Rio Olympics
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RedsHappy
Tony Shaw (54)
Yep, if the Oceania qualifying round in November is the first 'must prevail' for our mens' 7s, then we'll need to supplement our 2015 7s team with players right out of Super rugby and whom very likely won't go to the RWC in any capacity.
Partly, that's why I suggested Shipperley and Mogg as 2015 7s candidates.
Once/if we get through the November 2015 process, we can reconsider what's required for 2016.
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
to think that any player is going to switch from 15's to 7's is idiotic. The reason the 7's program exists is to develop the talent there and then maybe they can move to a pro contract in 15's later.
The biggest impediment to aussie 7's success is league and thats not gonna change, what they're doing right now is fine, with time will come improvement, its too late to win a medal IMO. Fiji will win hopefully because their focus and flare is there.
The biggest impediment to aussie 7's success is league and thats not gonna change, what they're doing right now is fine, with time will come improvement, its too late to win a medal IMO. Fiji will win hopefully because their focus and flare is there.
qwerty51
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Of course not, the ARU should pay them and then they'd be willing.
That's a terrible attitude. There's clearly more we can do when we input 15s players into the team.
The Olympics is a different kettle of fish though. It offers players a unique opportunity that is a huge draw card and is of massive importance to the ARU because it opens up a new funding pipeline from the AOC and offers substantial exposure outside of the traditional fan base.
RugbyFuture
Lord Logo
It does, which is why the focus should be on player development for the 7's team initially from outside sources, players with unusual and different playing styles, players in need of more maturity and development in their game and up and comers.
To place current superstars in the olympic 7's side is to deprive future stars of a chance.
To place current superstars in the olympic 7's side is to deprive future stars of a chance.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Really don't want to see any Brumbies' players transferring to 7s and then not being available next year, but if some are needed to bolster the qualifying/medal chances then perhaps Taliauli who already has recent 7s experience and Robbie Coleman who looks to me to be ideally suited to 7s type of play. Moggy could also be good, but don't think he could play next year while under contract to France Brumbies (Montpellier).
If the current superstars are better players and will make our team stronger then it's a no brainer in my opinion.
We have treated 7s as a development situation in the past and to a large extent that still continues. Our 7s team is still full of young players who can't get Super Rugby contracts. As 7s gains importance both in terms of World Rugby and for the ARU as an Olympic sport, that needs to change though.
I don't subscribe to the premise that the young guys who have been involved in the team already are more deserving of going to the Olympics because they have done their time already. That sentiment doesn't really correlate with professional sport.
How many swimming medals would we have won with that mentality?
It is the Olympics and that is the biggest show in town - end of story. The best available should get the gig, whether they have "worked for it" or "earned it" by "doing the time" or not.
That being said, Rugby sevens has become a bit of a tricky little specialised game and not all superstars from the 15 aside world can be readily transferred into that environment and still dominate.
Some rock stars may have to make a decision between their "normal" career and a tilt at an olympic medal. No different from most of the rest of the Olympic team. Life isn't always easy, with the good guys on white horses riding off into the sunset.
It is the Olympics and that is the biggest show in town - end of story. The best available should get the gig, whether they have "worked for it" or "earned it" by "doing the time" or not.
That being said, Rugby sevens has become a bit of a tricky little specialised game and not all superstars from the 15 aside world can be readily transferred into that environment and still dominate.
Some rock stars may have to make a decision between their "normal" career and a tilt at an olympic medal. No different from most of the rest of the Olympic team. Life isn't always easy, with the good guys on white horses riding off into the sunset.
Strewthcobber
Mark Ella (57)
Foley is in Japan, so he's definitely out anyway.
HighPlainsDrifter
Jimmy Flynn (14)
If we were serious about qualifying we could have easily run a series of trial games with our best broken play runners from the Super15 vs the current sevens squad ...that ship has sailed ... hope we make the Olympics but I think now we have a more pressing date with destiny (RWC).
wamberal
Phil Kearns (64)
Absolutely right. Being the devil's advocate for a moment, perhaps we should swallow our pride and extend an invitation to the likes of Ben Barba?
HighPlainsDrifter
Jimmy Flynn (14)
Maybe to see how conventional players actually stacked up against the 7's specialist players .....
T
TOCC
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A lot better?
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