The Adelaide Rugby Sevens 2011 thread
Roar Pro By kovana, 1 Apr 2011 kovana is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- International Rugby Sevens, IRB, Rugby sevens, Rugby Union
This will be the official Roar update thread on the 2011 HSBC IRB Sevens event being held in Adelaide this weekend. I hope you can all contribute and give live scores, updates, and news as best as we can.
Okay, let’s start with the teams and pools:
POOL A
New Zealand (NZL)
Kenya (KEN)
Wales (WAL)
Cook Islands (COK)
This is actually quite a tough pool. Since Kenya and Wales (reigning RWC Sevens champions) have beaten New Zealand before. If New Zealand are not up to the task, I can see the Welsh rolling them over.
Kenya is not doing so well as in recent seasons. Cook Islands are again one of those teams that could upset Wales and Kenya.
But I see New Zealand and Wales progressing.
POOL B
England (ENG)
Argentina (ARG)
Scotland (SCO)
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
England looks like certain qualifiers. I see PNG as a surprise package.
They could be the surprise quarter-finalists. Argentina and Scotland must really really be on their best if they wish to make a impression after failing to reach the Cup quarter-finals last weekend.
My prediction is England and PNG to progress.
POOL C
Fiji (FIJ)
Australia (AUS)
United States (USA)
Tonga (TON)
Fiji was looking fantastic last week until that shock loss to the Kiwis. USA and Tonga will be tough for the other teams, especially Tonga, who have a history of being hard opposition for Fiji.
However, I predict Fiji and Australia to progress. But as for who is first in the Pool, I cannot decide yet.
POOL D
South Africa (RSA)
Samoa (SAM)
France (FRA)
Japan (JPN)
I see an easy qualification for South Africa and Samoa, with South Africa topping the Pool. France and Japan have the tools to defeat RSA and SAM, but they seem to lack the skill-set to use the tools to their advantage.
Who do you think will win this weekend’s Adelaide IRB Sevens?
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- International Rugby Sevens, IRB, Rugby sevens, Rugby Union
April 1st 2011 @ 9:45am
kovana said | April 1st 2011 @ 9:45am | Report comment
All right.. Here are the current standings for The HSBC IRB Sevens series.
—–
1 NEW ZEALAND 110
2 ENGLAND 105
3 FIJI 84
SAMOA 84
5 SOUTH AFRICA 72
6 AUSTRALIA 46
7 ARGENTINA 24
8 WALES 18
9 KENYA 12
10 PORTUGAL 8
RUSSIA 8
SCOTLAND 8
13 UNITED STATES 6
14 CANADA 5
April 1st 2011 @ 9:50am
Evan Roberts said | April 1st 2011 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Wales have been playing lots of academy players this year, as opposed to Sevens specialists, so I very much doubt they can compete with the best any longer. It is a shame portugal and Russia are missing from this round as they both are promising sides.
April 1st 2011 @ 9:53am
kovana said | April 1st 2011 @ 9:53am | Report comment
How Many Core teams are there again in the series?
If Russia and Portugal accumulate more points then Canada at the end of the series.. Surely they should be a core team.
Im sure we will be seeing Russia and Portugal in the London and Murrayfield 7s later.
April 2nd 2011 @ 11:48am
Shahsan said | April 2nd 2011 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Yes, i agree with both of you. Russia and Portugal should be given every chance to develop. Canada and the US have been around for a long time but haven’t made enough big strides. The US did well in the past two seasons, but have faded away a bit. Both countries need to step up or lose their core places.
April 1st 2011 @ 1:40pm
Brad said | April 1st 2011 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Aussies will go no further than the usual QF match. My observations of them so far this season is that they lack a stepper in the middle of the field and a flyer out wide. The non-selection of John Grant this weekend further exacerbates the problem. Bernard Foley is the only one creating while I like the look of Zack Holmes who has plenty of pace and will have a go.
