Preview: Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018

The 7s World Cup kicks off in San Francisco this weekend in what will be the first time that the tournament will be held on American soil. However, in contrast to previous tournaments, this year the competition will be played in a knock-out format. This has blown the competition wide open, with one wrong slip resulting in elimination from the championship competition. However, there will be a bowl and challenge competition for all teams eliminated from the opening rounds.

By looking at past results of the 5 previous tournaments it is obvious that shock results are commonplace since its inauguration in 1993. England were very much unfancied in 1993 but their team of relative novices managed to come away with the trophy. Likewise, in 2009, Wales beat Argentina to achieve their solitary tournament victory of that season on the biggest stage of all. Kenya have done well in the competition in recent years, reaching the semi-final stages in the past two tournaments. Rugby has always been an unpredictable game but given the short duration of a 7s match, these sorts of tournaments are likely to throw up even more upsets. Hopefully we see a few at AT&T Park this weekend.

The Favourites

New Zealand

With just two countries having won two championships, Fiji and New Zealand, and neither achieving back to back glory, if history repeats itself, New Zealand are unlikely to come away with the gold medal. They are seeded 3^rd for this weekend and finished in that same position in this year’s series. They haven’t been the force that they were in the past in recent seasons, after the departure of Gordon Tietjens from their setup. Nonetheless, New Zealand can never be written off in any form of the game.

South Africa

The Blitzbokke are this year’s top seeded team after their World Rugby 7s Series win last month. However, they are missing several key players, including Cecil Afrika and Seabelo Senatla. Their highly structured way of playing the game is effective in breaking down teams of a lower standard. Their defence is also almost impregnable, which is extremely useful, as the game has moved from a high scoring spectacle to a more tactical game of chess. They are number one seeds for a reason and shouldn’t be taken lightly by any team that meets them.

Fiji

The Flying Fijians have brought the most star-studded lineup to San Francisco this weekend. They have included 4 superstars from France in Leone Nakarawa, Semi Radrada, Josua Tuisova and Semi Kunitani. They come into this tournament with 6 2016 Olympic gold medalists in their midst, off the back of a 2^nd place finish in the world series. They are a team for the big occasion and when at their best are almost unplayable. Look for them to run defences ragged this weekend with their off-the-cuff style of play. 7s legend Waisale Serevi has stated that he is 98% certain that they will lift the trophy and it is easy to see why.

The Outside Bets

England

The 4^th seeds finished 5^th in this year’s world series but failed to finish with a tournament victory. It is a testament to their consistency that they finished so high and they will be hoping that they can pull off the heroics that Team GB did in the Olympics by at least reaching the final. Who knows? If Dan Norton, Tom Mitchell and Ollie Lindsay-Hague are on song maybe they can add to that 1993 world cup win.

USA

The Americans may have finished 6^th in the world series and only achieved one podium finish all year but they possess some of the most dangerous players in the game, in Perry Baker and Carlin Isles. If the two speedsters can get the ball in pace they almost always score, so look for the home side to get them on the ball as often as possible, after Danny Barrett makes the hard yards up the middle. Their only tournament victory this year came in Las Vegas, so they will be confident of their chances on home soil.

Ireland

The Irish may not be a side that are capable of winning the tournament outright, but they have shown in recent weeks that they are more than capable of mixing with the best of them in this form of the game. They are also one of the most in-form sides in 7s world rugby, having finished 3^rd in London, in their return to the World Rugby 7s circuit, and leading the European Grand Prix, with another win in Marcoussis last weekend. They will miss their talisman, Mark Roche, but in Terry Kennedy and Jordan Conroy, they possess two players that are capable of tearing any defence to shreds.

Players to Watch

Perry Baker

The 2017 7s World Player of the Year may not even be the fastest player on his side but he is most definitely the most elusive player on the circuit. His teammate, Carlin Isles, may be the only one that can compete with him over both a short and long distance, so look out for him to make a mockery of defenders all weekend. If they do manage to snag him, his ability to get the hands free for the offload are up there with the best of them, which is even more impressive given the recency of his introduction to the game of rugby.

Semi Radrada

Bordeaux-Begles new recruit has been recruited by Gareth Baber for the biggest tournament of them all, following an impressive showing in the final two 7s Series tournaments this year. He electrified the crowd with his powerful running, audacious offloads and explosive pace. His ability to beat the first defender in the XV-man form of the game is 2^nd to none, so just imagine how effective he will be at the 7-man version.

Rosko Specman

With the 2018 7s Series winners missing a number of big names to injury, a lot will be expected of their little playmaker, who also is returning from injury. He can usually be found in the middle of the field in attack, using his intelligent rugby brain to expose gaps in the opposition defence for his teammates. In defence, he takes on the sweeper’s role, often performing the last gasp defensive effort when his teammates are beaten. He is also an accomplished goalkicker, which can prove the difference between the sides in the reduced format of the game.

Dan Norton

England’s speedster also possesses some of the most dangerous footwork in World Rugby 7s. He is one for the big occasion and has a knack for scoring outrageous tries, beating defenders with ease from deep in his own half before racing away to the try-line.

Jordan Conroy

The Irishman is one of the most potent finishers around and managed to come away with 11 tries from the final two tournaments of the World Rugby 7s Series. He possesses sheer pace and as a result the Irish attempt to get him into space on the outside continuously.