Help wanted: GB sevens team

[padprop]

As allured to in previous threads, our sevens team is a bit of a mess. We lost 3-4 key players last year and the people that have come in haven't had the impact we had hoped. I think it is vital we look at some XV's players if we are to become competitive.

Id be wanting to bring in:

Mike Ellery
Jeff Williams
Watson x2
Wade
Micky Young
Roko

If Tait had even a fraction of the talent he showed when he was playing sevens, he'd be a great addition also.

[Digby]

What would Bath and Glaws say if they were asked for Kvesic, Watson, Rokoduguni, Eastmond? There might even be time for them to get some sensible physical prep done, otherwise there's no way they'd last 6 games in two days keeping the intensity high enough.

[Mellsblue]

The Times reckon negotiations with the wanted players and their respective clubs are underway.

Names mentioned were Watson, Clifford, North and Hogg.

[Digby]

Hogg as a fly-half? Wonder if they'd have made a move for Faletau

[Puja]

The Times reckon negotiations with the wanted players and their respective clubs are underway.

Names mentioned were Watson, Clifford, North and Hogg.

That sounds promising. Although I'm astounded that they're not going for Wade.

Puja

[Banquo]

What would Bath and Glaws say if they were asked for Kvesic, Watson, Rokoduguni, Eastmond? There might even be time for them to get some sensible physical prep done, otherwise there's no way they'd last 6 games in two days keeping the intensity high enough.

not to mention sevens being a pretty different game...

[Timbo]

I keep reading about how England/GB being rubbish at 7's is some sort of tragedy, and I keep thinking that I don't actually care.

[Lizard]

What's the system for the Olympics? Is it just the English team as the qualifiers, or an All-GB selection?

[zer0]

It's a British free for all.

[Mellsblue]

What's the system for the Olympics? Is it just the English team as the qualifiers, or an All-GB selection?

Qualification is via the Eng team. It's then a free for all in terms of selection with the Eng coaching team in charge.......I think. I'm with Timbo, in that I don't really care.

[Digby]

Given I often end up caring about a host of sports I don't care about I suspect I'll watch the 7s with interest. And I do like 7s anyway

[twitchy]

When will jonny may come back, he would be perfect.

[Mellsblue]

When will jonny may come back, he would be perfect.

The Times are reporting that he was contacted, as well as Simpson, but it is now deemed that he won't recover early enough to make the switch.

[Digby]

I wonder if the 7s guys would see North as a prop, centre or wing?

[twitchy]

I wonder if the 7s guys would see North as a prop, centre or wing?

He could play anywhere couldn't he, what about some one like eastmond as well?

[Digby]

I wonder if the 7s guys would see North as a prop, centre or wing?

He could play anywhere couldn't he, what about some one like eastmond as well?

Eastmond would be on my list. And I'm not sure if North could play anywhere, I think I'd have him at centre depending on other options.

[OptimisticJock]

Just popped in to say I don't really care about 7s.



I'd like to see Lowe and Jones involved. The latter has been used by the weegies quite a bit recently though so not sure where he stands.

[Digby]

Not sure who Lowe and Jones are.

Anyone wondering if Ashton might get a call? Not the out and out pace of some, but he keeps going at a high end delivery much longer than most so by game 2-3 he's going to seem faster in relative terms as the pain really sets in. And his movement could be nigh on impossible to track in 7s

[twitchy]

Not sure who Lowe and Jones are.

Anyone wondering if Ashton might get a call? Not the out and out pace of some, but he keeps going at a high end delivery much longer than most so by game 2-3 he's going to seem faster in relative terms as the pain really sets in. And his movement could be nigh on impossible to track in 7s

Wouldn't his defensive frailties be even more exposed in 7's?

[Digby]

Not sure who Lowe and Jones are.

Anyone wondering if Ashton might get a call? Not the out and out pace of some, but he keeps going at a high end delivery much longer than most so by game 2-3 he's going to seem faster in relative terms as the pain really sets in. And his movement could be nigh on impossible to track in 7s

Wouldn't his defensive frailties be even more exposed in 7's?

I don't think so. I think he goes wrong in defence when left with multiple options to cover, and that's made worse by playing in a blitz over a drift. In 7s there's a lot of space to cover but the systems are much simpler and that naturally takes away his chances to dither, and he'd likely be on the outside of a drift anyway.

I'd understand if he simply wasn't thought a better option than a Wade or Dan Norton already offered more, but I doubt XVs is chock full of players who could play 6 matches in two days. There would need to be some though as to whether his identifying of space across the pitch is perhaps enough to offset he tends not to beat people one on one, that would be more a concern to me than his defence

[OptimisticJock]

Not sure who Lowe and Jones are.

Anyone wondering if Ashton might get a call? Not the out and out pace of some, but he keeps going at a high end delivery much longer than most so by game 2-3 he's going to seem faster in relative terms as the pain really sets in. And his movement could be nigh on impossible to track in 7s

Playmaker and winger respectively. Both with some decent pace. Lowe is full time I believe.

Ashton would get caught out. He's not a 7s player. I don't care about big names being thrown in. I want to see a competitive team.

[Digby]

Not sure who Lowe and Jones are.

Anyone wondering if Ashton might get a call? Not the out and out pace of some, but he keeps going at a high end delivery much longer than most so by game 2-3 he's going to seem faster in relative terms as the pain really sets in. And his movement could be nigh on impossible to track in 7s

Playmaker and winger respectively. Both with some decent pace. Lowe is full time I believe.

Ashton would get caught out. He's not a 7s player. I don't care about big names being thrown in. I want to see a competitive team.

There's perhaps a balance to be struck on the big names Vs most competitive team. The top players in XVs with a skill set that would transfer are typically just better rugby players than the top players in 7s and nothing improves a team so much as simply putting in some better players, however I think we're pushing up as late as one possibly could in pondering if some players in the XV formate could covert for the Olympics in giving them time to make some physical adaptations, and too to learn the systems that will be used by team GB.

[Lizard]

Wow. You think that XVs players not in Hong Kong right now might be ready for the Olympics? If so, you are deluded.

7s is a fulltime, specialist sport these days. That's why Sonny Bill is playing 7s right now, and Ben Smith has been ruled out of the Olympics.

[Digby]

As ready as they could/should be if one was serious about winning a gold medal no. Still better than some of the 7s players on the basis they're simply better players maybe, but it is pushing it at this point no question.

[padprop]

Wow. You think that XVs players not in Hong Kong right now might be ready for the Olympics? If so, you are deluded.

7s is a fulltime, specialist sport these days. That's why Sonny Bill is playing 7s right now, and Ben Smith has been ruled out of the Olympics.

Strongly disagree. Whilst I agree the players that have never played sevens before would not stand a hope, but the guys I am talking about are the people who have a long history of playing sevens (apart from one or two exceptions). Kurt Baker as a new zealand example spent the last couple of years playing XV's and has fit in seamlessly.