Those lucky to be there on current form are Shaun Foley, Jonno Lance and Ed Jenkins.
April 1st 2011 @ 4:26pm
kovana said | April 1st 2011 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
Kemani and Sefanaia have been included in the Aussie squad.
April 1st 2011 @ 4:29pm
Kovana said | April 1st 2011 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Oh.. and please Roar Mods…
Please keep this Article as a live update for the 7s in Adelaide please.. Keep it near the top! Or on the front page!
April 1st 2011 @ 4:43pm
Tristan Rayner said | April 1st 2011 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Will you be live updating mate?
April 2nd 2011 @ 10:17am
kovana said | April 2nd 2011 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Im relying on the collective efforts of the Rugby fans here on the roar.
April 2nd 2011 @ 9:39am
Shahsan said | April 2nd 2011 @ 9:39am | Report comment
I hope the Pacific Islands teams get a better deal this week, in terms of refereeing. In the HK semis last week both Fiji and Samoa were pinged and yellow carded for “offences” that NZ and England get away with with impunity. It is as though the refs have an eye on the TV ratings.
It is slowly ruining my enjoyment of the series, every one of which I have watched (when available) since its inception. I thought they had eradicated this particular bias since the early days – when NZ’s De Goldi got away with murder while any islander was punished on prejudice – but it is creeping back now.
I’m watching you in particular, Anthony Moyes.
April 2nd 2011 @ 10:06am
kovana said | April 2nd 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
I agree with your comments Shahsan!
April 3rd 2011 @ 5:05pm
Barry said | April 3rd 2011 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Shasan, move past insinuating racism, nepotism, favoritism, ratings, is behind who gets to the finals NZ & England desrved to be there & the refereeing standards did not refelect any bias that the rest of the world could see. The Pacific Islands will get no fairer deal this week as you hope for as they already are & will be referreed as fairly as any other team in the competition.
April 3rd 2011 @ 7:25pm
Shahsan said | April 3rd 2011 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
Barry, I never mentioned or insinuated racism; purely a small nation vs big nation thing and perceptions. happens in many sports.
But I watch these matches closely and if you want specifics, watch again the final 30 seconds of the first half of the semifinal between England and Samoa in HK and especially the final two minutes of the same game. There were several other instances involving Fiji in their game against NZ.
And please, I pride myself on objectivity and fair play, and hate to see small nations being punished for offences that the ref doesnt not bat an eyelid for when committed by a superpower of the game.
Having said all that, I must concede that the Adelaide tournament was very well refereed in general — Anthony Moyes wasn’t there! — and the best team won, fair and square. No complaints this time.
April 2nd 2011 @ 1:21pm
Kovana said | April 2nd 2011 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Wow.. No one even updated the thread..
Anyways.. Samoa defeated Japan 40 – 7 in the first match.
In Pool A results
Kenya 19 – 12 Cook Islands
NZ 36 – 10 Wales (ouch)
The match going on at the moment is Pool B match:
England 17- 7 Scotland.. 2nd half
Next match:
Argentina vs PNG Pool B
Fiji vs USA Pool C
April 3rd 2011 @ 9:24am
Crashy said | April 3rd 2011 @ 9:24am | Report comment
looks like Aus will be bundled out in the quarters in win the plate!
what has the crowd been like and I hear it will be held on the GC fom next year onwards. Thats a venue I like the sound of
April 3rd 2011 @ 9:42am
kovana said | April 3rd 2011 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Very very poor crowds on the first day for Adelaide.
Well down from Last years Adelaide 7s from Memory.
Also a complete lack of interest from most on the roar.. So. Yep.
End of this article for me.
April 3rd 2011 @ 9:45am
Nick The Second said | April 3rd 2011 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Port Adelaide had there first home game in adelaide yesterday, and now that the ground has doubled in capacity (from last years 7s) it does look sparse but still plenty of atmosphere. Will post crowd figures at the end of play today.