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Robin Heymann

After time to let the dust settle on an intriguing Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens competition, we can now assess the performance of all the nations on show in Delhi. Which players stood out? Did they under/over perform? What does the future hold heading into the 2010/11 HSBC World Sevens Series?

We start with Delhi’s top six.

Gold - New Zealand

Unbeaten in Commonwealth Games Sevens history, coming into Delhi there was certainly expectation and pressure on Gordon Tietjens’ side. Missing out on the World Series to a rampant Samoa has threatened their seven-a-side global supremacy. On paper the squad looked formidable with a host of regulars being joined by All Blacks like Liam Messam , Zac Guildford, Ben Smith and Hosea Gear.

One worry was how these ‘stars’ would mix with the likes of Forbes, Baker, Raikabula and Cama? The gold medal answers this emphatically. Simply superb from start to finish. Built on an incredible base of fitness that was honed in Dubai, their physicality at the breakdown and inside support lines were at times breathtaking. ‘The squad’ was always going to be a vital component over two stamina-sapping days in the Delhi heat. Having the luxury of bringing speedsters like Sherwin Stowers off the bench proved the difference in the final. Tietjens is still the grand master but how many of his team will be around in December?

Silver - Australia

Lived up their increasing hype with an impressive showing. Bounced back from an opening day defeat to a pumped up England to almost end New Zealand’s gold medal run with a courageous showing in the final. So what was the key? Well we knew how dangerous they are in attack and the likes of Luke Morahan and Lachie Turner didn’t disappoint when given space. But their game was based around two factors. 

Firstly they matched New Zealand at the breakdown – an ability that no other side could really master. Pat McCutcheon, Liam Gill and Nick Phipps were all immense and crafty in pushing the boundaries of the laws on the ground. Secondly, they had the outstanding half-back in the competition in James Stannard. His intelligence in finding space, work rate, finishing and bravery in defence was mesmeric at times. Aussies will badly miss him on the World Series with his commitments now firmly with Western Force and the Super 15.

Bronze - South Africa

Paul Treu must be pretty delighted to take home a bronze considering the situation he found himself in. Unavailability and injuries decimated his team from the talents of Stick, Mbiyozo, Horne, Mastriet, Du Preez, Kyle Brown and Schoeman. But somehow they pulled through with some gutsy wins over Wales (Day 1), Scotland (QFs) and coming from behind against England in the bronze medal decider. The only blemish in the last four against the Stannard-inspired Australia.

Guys like Ryno Benjamin, Paul Delport, Cecil Afrika and the returning Renfred Dazel were important men in India. They need to take responsibility as senior players for the youngster to develop as we head to the 2010/11 season. Encouraging showings from Boom Prinsloo and Sibusiso Sithole showed potential. Still lacking that out and out speedster though...

4. England

With arguably the best preparation out of any teams in the competition - with their new full-time contracted players - hopes were high for England. And their Day 1 performance didn’t disappoint as their backs, Norton and Caprice, outplayed a high quality Australian outfit. Faced with the unenviable prospect of a Samoa quarter-final, the forwards and defence stood up and gritted out a hugely satisfying 7-5 win. But they ran into a black New Zealand wall in that semi-final in a big way. So what happened?

Praise indeed for the Kiwis but did England stand off them and let them play? Tietjens’ tactics were also spot on, suffocating the English with deep restarts and letting their defence and work at the breakdown do the rest. Losing to South Africa in the bronze playoff was a perhaps unfair and painful sting, considering they had beaten the top ranked and third placed sides in the world during the two days! Making good decisions under pressure is something Ryan will need to continue drilling into his boys. Compared to most of the top sides, England will likely to have a similar set of players for the 2010/11 World Series – huge potential.
 

5. Samoa

Hard not to be disappointed with the performances of the reigning World Series champs. This wasn’t the 09/10 stellar brand but the unpredictable rollercoaster side that can self-implode. The warning signs were there in the early stages of their final pool game against Kenya, when Simaika Mikaele inexplicably botched a try in the first minute trying to get it under the sticks. Farcical. England showed more heart in their quarter-final loss although perhaps it’s harsh to criticise a side when losing by a conversion.

The Samoa we recognise came out in wins against Wales and South Africa, but there won’t be a national holiday and a week-long party for a Commonwealth Games Plate triumph. The worry was that they were going to miss Uale Mai and Alafoti Fa'osiliva – and so it proved. But the squad still had bags full of experience and with Lui, Mikaele, Pesamino, Tupou and Treviranus they had the quality to win Gold. Pesamino didn’t exactly fire on all cylinders and that probably sent reverberations through Stephen Betham’s team. 

6. Scotland

A decent World Series finish at their home tournament in Edinburgh gave Scotland some hope heading to Edinburgh. There was some strong experience in the squad and preparation for Delhi was solid – remember coach Stevie Gemmell had taken his side to India a year ago to give them a taster of what to expect. This was Gemmell’s sevens swansong; could he go out in style?

A clinical performance against Canada’s Maple Leafs set up an exciting quarter-final with South Africa. A hugely tense affair followed, with Scotland scoring one of the tries of the tournament through Mike Adamson but Ryno Benjamin broke their hearts as they lost out 10-7. An impressive win over Kenya booked a Plate final meeting with Samoa where they were blown away. Positives? Andrew Turnbull again proves himself one of the best in the world with Lee Jones showing bags full of promise with Mike Adamson lively. Let’s hope this group of players, led by guys like Scott Forrest and Colin Shaw, can stick around for this season and make a good stab at the World Series. Wholesale changes aren’t what Scotland Sevens needs.