The next round of the SVNS series will be played in Vancouver this weekend and there’s some worrying news from the men’s side with former Wallaby captain Michael Hooper still unable to launch his bid to play at the Olympics.
When the travelling men’s and women’s squads were announced on Saturday, there was no mention of Hoops.
This is not a good sign. He is rapidly running out of time to make the Olympics. Maurice Longbottom is also a concern – he’s out with a dreaded calf injury.
Michael Hooper. (Photo by Nicholas Ward/ Rugby Australia)
In better news, Henry Paterson is back on deck, returning from injury. (Obviously we cannot expect too much as he works himself to match fitness).
Also, due to Rebels commitments, Darby Lancaster is not in the squad. Otherwise, it is a very stable team with 10 players having been in all four tournaments so far this season.
After a rocky start to the SVNS Series in Dubai the men bounced back making the finals in Cape Town and Perth. In Vancouver the men need to keep doing what they have been doing, fight throughout every play and minute of every match.
Vancouver will be another tough tournament. In their Pool they are up against USA, Samoa and France. The Aussie men will get a firsthand view of Antoine Dupont who debuts for France. Will he bring his magic to rugby sevens? You can check him out against Australia on Sunday morning.
The men begin their tournament against Samoa (Saturday February 24, 9:58 am AEDT) then the USA (3:02 pm AEDT) and France (Sunday, February 25, 8:49 am AEDT).
The Aussie women have had a lot going on. It is probably the most since Tim Walsh returned to the women’s program. The squad has faced a few challenges of late, more than their fair share of red cards and a couple of serious injuries to Demi Hayes and Bienne Terita. There has also been the inclusion of a couple of new players to the team.
Despite this they have continued their success winning two titles and being runner up in Perth. A key has been generally having the same players playing together for the last couple of years. There have been very few new players until this season.
The Vancouver tournament for the Aussie women will be very interesting viewing. In the first two matches they will be without two strike weapons – Terita, out of the tournament with injury, and Maddi Levi suspended for the first two games. (Fortunately for Levi her second red card suspension was only for four matches.)
Terita had really stepped up and slipped in seamlessly in recent times when red cards had taken out Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Maddi and Teagan Levi out of the starting lineups. Her power and speed will be missed. Not sure how long she will be out for with a syndesmoses injury that required surgery.
Overall, the Aussie women have had a great run with few long term injuries, (touch wood.) New players Kaitlan Shave and Heidi Dennis are fitting in well. Shave has some real speed which will be needed without Terita and Maddi Levi. Bella Nasser who debuted last season in Cape Town adds some power and physicality in the middle.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Despite the women’s recent success, they will have a couple of tough Pool games. Fiji are always a challenge with their physicality and while the women have had recent success over the USA, the USA did defeat them twice last season. Against both teams the three keys are keeping possession, possession, possession.
The women’s tournament starts against Japan (February 24 6:52 am AEDT) followed by Fiji (11:46 am AEDT) and then USA (Sunday February 25, 5:37 am AEDT).
A couple of asides. It will be interesting to see Sophie de Goede return to the Canadian side. She is captain of the Canadian 15s team, plays for Saracens in England and is without doubt one of the real stars of women’s rugby. Like Dupont she seems to be aiming for the Olympics.
On the signing front, it was good to see Maddy Ashby re-sign with Rugby AU for another two years. She is a play maker in a similar mold to Charlotte Caslick and a real terrier over the ball. She has no fear of putting her head into those dark places to get a turnover. So great to have her stick with rugby.
Australian women’s squad
2. Sharni Smale
3. Faith Nathan
4. Dominique Du Toit
5. Teagan Levi
6. Madison Ashby
7. Charlotte Caslick (c)
8. Kaitlin Shave
9. Tia Hinds
10. Bella Nasser
12. Maddison Levi
13. Heidi Dennis
55. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea
65. Sariah Paki
Australian men’s squad
1.Henry Hutchison
2. Ben Dowling
3. Henry Palmer
4. Dietrich Roache
5. Tim Clements
6. Henry Paterson
7. Josh Turner
9. Matt Gonzalez
10. Nick Malouf (c)
11. Maurice Longbottom
12. Nathan Lawson
14. James Turner
25. Hayden Sargeant
87. Michael Icely
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Hooper will be great at 7s, like DuPont just great at all forms . Put him so he can adapt. It’s not like the current 7s are that great.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yes the dollars spent on these events are an issue overall know & hearing previous issues over the years. The last Gold Coast Comm. Games saw a Yank company doing the opening & closing events, in which they were paid a couple of million or so, then skipped the country without paying an tax. Yes it’s the costs nowadays in which the taxpayers fork out!
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Probably correct about the costs etc of the Olympics. I’m not a good one to ask I’m a big sports fan & Australia has a long Olympic history, so really enjoy the Olympics. On the flip side I appreciate those in the arts must question the $$ spent on sport.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well many, as I have an opinion on that, as it is outdated in today’s environment. The overall costs are ridiculous especially now in these times of many struggling. TBH to be more realistic the Olympiad should return to its origin of birth, Greece. We saw what an absolute joke the Comm. Games were when held on the Gold Coast, with use & abuse of taxpayers money.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
That maybe true but without doubt the Olympics is the pinnacle for the players as it is for the vast majority of athletes who are at the Olympics. No matter what they do, get a medal at the Olympics & that is what you are forever known for & leads your bio. (An exception is probably the tennis & golf players)
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yeh Alysia is a noted loss as with captain Sarah in the BF’s, but there is some promising talent stepping up. There is a couple returning with the men, as in Knewstubb but there is still more to come back. As you realise the World Series is the best of all the international events, as IMO it’s far better than the outdated overrated Olympiad which is so selective of nations taking part.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Keen to see how DuPont goes. The Aussie women may struggle Alysia LF out injured I rate her possibly the most important player in the squad. Hope the NZ men have a few of their injured players back.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Be very interesting to see how Du Pont shapes up for the French, as Sevens is far quicker than what he's used too. Not so bad going from Sevens to Fifteens but vice versa many have struggled in the past, & don't usually hang around to long. Time will tell!!!
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
You are probably correct 7s seems very much suited to young backs. But would like to see him have a run just out of interest. I haven’t gone through the team in detail, not sure how many vacancies are actually available to make the final cut for the Olympics.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
When I first read your comment I thought you said sullied instead of suited. But my glasses revealed suited. Instead of sullied. Lucky u read it twice.
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Hooper seems like a bit of an odd sevens prospect, surely its a sport more suited to younger backs?