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New Zealanders Stacey Waaka and Leroy Carter ruled out of SVNS Vancouver
Before a ball was kicked or a try scored at SVNS Vancouver, both the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens were dealt major blows as two star players were ruled out of the event.
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As confirmed by New Zealand Sevens on the eve of the SVNS Series’ fourth event of the season, Olympic gold medallist Stacey Waaka will miss the entire event due to a calf injury.
All Blacks Sevens ace Leroy Carter is another absentee this week with the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee pulling up with a sore hamstring.
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Xavier Tito-Harris has been called up to replace Carter while Kelsey Teneti, who was impressive during SVNS Perth last month, will fill the gap left by the injured Waaka.
The rest of both squads remain unchanged. Both New Zealand teams are chasing their first Cup final win of the season after an uncharacteristically slow start to the 2023/24 campaign.
After losing to arch-rivals Australia in the Dubai final in December, the Black Ferns Sevens have failed to make it past the semis and quarters in the last two events respectively.
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But the New Zealand’s women’s sevens side, who were recently named the nation’s Team of the Year at the Halberg Awards, have been boosted by the return of some big-name players.
Theresa Setefano (nee Fitzpatrick) is back in the mix, and Shiray Kaka is another key inclusion after missing out on selection for the tournament in Perth.
23-year-old Risaleaana Pouri-Lane will captain the Black Ferns Sevens again this weekend.
As for the All Blacks Sevens, it’s hard to look past the selections of Joe Weber, Amanaki Nicole and Roderick Solo who are all back in black in Vancouver.
The New Zealanders failed to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals. They’ll be eager to get their campaign back on track in The Great White North.
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“It’s probably the amount of rugby that we’ve played,” Sam Dickson told RugbyPass in Perth late last month.
“We had a real disjointed off-season with more than half of our squad playing NPC and we didn’t really have a proper pre-season. We trying to play a little bit of catchup in that case.
“Credit to the other teams, they’re playing outstanding this year and you could see the whole level has raised so much. One to 12 could win the tournament.
“We’re slowly building towards the Olympics, the Olympics is our main goal. We’ve got a lot of boys returning from long-term injury that’s going to really reinforce our team and bring a lot of energy and fire.
“We’re not stressing. We know what we’re doing and we’ve got a plan in place.”
Updated Black Ferns Sevens squad
Michaela Blyde, Tyla King, Theresa Setefano, Portia Woodman-Wicliffe, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Kelsey Teneti, Shiray Kaka, Tysha Ikenasio, Manaia Nuku, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (c), Mahina Paul, Jorja Miller, Teneika Willison
Updated All Blacks Sevens squad
Scott Curry, Brady Rush, Akuila Rokolisoa, Sam Dickson (c), Amanaki Nicole, Joe Webber, Tim Mikkelson, Che Clarke, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Codemeru Vai, Fehi Fineanganofo, Xavier Tito-Harris, Roderick Solo
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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