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'You are having bad days': Kirwan calls for more superstars in All Blacks Sevens side
After winning back-to-back events in Sydney and Los Angeles, the All Blacks Sevens stumbled to a quarter-final loss to Australia in Vancouver on the World Rugby Sevens Series.
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Whilst the Black Ferns Sevens have dominated the circuit, winning four of the five events in the 22/23 Sevens Series, the men have found the competition tougher since 2014.
The All Blacks Sevens won 12 Series out the first 15 years of competition since the year 2000, routinely taking 1st place but that has changed with just one title from the last seven years.
In 2023 they are back in pole position but the race is tighter than ever before with Argentina breathing down their necks after taking gold in Vancouver over the weekend.
Former All Black John Kirwan discussed the matter on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown and came to the conclusion that is just reality now.
“The 7s are going pretty well, they are top, they’ve already qualified [for the Paris Olympics],” Kirwan said.
“The men’s game, if you are watching it a lot, you are having bad days.
“You have a bad day, have a bad game, can’t get the ball. They nearly lost and just won in the last minute in one of the other qualifying games.”
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The All Blacks Sevens have been led by veterans Tim Mikkelson, Joe Webber, Sam Dickson and Dylan Collier for some time now.
Fijian-born Akuila Rokolisoa has become the real star of the side and this year’s breakout player Roderick Solo has added some real firepower to the side.
But Kirwan had a solution to boost the men’s side with the Paris Olympics just around the corner and highlighted the difference between the men and the Black Ferns.
“The difference between our male and our female 7s game is our superstars from our 15s do go to the 7s,” Kirwan said.
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“That doesn’t happen in our male game and I think it is something we possibly need to look at.
“Can we have a few more crossover athletes? I think these athletes are great, don’t get me wrong, they are winning it, so no complaints there.”
Following the win at the Rugby World Cup 2021 in 15s, Black Ferns heroes Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Stacey Waaka [Fluhler], Theresa Fitzpatrick, and Sarah Hirini have all switched back to 7s.
“But the superstar, we are going to go to next year’s Olympics, can we have that situation where guys crossover?” Kirwan asked.
“But they would need to crossover at the beginning of the year.”
Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics Sonny Bill Williams made the switch to play 7s while at the Tokyo 2020 event, played in 2021, Caleb Clarke made the crossover but didn’t end up being picked in the playing squad, instead travelling as a reserve.
The men’s side finished with silver in the 2020 Olympic final after losing to Fiji.
Often some of the brightest young talents in New Zealand are given the chance to start their professional rugby careers on the 7s circuit. Rieko Ioane and Etene Nanai-Seturo are examples, while the latest is Carlos Spencer’s son Peyton who has also signed with the Blues.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments