Just when we thought that the All Blacks Sevens had done its dash and that others had finally figured out how to beat New Zealand consistently, back they come and the pecking order returns to normal.
What’s happened? Has it simply been because the massive injury attrition rate has been arrested? Is it the result of an apparent decision to opt for size and strength as a first priority?
Is it that something of a generational change has taken place in the squad or is it because of the infusion of star quality talent from the 15-a-side game?
Some suspect it’s because of some bold new tactical approach by Gordon Tietjens. There’s no clear answer to this just yet but the difference in the performance and the energy levels of the squad in the last two tournaments is palpable.
Take Pat Lam for instance. From a sluggish, mistake-prone trundler at the beginning of the season he’s turned into a facsimile of Julian Savea busting through multiple tackles and creating space for others around him.
In terms of a generational shift the dramatic impact of the two Ioane brothers, Akira and Rieko, is perhaps the standout factor. After a tentative and mistake-ridden debut these two have manufactured at least half of the All Blacks Sevens’ tries between them in the last two tournaments in New Zealand and Australia.
They are now as indispensible to the team as the remarkable Tim Mikkelson, whose absence, along with that of master and commander DJ Forbes and the super assertive physical bullying of Scott Curry, seemed to create a really ghastly leadership vacuum.
The Ioane brothers seem to be able to mesmerise opponents not just by pace but an exceptional ability to break the defensive structures of any opposing team, again and again. In the final last weekend against Australia in Sydney they and Mikkelsen were the difference between the two sides.
But it doesn’t end there. The arrival of Ardie Savea, a turnover merchant in the same class as David Pocock but also exceptionally aggressive in contact, has given the New Zealanders another edge that has been missing in the absence of Forbes and Mikkelson.
The other significant factor has been the performance of playmaker Augustine Pulu who has taken to sevens more dramatically than any other. Pulu is a phenomenon. Somehow he looks so completely at home that he may be tempted to opt for sevens as a core career option, particularly now that he has achieved his ambition of playing Test rugby for the All Blacks.
Nobody would blame him if he did decide to do that. He has it all as a sevens exponent. He’s exceptionally quick, a deadly tackler, has a sharp sidestep and he reads the game as if he has been playing it all his life. A broken arm will keep him in the grandstand for a few weeks but he is a stone cold certainty in Gordon Tietjens’ squad for Rio.
We haven’t seen Liam Messam on display yet but he too has the speed, abrasive temperament and tactical know-how to be a major contributor as the year progresses. He will provide the steel alongside Curry and Sam Dickson at the business end of this year’s competition.
Then there’s the perennially enigmatic Sonny Bill Williams. Touted as the biggest gain from the 15-a-side ranks with all the rock star trappings, he has yet to really show that sevens is his thing.
His chief attribute – offloading in the tackle – has been overdone, sometimes dangerously, and he has occasionally been found wanting for all-out pace. With so many other options I suspect Tietjens will use Williams fairly sparingly.
There is now a refreshing maturity to the play of two of the other real game-breakers – Gillies Kaka and Joe Webber. For much of the last year or two the All Blacks Sevens has been short of really devastating steppers, the kind of players who can open up an organised defence on their own. These two are now on a par with the very best the South Africans and Fijians can field with such destructive effect.
So, when you add all that up you find a New Zealand team that, like the All Blacks, have all the bases covered. With their exceptional fitness, hardness of mind and body and the confidence of knowing that they are, all round, a shade more complete than their opponents, who would bet against them taking the Olympic title?
ClarkeG
Guest
It may be that it is nearer to rocket science than you think. A little more than counting needed me thinks. You would make such an important decision solely on the basis of video coverage? Don't you think interviewing all parties concerned would be just as important? What should have happened is that upon the match officials realising that an extra player was on the field the match should have been stopped immediately and the problem corrected at that point. All problems and controversy averted.
ClarkeG
Guest
there is a link between the two?
