First and foremost, this isn’t about which rugby code is better, so if you want to argue that point then I suggest you don’t read on.
This time in three years the greatest athletes from around the world will gather for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Among those athletes will be a small group of first timers vying for a podium finish in Rugby Sevens.
When you think Sevens rugby you think Fiji and New Zealand, two powerhouse nations when it comes to that form of the game. Both nations have a rich history having both secured two World Cups each.
Australia last made the finals of a Sevens World Cup final in 2001. Of the last 18 world series tournaments, we have averaged sixth spot in each.
As a league and union fan, I appreciate that the two games are different, both have specific skills that set themselves apart from each other. As a league fan I sit back and admire Greg Inglis and Ben Barba attacking flair. On the other hand, one also has to appreciate the skill George Smith and David Pocock exhibit at the breakdown.
Israel Folau’s recent elevation to the Wallabies showed it doesn’t matter if you are a union or a league fan. If you are wearing that gold jersey we are one, we want to see our best players represent our nation.
Given Folau’s recent performances, I think it’s time the powers that be sit down and select seven of the best players from either code to form a Rugby Sevens side could potentially win gold in Rio.
Sonny Bill Williams is a chance to play for New Zealand, but do you think the side below would make him sit up and take notice?
My side:
Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Will Genia, Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston, Quade Cooper, Ben Barba, Kurtley Beale, David Pocock, Andrew Fifita, Michael Hooper, Boyd Cordner, Liam Gill, Scott Higginbotham
Others: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Lewis, Jesse Mogg, James O’Connor, Brett Morris, Nathan Merritt, Josh Dugan, Nick Cummins, Digby Ioane.
Again, this is just some fun, so just let your mind ponder. Think three years time with this side at the Olympics. Not bad, is it?
eric
Guest
I think you underestimate the difference between 7's and 15's. ARU thought they'd stack the 7's team for the Melbourne Commonwealth games with supposed "guns". eg Tuquiri, Giteau. Latham, Fava etc. My abiding memories of watching, (apart from the sickening sight of Fava getting knocked out and having a fit, and his girlfriend jumping the fence and running to him) was of Tuquiri getting replaced, exhausted, after about 4 minutes of the first half. These 15 a side blokes are carrying so much extra weight they lose stamina. Inglis wouldn't last half a game either.
dezzy10
Guest
NZ sevens coach Gordon Tiejtens has made it clear, whoever is interested to play sevens must first commit 2016 to sevens, so that is no SupeRugby or NRL. They player must be available for the IRB sevens circuit. I agree with Tiejtens, you cannot win Gold Medal by bringing in the best players from either code and have a few training sessions. In the last couple of Comm games, the predominant 15s players got over shadowed by the 7s specialists, they run out of puff especially in a final because a total of an extra 6 minutes is played.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Australia and New Zealand both have very succesful 7s sides. Why would they include players from another code, or even from their respective15s sides (except for the likes of Nick Cummins who have played 7s at the highest level) in their Olympic teams?
Adrien
Guest
I think you're right, he is a former touch footy player, has amazing skills and steps, although atm he is a bit overweight and he might have lose some confidence. His defence is crap but when have you last seen a tackle in 7s ? Another player that may be a great 7s player with a bit of training is Matt Bowen, however he's already too old. Michael Jennings would definitely worth a look at 7s, so would Kevin Locke, the Morris bros or Anthony Milford and Albert Kelly.
GWS
Guest
Pppffftttt. Ha. Have you ever seen a game of sevens? That's a joke.
Davey
Guest
89% of Keebra Parks league academy are kids from NZ and Pacific Islands.
Davey
Guest
The majority of that Keebra Park 7's teams were KIwi kids from union schools in NZ and another two kids who made the QLD school rugby union rep team. They were coach by an old boy and Australian 7's rep Richard Kingi. This mainly Kiwi team from Keebra Park made easy run of other rugby league schools like Marsden High and Wavell High on its way to the finals. It was the Kiwi's rugby union experience having played in the Condor 7's in NZ which won it for Keebra Park.
Davey
Guest
Not if there's no league where they are in NZ. No chance of any 1st xv kids playing club league in the same day.
atlas
Guest
i found an incomplete list of players who were in NZ Sevens teams before becoming All Blacks; it had 28 names, many i had no idea - includes Rodney So'oialo (CG Gold 2002) and Jerome Kaino . . and more recently Beauden Barrett in 2010
anopinion
Guest
Do you read peoples comments before you respond? You are so eager for a fight that you ignore what people have written.
atlas
Guest
Strange, being called a numpty. Wow. . I chose 2010 as relevant, the game/professionalism has changed since 1996. Tietjens went public in 2012 saying he did not want his key players involved in 15s rugby and preferred they concentrate solely on 7s The small salary paid to 7s players meant that wasn't an option but the new NZRU Players Agreement 2013-15 will put the top 7s players up near the base level of earnings for a Super rugby player. The NZRU is to offer four-five players full-time sevens contracts from 2014 so they do not have to play NPC rugby. It's been made clear players going to Rio cannot play 15s that year. On July 2, Tietjens said he was reluctant to use anyone not conditioned to sevens rather than fifteens. He used just one Super rugby player, Waisake Naholo, during the World Cup. Professional sevens-specific contracts are expected.
Sevens Specialist
Guest
Excuse the typos....bloody iPhone.... but you can follow my argument....I hope. And sorry for calling rocokoko 'hoe' rocokoko lol
Sevens Specialist
Guest
NZ has never stacked their 7s team to any tournament with 15s players. They usage mostly been specialist 7d players with the odd 15 player but who have always had 7s experience. Also a lot of the so called "15s players who got picked to represent NZ in specific 7s tournaments" had represented NZ or played significant amount of 7s prior to being picked in 15 squads by Auckland and other main provinces including Lomu, Oreni Aii, Mils Muliaina, Eric Rush, hoe Rocokoko etc....they're their names in 7s before becoming regular 15s....and they are amongst many names.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The skills in 7s are as different to league as 15s is to league. I hope and pray that NZ and Aust dont think that dropping 7s vets and using players that do not even play the game is the way to go. If NZ and Aust start using big name 15s or even more stupidly league players instead of 7s vets then I think Fiji is going to win gold.
zak
Guest
notice the words squads and golds.we haven.t jst one gold in 2010 numpty.
atlas
Guest
can't edit one minute after? must have been injury/ies in 2010 as Liam Messam (for Adam Thomson i think) was another who has a gold from 2010 as far as I can find, these are the ones who got gold Ben Smith, Benjamin Souness, Derek DJ Forbes, Hosea Gear, Kurt Baker, Liam Justin Messam, Lote Raikabula, Sherwin Stowers, Tim Mikkelson, Toby Arnold, Tomasi Komaina
atlas
Guest
I'm not so sure on that one this was the NZ 2010 Commonwealth games squad that went on to win gold, not 'stacked' with established 15s players? Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (captain, Counties-Manukau), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Smith (Otago), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties-Manukau), Adam Thomson (Otago).
GWS
Guest
No league superstar like slater is going to work sevens hard late in his career over staying in nrl.
zak
Guest
not so sure n.z continually stacks it's sides with 15's players with little to no prep check our commenwealth gold winning squads whoever titch wants he gets n.z put winning gold for the nation above all else....
zak
Guest
sounds like elitist sour grapes to me you son was probably steam rolled by this team from blue collar ilk.they have the titles and play by the same rules as everyone else so their coach taught the a superior game plan by holding players up sounds like good coaching.why no one can counter thid shows further ineptitude.must be coming from the same people who said sbw would never find success in union get over it.