The 'challenge of the game of sevens' reality check for Olympic hopefuls
The Olympic dream has enticed two of rugby’s biggest names to step away from their familiar 15-man code and pursue SVNS and Olympic glory.
Antoine Dupont and Michael Hooper are on track to begin their respective sevens journeys in January 2024 with the hopes of competing in the world’s greatest sporting event.
Dupont, arguably the greatest rugby player in the world, had his intentions to play in the Olympics confirmed on Tuesday by Fédération Française de Rugby Vice President Jean-Marc Lhermet, who said there’s a chance the halfback may feature in the Perth leg of the inaugural SVNS competition next January.
Rumours have also suggested Dupont’s France teammates Damien Penaud, Arthur Vincent and Sekou Macalou are also considering a move to feature in the Olympics.
“I think it’s good for the game, those big names from 15s coming across,” All Blacks Sevens coach Tomasi Cama told SENZ. “It’s good for obviously France and Australia, that those guys are putting their hands up to have a crack.
“It’ll be interesting to see how they go, obviously it’s a different game – it’s still a game of rugby, just less numbers, a bit faster, so will be interesting to see how they go.”
The French players will have a chance to exercise the demons of the Rugby World Cup, as the Olympics will host the sevens at Stade de France, the same stadium where South Africa knocked France out of the World Cup.
Hooper on the other hand has a chance to move on from what was a dramatic and controversial snub from the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.
Cama shared his observations of Hooper’s game and offered some advice to the Wallabies legend.
“I think what we’ve seen in 15s is he’s got a big tank, he’s obviously fit and I think it’s just the challenge of the game of sevens you’ve got to operate at that level where you’re going to be fatigued and tired, that’s when you’re going to see the difference.
“And that’s where the knowledge of the game will come into play, the awareness of space and what to do; when to ball carry, when to pass, what line to run, and you do all that under fatigue.
“We always discuss here, sometimes your default will come into play and the majority of the time you see the default in sevens, it’s not pretty. You operate at the level where you’re under fatigue and stress and the boys that have been playing a lot of sevens, they’ll pick up on those players really quick and they’ll pick on them.
“It’ll be interesting to see if they push them into that level and see how they operate.”
There’s a famous rugby adage of your smallest habits coming to the fore in the biggest moments, and so the challenge Cama projects for the newcomers will be how they perform when exhausted in a way only sevens can make you.
“You try and get them really clear on what’s their role when they’re not fatigued, and then what does their role look like under fatigue and the game changes, it might slow down a bit.
“I just shared with the boys this morning, I think when you’re fresh you can win games, but under fatigue, that’s when you win tournaments. That’s probably where you separate the big teams or top teams from others, because they operate at where most people won’t operate at.
“Being really clear when you’re under fatigue around what you’re seeing and what you’re trying to execute and communicate, those are things, I think, where the strength of most teams will be tested at that point.
“I think the people that can still be clear on what you want to try and achieve and what we try and do will probably come up at the right end of the tunnel.”
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.
5 Go to comments