) - Qualified

Regional Qualifiers
Africa - Kenya
Asia - Japan
Europe - France
North America - USA
Oceania - Australia
South America - Argentina

Final Qualification tournament
Lucky bastards

Woman's Running Qualification

Host - Brazil

1st WS - New Zealand (108) Qualified
2nd WS - Canada (96) Qualified
3rd WS - Australia (94) Qualified
4th WS - Great Britain (76) Qualified on a count back

Regional Qualifiers

Africa - South Africa
Asia - 29th November
Europe - France
North America - USA
Oceania - Fiji
South America - Columbia

Final Qualification tournament

Lucky Bastards -

Qualification Schedule

2015 CONSUR 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 June 2015 TBAhttp://www.consur.org/index.php/component/k2/item/2411-resultados-parciales-dia-3
2015 NACRA 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 14 June 2015 Cary, United States http://www.worldrugby.org/news/76391
2015 Rugby Europe 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 12 July 2015Varioushttp://www.worldrugby.org/news/77487http://www.worldrugby.org/news/80309
2015 ARFU 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 November 2015 Hong Kong http://www.asiarugby.com/news/2015/11/japan-off-to-rio-2016-olympic-games (Women's Qualification finishes November 27/28
2015 CAR 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 8 November 2015 Kenya http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/news/123052
2015 FORU 7's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 15 November 2015 Auckland, New Zealand http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=103745&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

Men's Final Qualification Tournament

Spain, Russia, Germany, Ireland
Zimbabwe, Morocco, Tunisia
Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka
Tonga, Samoa
Canada, Mexico
Chile, Uruguay

Women's Final Qualification Tournament

Russia, Spain, Ireland, Portugal
Kenya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Asia 1, Asia 2, Asia 3
Samoa, Cook Islands
Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago
Argentina, Venezuela​

 

[Marcelo]

7s has changed a lot since those days, specialised fitness regimes are now essential, it would be a big risk to parachute marquee players in unless they already meet the fitness criteria.

League has changed a lot too. What about Shannon Walker? A former League who has been excellent at 7s. And he's light years away from being an Origin player or a Kangaroo. Imagine what could do superstars like Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne or Shaun Johnson at 7s