So much rugby, so little time. Not just the Super Rugby Pacific but the U20s Rugby Championship starts on Thursday. Amid that rugby overdose, it’s not suprising that the next round of the World Rugby HSBC SVNS Series in Singapore has come around with little fanfare.
So here is a quick hit before the first game, when the women take on Brazil on Friday 2.50pm AEST.
The tournament is in Singapore so a pretty good time zone to grab a game or three.
Some context. It is the sixth and last tournament of the SVNS Series before heading onto Madrid on 31 May for the winner-takes-all grand finale. The top eight teams at the end of the Singapore tournament play off for the overall SVNS Series title. (The bottom four take on the top four from the Challenger Series to see which four qualify for next season’s SVNS Series.)
For the Australian Sevens teams there are more than a few things to check out, especially with the women’s team.
Australian Sevens – Men
The Aussie men are sixth in the standings which is okay but not great. The men need to lock in some consistency. In saying that, the men’s series is highly competitive.
For the Waratahs supporters, the highlight will be seeing Teddy Wilson debut. He has not, for some reason, received much game time with the Tahs. Anyway, I’m pretty sure he will go alright in Sevens.
The men will have more than a challenge with both Argentina, winners of three tournaments so far, and New Zealand, winners in Hong Kong, in their pool. Add to that their number one playmaker and star Maurice Longbottom is out. On the flip side, we get to see where Michael Hooper is up to in his transition to Sevens. In Hong Kong, he did pretty well for his debut but I still think it will be a challenge for him to squeeze into the Olympics squad. There are not many spots available.
Michael Hooper. (Photo: World Rugby)
Keep an eye out for Michael Icely, he has been in and around the Sevens program for a couple of years but he looked pretty good in Hong Kong. And for some trivia, he also took out the Shute Shield’s Ken Catchpole Medal last season.
Australian Sevens – Women
The women’s squad is so very, very different. No Charlotte Caslick, that’s happened before, no Sharni Smale, that’s happened before too. But no Caslick and no Smale, now that hasn’t happened in a long, long time. Smale has just had her gall bladder out and Caslick has a few niggles the team are managing so she is ready for Madrid and the Olympics; coach Tim Walsh referred to it as rehab and prehab.
So for this tournament, we have a new captain with 23-year-old Manly Mermaid Madison Ashby taking the reins. In reality, she has always come across as a captain in waiting. Like Caslick she is mighty focussed and competitive. Without any research, over the last eight years I can only recall Shannon Parry, Sharni Williams, Charlotte Caslick and Demi Hayes having skippered the side (although I think Emilee Cherry may have captained at some stage).
Ashby will be in for a challenge and a half. Not only is the squad missing two of the most experienced players it is also missing Bienne Terita and Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea. Those two players in particular allow the women more opportunities and variety to play through the middle, not just side to side.
But back in the side is Lily Dick who with Bella Nasser will bring some much-needed physicality.
The squad again has a couple of less experienced players in Bridget Clark, Ruby Nicholas and Sidney Taylor who will have the opportunity to step up and show their wares.
The women should top their pool but it is still an interesting one with Brazil, Fiji and Great Britain. None of which would be classified as easy contests – the Aussie women only just beat Fiji in Hong Kong and did lose to Great Britain in Perth.
Charlotte Caslick is out for Singapore Sevens. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
So the Aussie women will be a fascinating watch this weekend.
It is definitely not Singapore sling weather in Sydney, so maybe tune into the Singapore Sevens with a hot chocolate or a whisky.
By the way, the Kiwis are the favourites to win the tournament. The NZ women are on a huge run having won the last three tournaments and the Kiwi men have turned their season around taking out Hong Kong.
