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more »UR7s London Sevens Preview
This weekend’s London Sevens marks the penultimate leg of the 09/10 IRB Sevens World Series with this year’s title very much in the balance.
Over 70,000 spectators are expected at Twickenham across Saturday and Sunday with the weather expected to mirror last year’s scorching sunshine.
Samoa holds a slender lead at the top of the log over rivals New Zealand with the top two the only realistic winners of this season’s Series..
The Pacific Islanders, who have won the last three events in Las Vegas, Adelaide and Hong Kong have been in scintillating form over the second half of the season.
If it was not for the Samoans, the Kiwis would be unbeaten this season with Gordon Tietjens team losing out a remarkable five times to them since December.
But Tietjens, who has led New Zealand to eight overall World Series wins, is refusing to panic despite the assumption the Samoans are being labelled their bogey team.
"Are Samoa our bogey team? They're the only team that's beaten us this year," said Tietjens speaking to the IRB.
"I accept that and they have played well, there's no question. I also certainly believe, though, that in the last two games we were in positions to win and were punished by two yellow cards.
“In Adelaide Kurt Baker was carded and I thought we had done well enough to win it, and then in Hong Kong the same player was sin-binned having scored two tries and we conceded two.
"That's the nature of Sevens though. Samoa have taken their opportunities and they have been in my opinion consistently the form team of the Series."
The Kiwis face Kenya, Wales and Portugal in Pool B with Samoa up against Argentina, USA, and Italy on Day 1 at Twickenham.
England mean business
Hosts and defending London Sevens champions England have considerably strengthened their squad as thoughts turn to the Commonwealth Games for coach Ben Ryan.
England Saxon’s Tom Varndell and Mickey Young bolster the side with Kev Barrett returning from injury.
It was elusive half-back Young who scored a dramatic extra-time winner to beat New Zealand in last year’s grandstand finale.
"We have a strong side, we have some very exciting players and we're going to do everything we can to defend London,” said Ryan
"In London it's a bit more personal, we only get one home game a year and for the next however many years I want to make sure this is a priority tournament and we win it every time."
Fifth placed England have a potentially tricky Pool with Scotland and Russia no walkovers before an exciting last match of the day against Australia.
The Aussies have been much improved this year and one place in front of England in the table.
Defending IRB champions South Africa have been in transition this year with coach Paul Treu troubled with injuries and player unavailability.
Juries and Rabeni back
At least the Boks have been able to recall legend Fabian Juries back into the squad for this weekend with Mzwandile Stick also returning from injury.
South Africa again faces nemesis Fiji in Pool C with the Islanders proving too strong for Treu’s side on numerous occasions this season. Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula has recalled Leeds Carnegie’s Seru Rabeni to a young and inexperienced squad, with key players missing for the European stretch.
“He (Rabeni) is part of the professional set up here in England. It means he brings that to the team and it is good to have him around. It is good to have him around and the young Fiji guys look up to him,” said Tanivula.
London Sevens Pools
Pool A - Samoa, USA, Argentina, Italy
Pool B - New Zealand, Kenya, Wales, Portugal
Pool C - Fiji, South Africa, Canada, France
Pool D - England, Australia, Scotland, Russia
IRB Sevens World Series
Samoa – 124
New Zealand -121
Fiji – 94
Australia – 76
England -74
South Africa 54
Kenya 52
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COMMENTS
lance maiava Fri 21 May 2010 15:36
Ia manuia lo outou alofaiva I le faamoemoe manu,e leo alo tamala samoa I lana tapuaiga I lo outou faamoemoe,go manu
Reply | Report this Posttoetu sua mene(paaute) Fri 21 May 2010 23:44
talofa, ia otou mama na, ia manuia lo outoun alo atu i faiva, ia alofa le Atua i mea uma ma taaloga ole atou alo atu ia i le na itu ole lalolagi. ia manuia lava outou uma lava i alii ofisa ma faiaoga. Soifua
Reply | Report this PostPastor Tuiuli Faimalo Makisua Fatialofa&ekalesia Samoan A.O.G Hutt central Sat 22 May 2010 10:18
Ia foai atu ele Atua e ou le malosi uma lava io outou tino ao ofo ina atu mo se ai aua le tapuaiga a si o tatou atunuu pele o Samoa uma i soo se itu ole lalolagi ae maise foi le mataala male poto male faautauta i filifiliga tonu i soo se avanoa i taimi uma ole taaloga ia leoleo Ieova i o outou loto ina ia outou taalo malosi ma mama ae aua le taaalo paaa ele iloa ai se tama taalo lelei ma le tausaafia aemaise o si ona atunuu oloo tapuaia la outou faaagatama
Reply | Report this PostTatalo atu mo lo outou alofaiva ina ia manuia
T.F.M.FATIALOFA
Ioana Fofoa Sat 22 May 2010 17:43
Malo taalo faatausala malo lototoa... Aua nei gata ai le finau aua se ai mo si o tatou atunuu pele o loo tui mai le mulipapaga aua lo outou alo faiva...Taalo faatamalii ma mataalia ma ia tumau lo outou faatuatua i le Alii ao feagai ai ma faagatama ile faaiuga o lenei vaiaso... Ia saga faafouina pea lo outou malosi ele Atua aua taaloga o loo totoe. Ia pouliuli o outou tino aia malamalama o outou ala.. Ia alofagia foi le mamalu o le pulega i faiaoga ma sui lagolago ma i latou o loo faauluulu iai le au. O outou mama na o le a o matou tapuai atu ile tapuaiga a Feepo.
Reply | Report this PostManuia tele taaloga ia faatasi pea Ieova i outou ala uma..
God Bless y'all..
Ioana Fofoa
Josh Leleisiuao Wed 26 May 2010 01:09
Finau Manu...Ia manuia o outou faiva uso. O o outou mama na. Alofaaga ma faamanuiaga mai le tapuaiga a si o tatou autnuu... Good luck bradaz.. JL
Reply | Report this Postlance maiava Fri 3 Dec 2010 11:43
talofa manu,
Reply | Report this Posto lenei ua toe sagai mai ai o le tai i lenei tausaga i le toe amatalia ai o le faamoemoe o le taamilosaga o le irb',ia o otou mama na,tauia ina ia manuia le faamoemoe,lototele ma ia faamalosi ae o le a tu'i atu le mulipapaga i lo otou faamoemoe
o alofaaga e momoli atu mai ia lance ma le fanau ia nua,jerry,faasega,fitimaupologa,talaave(pesamino)and sala
lance maiava Fri 3 Dec 2010 11:49
manu o lo'u fatu lea o lou loto lea,o a'u o le toa o a'u o le manu samoa
Reply | Report this Postall da best
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