Australian Sevens coach Michael O’Connor would love to see Israel Folau in the Olympic Games, but says he won’t be chasing the Wallabies’ star.
The country’s rugby elite would have to shelve 15-a-side ambitions for a year and commit to touring with the Sevens side if they wanted to be a considered for Brazil in 2016.
Australia will also compete at the Commonwealth Games later this year, however O’Connor has virtually ruled out looking beyond his current squad, given Glasgow is sandwiched in between the Wallabies’ international season.
The dual-international coach is hoping the lure of winning rugby’s first Olympic gold medal will be enough to convince some stars to take the plunge the following year after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and predicts Folau would be a sensation in the shortened format.
“He’d go real good,” O’Connor told AAP.
“He’d be just awesome on the restarts. The teams that invariably win are the teams that have more possession time and restarts are one of the best opportunities for some unstructured play to attack from if you get restart ball.
“I guarantee he’d get nine out of 10.”
But not even the star power generated by Folau will be enough for O’Connor to pick up the phone and recruit talent – especially not from rugby league.
He called in Lachie Turner for the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the Wallabies’ winger struggled to adapt.
O’Connor says Sevens has developed so much that you have to play the game to learn it.
“If they want to do it and somebody put their hand up and said, ‘yes I want to have a year of Sevens, come on the tour’, I’d be delighted.
“But you’d need to play all the tournaments that year to really prepare for the Olympics.
“There’s so much technique. It’s such a specialised game now, Sevens – the breakdown, the tackle and the rules. I think it would be unrealistic to try and get a rugby league player.
“But certainly rugby players, who understand the game and what it requires and are prepared to commit for a year in the hope they could win a gold medal, we’d definitely be interested.”
Australia are ranked fifth on the IRB Sevens rankings, ahead of the fourth round starting in the USA on January 24.
“There’s no doubt we’re improving but we’re still not there yet. We sort of take two steps forward and one back,” he said.
Kibz
Guest
He's fast enough, and 2 months with a sevens outfit will elevate any players fitness levels, and maximize potential. Kenya is a perfect example...
Kibz
Guest
Sevens tournaments are already huge crowd pullers. The Las Vegas Sevens (next weekend), will be choc full of fans from all over the world. It will partially televized on a national station. The US is a sleeping giant with tons of raw talent, they will be a force to reckon with in about 15-20 years when more kids pick up rugby and learn the intricacies ofthe 7's and 15's codes.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Garth : "Note the omission of England & Wales. Under IOC regulations they can only compete as the UK. Something that should be enforced by both the IRB & FIFA too, at least until the UK dissolves into totally independent states." LOL why stop there ?? what about ICC (cricket), IAAF, ITF, ..... :P
PeterK
Guest
But I see IF playing midfield more rather than the edges, more of a forwards role.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ winston : IF played against Lions (3), NZ(3), ARG(2), SA(2), ENG(1), IRE(1), SCO(1), WAL(1), ITA(1). He scored 4 against Argies, 2 against Lions, and one each against NZ, Italy, Scotland and Wales. What’s noteable was he scored just one try against NZ and none against SA during the 4 nations and none against Eng. (Teams on the top of the leaderbaord). Also he scored 2 in the first BIL test (if i remember correct) and none after. Also at least during the early part of the season there was over-reliance on IF ro score – hence the term JGITF :)
winston
Roar Rookie
Halfpenny stepped up in the deciding game when it really mattered though.
winston
Roar Rookie
Interesting, they could have a very strong side then.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Xazs : LOL obviously u have not been to HK7S or nowadys the Dubai 7S. :) Its better than T20 cricket ; it's a carnival and then some (especially in Dubai :) )
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Tissot Time : Actually u dont need explosive accelration and pace BUT u need ability to step and put people into space. all teams will have a couple of fliers, but others just have awareness. Fijians and Samoans IMO seem to be naturals. current MIB, Jane Messam and Piutau and Halai are all members of NZ7s team at one point in time. U will see that 7S influence in especially a forward like Messam. also the present 7S players of most countries are exceptionally fit. they also have found ways to recover fast, especially the leading teams who have to play more matches. IMO "rugger sense" is the key skill for sucessful 7S players. the ability to go back in search of the opening to attack :) NZ have leaant his more than others, hence their success in the format for a looong time !
Chan Wee
Guest
@ nickoldschool : People who emigrate to OZ for work (from countries other than NZ) will get a permanent resident visa with multiple entry. this vis is valid for 5 years from first date ; however visa holder must enter OZ within 6 months of the date of grant to get the visa activated. after that the visa holder must saty in OZ for 3 years at a stretch to get the citizenship and passport. if his native country permits then it is possible to get dual passports. however if a person does not stay the 3 years unbroken, then the visa has to be renewed with a return resident visa which can be done annually , as long as visa holder is in OZ and is spens considerable time in OZ. also if the visa holder does not return to OZ before the expirey of visa (5 years ) then it is cancelled. previously OZ allowed rrv for 5 years ; now they give 1 year visas due to financial reasons :)
dc-nz
Guest
I have seen a fair bit of sevens and saw my team, NZ, get thumped by Fiji in one of the end of year tournies and pipped by South Africa in a brilliant match in their home country. ... I back Tissot - Folau is likely not fit or fast enough to be a world class sevens player, and his positional defence and tackling skills would be found out. Sevens is now a highly specialised game and you have to be lightning fast to perform out on the edges.
Garth
Guest
Top contenders for the Olympic gold: New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji, Samoa, Australia & the United Kingdom with Kenya and Argentina as outside chances. Note the omission of England & Wales. Under IOC regulations they can only compete as the UK. Something that should be enforced by both the IRB & FIFA too, at least until the UK dissolves into totally independent states.
Garth
Guest
Under IOC regulations, there will be no England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland 7's sides at the Olympics. There can only be a United Kingdom side and a seperate Republic of Ireland side.
atlas
Guest
Australian Sevens coach Michael O'Connor would love to see Israel Folau at the Olympics, says he won't be chasing the Wallabies star. O'Connor says Sevens has developed so much you have to play it to learn it. "If ... somebody put their hand up and said, 'yes I want to have a year of Sevens' ... I'd be delighted. "But you'd need to play all the tournaments that year to really prepare for the Olympics. . . rugby players, who understand the game ... and are prepared to commit for a year ... we'd definitely be interested."
flying hori
Guest
Tissot you are absolutely 100% correct
Kiwi Rugby/Rugby League Fan
Guest
A star in a team that won't even be in the top ? Aussies hate to talk it up
Crazy Horse
Guest
He's never played 7s. Maybe he'd be good, maybe not. If he want's to go to Rio he'd better try out for the squad just like anyone else.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Or a NZ jersey Johnno. The NZ sevens team will be made up of NZ sevens players with a few additions of former sevens stars. I doubt many 15s specialists will make the squad. No legue players will make the team.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yeah this guy is starting to be way overhyped.
winston
Roar Rookie
QC would be a better 7s player than Folau. Can he play for NZ?