Dates and times to add to the calendar
HSBC SVNS SINGAPORE – AUSTRALIA WOMEN FIXTURES
Pool C
Friday, May 3
Australia v Brazil – 2:50pm (AEST)
Australia v Great Britain – 8:05pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 4
Australia v Fiji – 2:50pm (AEST)
HSBC SVNS SINGAPORE – AUSTRALIA MEN FIXTURES
Pool A
Friday, May 3
Australia v Argentina – 4:42pm (AEST)
Australia v Canada – 10:14pm (AEST)
Saturday, May 4
Australia v New Zealand – 5:12pm (AEST)
Australia Women’s Sevens team for Singapore SVNS
1. Lily Dick
3. Faith Nathan
4. Dominique Du Toit
5. Teagan Levi
6. Madison Ashby (c)
8. Kaitlin Shave
9. Tia Hinds
10. Bella Nasser
12. Maddison Levi
14. Bridget Clark
23. Ruby Nicholas
65. Sariah Paki
98. Sidney Taylor
Australia Men’s Sevens team for Singapore SVNS
1. Henry Hutchison
2. Ben Dowling
3. Henry Palmer
4. Dietrich Roache
6. Henry Paterson
10. Nick Malouf (c)
12. Nathan Lawson
14. James Turner
18. James McGregor
25. Hayden Sargeant
30. Teddy Wilson
77. Michael Hooper
87. Michael Icely
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Thanks for the article, Hugh. Hope the Aussie's do well. And as an Irish born Australian, I will also be cheering the Irish on....very pleasing the progress of both their women and men over the past 2/3 years.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Ok, yes they are on equal points but the BFs are ahead on points differential or something like that.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I know. One would hope that one day RA will be able to run something that can make a profit.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
Those two are a big loss but good to see others given a chance.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH the Black Ferns are ahead atm with the for & against coming in!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH many now regard the Olympics as a secondary event, which it is, being played with a selective number of teams every four years. Not a true competition as far as rugby goes, as the game itself now has its own RWC, which also is far better than the Olympiad. Cost wise it’s becoming crippling for a nation to hold one.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Will be interestng to see how close Sarah Hirini goes to rehabbing & trying to get to the Olympics. The men will miss Longbottom he has become so critical to the team. Keen to see how the women operate without Caslick & how Ashby/Hinds combine.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
A national comp would be good, the reality is RA & States don't have the $$ to run more competitions.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Cheers - just adding a few words, waving the 7s flag
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Think it will be big weekend for both teams. I'm just keen to see how the women go with so many players out. Even though they are leading the Series jointly with NZ they have dropped off lately compared to NZ who are on a tear at the moment.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
I love watching 7s rugby. This is includes the women also. Great stuff. I would love to see more of it here in Australia. It amazes me there isn't a domestic competition. Would it be great if there was a national rugby sevens series played over the summer. It could have several tournaments across November to February. It would literally be rugby's answer to crickets big bash.
Phil
Roar Rookie
This is awesome thanks Hugh!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep TBH it's a great weekend of rugby coming up, which actually started last night with the U20 internationals on the Sunshine Coast, with more to follow. Apart from the ongoing SRP series , it's great to have the continuation of the World Series Sevens tournaments, who IMO is the best of all the sevens tournaments, being an annual event. Australia are going into this tournament without two of their best players, being Longbottom in the mens & Caslick in the women's, so that alone is a bid blow to both teams. Yeh, the Black Ferns are still without their quality captain, Sarah Hirini, along with a couple of others, but are still in the mix to take it out. The AB7's are pretty close to full strength, with a few returning from injury, , including McGarvey-Black, who is a excellent play maker.
DJ
Roar Rookie
Thanks Hugh, will be interesting to see how the women go. Will be nice to tune in to some warmth from a chilly Canberra.
In From The Side
Roar Rookie
Big weekend for the mens and one they need to do well in if they have a chance for Paris. It’ll take something special and more than they’ve demonstrated consistently so far. Good luck to them and I hope they get up. The ladies might struggle but less of an issue as they will go through to Paris regardless and I think it’s pretty smart to rest and recover rather than keep pushing players who have niggles. Looking forward to seeing how they go as while they’ll definitely miss Caslick and Smale it does provide a good opportunity for others to step up