Test's Eagles to use São Paulo as "dress rehearsal" for World Championship

Zack Test’s USA Men’s Eagles Sevens will use the HSBC SVNS 2 finale in Brazil as “a dress rehearsal” for the HSBC SVNS World Championship.

Relegated from their status as a core team on the HSBC SVNS Series at the end of last season, after SVNS 2 events in Nairobi and Montevideo the Men’s Eagles have secured a place at World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.

Good performances in Asia and Europe can secure teams with a place on the Series next season. It is a return to the top tier that Test and his team crave most.

It was not that long ago that the Eagles were contenders on the world stage. Having taken on the posting of Men’s Eagles Sevens head coach last May, stopping the team’s decline and mounting a return to Series action was at the top of Test’s agenda.

Only this weekend’s tournament in São Paulo separates the USA from the first World Championship event in Hong Kong. Brazil promises to be a weekend of colour, flair and high-intensity. It is also a final chance to show exactly what they are capable of before retaking their place alongside the elite.

“We’re using [Brazil] as a dress rehearsal,” Test said. “It’s a quick turnaround to Hong Kong. Yes, we won [in Montevideo], but there were some things that weren’t necessarily pretty and not up to the standard we expect from ourselves.

“It’s about coming out and raising our standard to the next level. It’s also about getting some guys some more game time this weekend and seeing how they really can learn from their performance in Montevideo and see how well they can progress here this weekend in Sao Paulo.

“What I’m hoping for is a very hard selection for Hong Kong – that everyone raises their standards and it’ll make it tough on me to pick the 13.”

When asked what plans his team had for Hong Kong, Test confessed that the Eagles had a “couple of tricks” in their back pocket.

Even if the 36-year-old head coach wants to see his team continue their development, Test does not deny that going to Kai Tak Sports Park is something that he and his playing group with relish.

“It’s going to be great,” Test said. “Hong Kong is an iconic stop. We’ll be back with our women. Back with the big dogs from SVNS 1. We’re very excited to get back there and show how far we’ve come. It’s always great.

“Me and Em [Bydwell, USA Women’s Eagles Sevens head coach] are very close, so having both programmes under one roof is going to be even more special. Very excited to get back to Hong Kong and back with the girls and back on the big stage.”