Seaton
First XV
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2010
- Messages
- 3,731
- Club or Nation
The first leg of the IRB Sevens World Series gets under way in just two weeks time, at the aptly named Skilled Stadium on Australia's infamous Gold Coast.
Reigning champions New Zealand are the favourites for the tournament, which has moved/ replaced the Adelaide leg of the tournament, as well as moving forward a few months to be the first round of the Series. South Africa won the last tournament in Adelaide, as well as the final leg of the last season at Murrayfield, thus go in as second seeds and still second favourites.
So, lets look at the pools which have thrown up a few tasty surprises:
Pool A
New Zealand
Fiji
Kenya
Niue
Pool B
South Africa
Australia
United States of America
Japan
Pool C
Samoa
Argentina
France
Paupau New Guinea
Pool D
England
Wales
Scotland
Tonga
Call me biased, but Pool D is a cracking group, where all four teams are more than capable of beating each other, should they pitch up of course. Wales world champions, England one of the few teams challenging New Zealand and Tonga are an Island team, so we all know what to expect. To be heard, I think Scotland will finish bottom of the group, we have finally got a dedicated Sevens team with contracted players, most of whom are young and a couple still in their teens, so this season will be all about development, however Wales seem to have been in a fairly similar state for an eon, yet look at what they have achieved.
Pool A has got the clash between New Zealand and Fiji, whilst Pool B sees the hosts against the Blizbokke. The first seeds in those pools should win their pools, but if they don't it wouldn't be a shock. Samoa should comfortably win their pool, but the Pumas are coming back after a poor period, and the French appear to be taking Sevens seriously now.
All in all, we can expect a cracking tournament at a new venue. I think New Zealand will win, with Aus, SA and Wales making up the semi spots.
Reigning champions New Zealand are the favourites for the tournament, which has moved/ replaced the Adelaide leg of the tournament, as well as moving forward a few months to be the first round of the Series. South Africa won the last tournament in Adelaide, as well as the final leg of the last season at Murrayfield, thus go in as second seeds and still second favourites.
So, lets look at the pools which have thrown up a few tasty surprises:
Pool A
New Zealand
Fiji
Kenya
Niue
Pool B
South Africa
Australia
United States of America
Japan
Pool C
Samoa
Argentina
France
Paupau New Guinea
Pool D
England
Wales
Scotland
Tonga
Call me biased, but Pool D is a cracking group, where all four teams are more than capable of beating each other, should they pitch up of course. Wales world champions, England one of the few teams challenging New Zealand and Tonga are an Island team, so we all know what to expect. To be heard, I think Scotland will finish bottom of the group, we have finally got a dedicated Sevens team with contracted players, most of whom are young and a couple still in their teens, so this season will be all about development, however Wales seem to have been in a fairly similar state for an eon, yet look at what they have achieved.
Pool A has got the clash between New Zealand and Fiji, whilst Pool B sees the hosts against the Blizbokke. The first seeds in those pools should win their pools, but if they don't it wouldn't be a shock. Samoa should comfortably win their pool, but the Pumas are coming back after a poor period, and the French appear to be taking Sevens seriously now.
All in all, we can expect a cracking tournament at a new venue. I think New Zealand will win, with Aus, SA and Wales making up the semi spots.