Why previously unheralded USA have risen to number one in Sevens
Mike Friday, the USA Eagles head coach, has transformed our whole Sevens programme and five successive HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series finals appearances with back-to-back titles in Las Vegas is testament to his vision and hard work.
Mike and his team of coaches and staff have masterminded our rise to the top of the table and given everyone in the squad the belief we can win the title and then aim for gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. This is all like a dream and it is one I don’t want to wake up from.
I like to think of Mike as our guardrail because he keeps us on track and moving in the right direction to achieve our goals and he won’t take any personal credit and gives it all to the players. Ben Ryan rightly received lots of praise while he was in charge of Fiji, taking them to Olympic gold in Rio. However, Ben was working with players from a country where rugby – and sevens in particular- is a national sport. Mike is operating in the USA where many people still don’t know anything about the game and he changes everything for a Tier 2 team and puts them into a position where they are No1 in the Sevens rankings. That speaks volumes for Mike and shows how smart he is and it is great time to be involved with USA rugby.
Of course, our success in the HSBC Series, along with the strides being made by our 15s who are competing in this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, is helping raise the profile of rugby at home and we saw clear evidence of this in Las Vegas where the fans were incredible and invaded the pitch after we beat Samoa to retain the title. The party went on all night long!
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In case you missed it: News RoundUp – 8th March 2019
I was part of the television commentary team and had to fight really hard to control my excitement as the guys powered their way to the title. I was so pumped because I know what the squad had been through. A lot of fans were asking when I was going to be back and it is going to be a race against time to make Hong Kong or Singapore and it will all depend on when I get the metalwork taken out of my mouth following the double break of the jaw I suffered in Hamilton.
As a squad, we always believed we could reach the top and everything we have been doing is aimed at playing consistently. Five successive final appearance this season confirms just how far we have come and we have also dealt with injury problems during that period. Having grabbed the No1 position in the Series we have set our sights on staying there to give us a wonderful lead into the Olympic Games. It took a bit of time for people to get on board and see that we can become No1 and now we are expected to get to the final and people have to understand just how hard it is to reach five in a row.
The excitement generated by our win in Las Vegas is something that we can build on to get more players involved in the game at all ages in North America. At the HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver, where the USA squad will be aiming for more success this weekend, they are putting a lot of work into the successful HSBC Rookie Rugby Programme which since 2017 has introduced an amazing 90,000 Canadian youngster to rugby, including 43,000 girls.
Any programme aimed at boosting playing number benefits greatly from having a player who captures the headlines and in Canada that is the incredible Ghislaine Landry, who was initially told she was too small to play rugby and is now the all-time leading points scorer on the women’s Series. Ghislaine is this season’s top points scorer to highlight her amazing consistency and HSBC have put together a film charting her rise to the top of the women’s game and it has been released to coincide with International Women’s Day.
The women’s Sevens series is currently led by New Zealand with USA and Canada battling for top spot and the competition is really intense. This really is a great time to be involved with Sevens and Vancouver is going to be another example of why the sport has become so popular.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments