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SVNS star Henry Hutchison ‘jumping out of his skin’ after 12-month injury spell
Playing in front of a packed house at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium 12 months ago, Australian SVNS star Henry Hutchison tried to play through the pain before leaving the field injured.
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It was immediately clear that Hutchison had sustained a serious injury at the Sydney Sevens, and the Australia sevens sides’ fears were proved true shortly after.
Hutchison, who had captained Australia during the Sydney leg, had to go under the knife after picking up significant injuries to his right knee and left ACL.
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Speaking with RugbyPass and Rugby.com.au in February, Hutchison also confirmed that he’d sprained his wrist and broken several ribs during the Hamilton Sevens just a week before Sydney.
But 12 months on, Hutchison is finally nearing a return to the new-look SVNS Series. Australia will run out in front of their home fans in just over a fortnight, and Hutchison is in the mix.
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Australia men’s coach John Manenti revealed the 26-year-old had a chance of playing at the Cape Town SVNS last month before the team decided to take a “conservative” approach.
“He was touch and go for the last tournament and we ended up more on the conservative side and left him out but he’s jumping out of his skin to get back out and play,” Manenti told Rugby.com.au.
“He’ll make a big difference just lightening up some of the stuff for Nick and he gives us another strong leader out on the field and an experienced player so really looking forward to having him back.
“It’s going to be tough for him because he trained for so long but it’s 12 months since his last game and it’ll be in a World Series tournament but he’s such a professional about his preparation and getting it right.”
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The Australian men’s sevens team will look to go one better next time out after falling in the final to a red-hot Argentina outfit in Cape Town.
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Australia opened their title quest in the Western Cape with a 20-point win over Samoa, but things took an ugly turn as they were caught on the wrong side of a cricket score against New Zealand.
But the men in gold let their actions do the talking as they bounced back with a final pool play win over Canada and then beating hometown favourites South Africa in the quarters.
Australia booked their ticket to the decider with a 24-7 win over traditional SVNS heavyweights Fiji.
“We were pretty terrible against New Zealand yesterday but we learned a lot from it,” coach Manenti told RugbyPass in Cape Town.
“It’s a group that’s resilient and we’re learning from our mistakes.
“Last week (in Dubai) we weren’t fantastic either and we had a couple of decent performances yesterday but obviously we had to come out this morning and beat South Africa here which was tough.
“We’re running on empty – the boys are running on empty but I’m sure the emotion will get them up and just find one more performance.”
But the team that was “running on empty” couldn’t hold off Los Pumas Sevens in the decider. The Aussies were visibly disappointed, but now they have a chance to make amends.
Starting on January 26, the Aussies will begin their quest for Cup final glory when they run out in front of their home fans at Perth’s HBF Park.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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