ClarkeG
Guest
a winner either way ;-)
CUW
Guest
not at all sensible. what shud have happened is that , the powers that be shud have taken a look at the tv footage and come to a decision THE SAME NIGHT! in this day of age with slo-mo and freeze-frame it can't be rocket science. after all u dont even need to take off the shoes and socks to count to 8 :P then u declare OZ winners of the match and thus the POOL leaders, which alters playing schedule on day 2. 1/4 would then be NZ v ENG and AUS v USA if we assume both win then semi would be NZ v SA and AUS v FIJI. having said that , we have no way of knowing who would have come to finals. however we could assume NZ would have overcome the 2 injury hit teams - ENG & SA. then the queston is would AUZ have beaten FIJI????
CUW
Guest
that was silly, trying to stop a big guy with a very strong upper body going high. had the AUZ player gone low, he would have had more success. Speight did on Lam and he is big.
CUW
Guest
maybe becoz SGT has one eye on a tournament in august AND there are 6 more legs in the HSBC world series. he has already lost an experienced prop in Scott Curry. He has another coming back from injury in Dylan Collier. He still does not have DJF and Sherwin Stowers. add to that all of Lam Ioanes Savea will not join the team for the next 4 legs. add to that PULU is out for 2 months and Declan O'Donnel is still unfit. SGT would want his first choice guys fit and ready for RIO. IMO SBW is not a first choice 7s player.
CUW
Guest
obviously u have not seen TEENAGED GIRLS and 1D , to come up with that :P
CUW
Guest
sherwin Stowers , will be back soon :)
CUW
Guest
it was one half - not 55 . it was only in the 2nd half Pococks name was even heard :)
CUW
Guest
NO WAY - unless a lot of guys are injured. 1) W.Crockett 2) D.Coles 3) C.Faumuina 4) S. Whitelock 5) B.Rettalick 6) J. Kaino 7) S.Cane 8) K.Read 9) A.Smith 10) A.Cruden 11) J.Savea 12) G.Moala 13) M. Fekitoa / R Ranger 14) N.Milne-Skudder / W Naholo 15) B.Smith 16) C.Taylor 17) J.Moody 18) O.Franks / Nepo Laulala 19) P.Tuipulotu / S Luatua 20) A Ioane / Brad Shields 21) TK Barlow / TJ Perenara 22) B.Barrett 23) SBW / I Dagg
CUW
Guest
not a chance in hell - unless Kaino Read Cane NMS Naholo B Smith are all injured :)
canadiankiwi
Guest
Mania. Your old school midfield strategy of a 12 being a second playmaker does not work against blitz defense used today, which is why Graham Henry and Steve Hansen stopped using since 2008 when Nonu was selected as the permanent 12.
R2D2
Guest
U sure it wasn't a cheeky drop shot.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Faumuina is a rubbish scrummager. Great around the park though- a lot like Crockett. Problem is Faumuina is a tighthead so a mediocre scrummager cannot start. He is looking ke John Afoa- best off the bench to scrum and ball carry against tired opponents or second string substitutes.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Mania. Ben Franks is gone overseas so he is no longer in AB contention.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
No I don't think CRUDEN will make it...I would plumb for SOPOAGA first with BARRET as the back up...
ClarkeG
Guest
a forehand winner down the line Ben from such a weak shot from Ian.
ClarkeG
Guest
Well Neil your comment is just as frivolous as Will’s. I don’t condone for 1 sec that any team should have an extra player on the field at any point. But if you have read Laidlaw’s article you will have noted that it discusses reasons for why NZ might have improved its performance in the last two tournaments. Will’s response in the context of the article was churlish thus my response to him. You use the word cheat. Cheat is a very strong word and easy conclusion to come to without considering what might have happened and how it might have happened. I would take a wild guess and assume you have taken the convenient and easy conclusion.
mania
Guest
tuipolotu will be a great ABs lock one day, SamWhitelock is a great right now. wyattCrockett? no way he's over rated and struggles in the scrums vs the big teams. has a great open game but his core role is scrummaging. franks brothers can back up on the bench like ngatai and moala but i would swap them around. imo ngatai is a smart player that needs to get his hands on the ball much more often than moala . i am old school tho and think 12 should be the playmaker and 13 the battering ram. sorry cane should give way to ardie. Taylorman - u know charlie is captain for the maori's aye? and the fact he's got a huge boot on him
ben
Guest
...and only 6 to beat them in the final.