2014 Commonwealth Games 7's (26&27/07/14)

[ratsapprentice]

I think the IRB are probably quote happy with how that went, don't you think?

 

[Rich Taff]

I think the IRB are probably quote happy with how that went, don't you think?

I thought it was thoroughly entertaining, and 7's gained a hell of a lot of new fans. (I've yet to get to a 7's weekend, and wish they'd put one on at the millenium stadium (purely selfish, as I can catch the bus to there), instead of making me grab the spare cash to get to twickers )

Oh, and regards IRB. Hopefully you mean with entertainment, and not a 'FIFA' are happy kind of comment.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Oh, and regards IRB. Hopefully you mean with entertainment, and not a 'FIFA' are happy kind of comment.

Eh??

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Eh??

ITO 'pushing agendas'

 

[ratsapprentice]

What agenda?

 

[nickdnz]

Congrats South Africa!

To be honest I do tend to agree we don't have any of the speedy "x-factor" players that have served us so well in the Commonwealth games in the past. I had a bad feeling about this one from the beginning. Choking teams by being well drilled and clinical can work throughout a series, but in a one-off tournament I feel you need those players that can turn a game around when the mistakes start coming. Even with our mistakes we player pretty methodical rugby, but South Africa just won by having man-for-man faster and more dangerous players than anyone else. I felt a Hosea Gear - or especially someone like Frank Halai who is devistating in 7's, should have been called in. If ***jen's wanted to make a statement that only players playing 7's in the circuit would be selected in the future - then it back fired with a loss, in the only Commonwealth games where elite Super Rugby talent wasn't selected (and I disagree that they don't do as well as regulars. You can't have an entire team of new 7's players, but there can certainly be one or two).

I actually thought one of our most dangerous players was Declan O'Donnell when he got his chances. Good to see injury hasn't stopped him looking good.

 

[SelimNiai]

I thought it was thoroughly entertaining, and 7's gained a hell of a lot of new fans. (I've yet to get to a 7's weekend, and wish they'd put one on at the millenium stadium (purely selfish, as I can catch the bus to there), instead of making me grab the spare cash to get to twickers )

Oh, and regards IRB. Hopefully you mean with entertainment, and not a 'FIFA' are happy kind of comment.

Do what my mate did and "accidentally-on-purpose" schedule a holiday to Vegas the same weekend the 7's was there

 

[munstermuffin]

that awkward moment when Barbados qualify and Northern Ireland don't...

Got me wondering what is the stance for northern irish players for the Olympics, do we play for GB or Ireland or is it an optional thing?

They can only play for Ireland as effectively they're employed by IRFU and in rugby Ireland is just all of Ireland. But more so it'd be like McIllroy in the Golf. They came through the Irish system and it was IRFU who invested in them also so they'd represent the one's who effectively made them.

 

[Thingimubob]

They can only play for Ireland as effectively they're employed by IRFU and in rugby Ireland is just all of Ireland. But more so it'd be like McIllroy in the Golf. They came through the Irish system and it was IRFU who invested in them also so they'd represent the one's who effectively made them.

Yeah I read that the other day, it's a fair enough stance to take and they'll stick to it even if Ireland don't qualify. That said haven't Ireland got a bit of an uphill struggle to actually qualify?

 

[big ginger 8]

Yeah I read that the other day, it's a fair enough stance to take and they'll stick to it even if Ireland don't qualify. That said haven't Ireland got a bit of an uphill struggle to actually qualify?

Ireland won't even try to qualify. It's just not on the IRFU's agenda. It's a pity because we could make a half decent team from some young players and the AIL.

 

[Feicarsinn]

If the choice were having a 7's program and being offer Sean O'Brien enough money to keep him at Leinster I know which one I'd choose.

 

[big ginger 8]

If the choice were having a 7's program and being offer Sean O'Brien enough money to keep him at Leinster I know which one I'd choose.

Clearly but I doubt they're as linked as the IRFU. like to make out.

 

[Peat]

Clearly but I doubt they're as linked as the IRFU. like to make out.

I'd imagine an effective Sevens programme would cost more than O'Brien.

 

[big ginger 8]

I'd imagine an effective Sevens programme would cost more than O'Brien.

Probably, 1 million is the figure thrown about but it's also stated that having an event on the world series would make it self financing. Anyway I just think that it's a pity that we don't have a 7's team, I wouldn't really be someone who'd be campaigning for it.



Sorry for somewhat derailing the thread.

 

[munstermuffin]

Probably, 1 million is the figure thrown about but it's also stated that having an event on the world series would make it self financing. Anyway I just think that it's a pity that we don't have a 7's team, I wouldn't really be someone who'd be campaigning for it.



Sorry for somewhat derailing the thread.

Was at the meeting and it actually came down to having an A team or having a 7s team on the actual 7s circuit. Was shocked to see it's actually more profitable and less expensive to have a 7s team play in 7s series than have A team.
But think your right we won't be having 7s team any time soon

 

[Darwin]

Congrats South Africa!

To be honest I do tend to agree we don't have any of the speedy "x-factor" players that have served us so well in the Commonwealth games in the past. I had a bad feeling about this one from the beginning. Choking teams by being well drilled and clinical can work throughout a series, but in a one-off tournament I feel you need those players that can turn a game around when the mistakes start coming. Even with our mistakes we player pretty methodical rugby, but South Africa just won by having man-for-man faster and more dangerous players than anyone else. I felt a Hosea Gear - or especially someone like Frank Halai who is devistating in 7's, should have been called in. If ***jen's wanted to make a statement that only players playing 7's in the circuit would be selected in the future - then it back fired with a loss, in the only Commonwealth games where elite Super Rugby talent wasn't selected (and I disagree that they don't do as well as regulars. You can't have an entire team of new 7's players, but there can certainly be one or two).

I actually thought one of our most dangerous players was Declan O'Donnell when he got his chances. Good to see injury hasn't stopped him looking good.

I think the timing of these Commonwealth Games were one of the major reasons we didn't see many Super Rugby players involved. The reason Tietjens didn't select Super Rugby players wasn't necessarily that he didn't want them, but rather that he wasn't able to get them for as long as he thought was necessary to work with tham. As I understand it he wanted to get hold of them for 3-4 weeks to mould them into 7's players, it sounded like most would only be available for half that time. So basically he had a choice between specialist 7's players who had been with him all year or under-prepared Super Rugby players. I can see why he made the choice he did. Frank Halai would have been included but they discovered he hadn't got around to getting a NZ passport (entirely his own fault) so missed out on selection.

Though we had a side including Super Rugby players last time we weren't exactly convincing in the 2010 final either. We were well behind in the final in 2010 before we got a couple of lucky breaks and managed to sneak past Australia in the end. The Super Rugby players weren't actually that impressive last time if I recall correctly either. Messam was disappointing, Gear was very quiet (apart from from the final when he was our best players), Ben Smith was solid but quiet, and Guildford was used mainly off the bench (but was surprisingly the most effective of the 4). The standouts for NZ that tournament were the specialist 7's players - Souness, Forbes, Baker, and Stowers - indeed I thought we were going to lose that final until we took off some of our Super Rugby players and our 7's players took control! I think it is important to note too that the keys players in the South African side that beat us in this tournament (Horne, du Preez, Senalta, Afrika) were specialist 7's players too e.g. Horne, du Preez, Senalta, Afrika.

I'm certainly not suggesting we should ignore Super Rugby players, but if we are going to include them we need to give Tietjens as much time as possible with them to mould them into 7's players, and we need to be careful not to expect too much from them...

 

[The Jones Boy]

Congratulations to South Africa. Not only were they clearly the best team in the final, but also clearly the best side all tournament.

NZ in contrast were very disappointing. We never seemed to get into gear all tournament, and we were pretty woeful in the final. I have never seen an NZ side make so many basic errors, and we looked lost in attack (though a lot of credit should go to the SA defense). I felt the score in the final really flattered us - the only reason it was so close was because the ref let us get away with a huge amount of illegal play at the breakdown (Forbes spent the whole match charging into the breakdown from the side). If we had won that final I would have been delighted, but the best side certainly would not have won....

Good call.
I thought we were lucky to get passed Scotland let alone make the final.
Saffers were too good and they thoroughly deserved the win.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Ireland won't even try to qualify. It's just not on the IRFU's agenda. It's a pity because we could make a half decent team from some young players and the AIL.

Absolutely.
It would be a wonderful opportunity for young irish talent to get a platform to showcase their talents to the national coaches and UK based teams.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Does seem pretty crazy that the P.I. nations/USA/Canada all field 7s sides, as can the likes of Spain, Portugal, Kenya - yet Ireland don't.
I know it's a case of money, but if the above can all find the cash/justify it, then......

 

[munstermuffin]

Just on Olympics issue etc - will unions/clubs release guys? As in it'd certainly interfere with club preseason