Sevens

[Ruckedtobits]

Fantastic displays from the lads and Mick McGrath has truly found his forte. This was the top Samoan Squad who play at top level in Sevens World Series. We will top our Pool containing, Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe.

BTW, live coverage on Setanta.

[bonzo]

Fantastic displays from the lads and Mick McGrath has truly found his forte. This was the top Samoan Squad who play at top level in Sevens World Series. We will top our Pool containing, Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe.

BTW, live coverage on Setanta.

I think we still need to beat Tonga at 16:30 Irish time to be sure we top the pool? But they didn't look great at all against Zimbabwe who we've already beaten.

Looks like we'll then get Hong Kong in qf, probably Russia or Germany in semi if we win that, and Spain likely to get to final from other side of draw.

Nobody unbeatable there ahead of us. Rio qualification would provide a novel growth opportunity for rugby back in Ireland, and it's got to be great for the lads' skills and all round development.

Hopefully it won't be two years till the next post on this thread anyway!

[neiliog93]

Right well it's Spain in the 1/4 final, who were hockeyed 26-0 by Hong Kong in their group decider. We should win this one, and will likely have Russia in the semi-final, with the other semi likely being Germany and Samoa.

There's a feeling of inevitability that we'll come up against Samoa again in the final, who obviously are a full Sevens series team and whom we only beat 27-21 in the group stage (5 tries to 3). Conversions could be key, Dardis needs to improve a bit there, although in fairness he did get better as today's games went on.

We have a very good chance of making it to Rio, fair play to the lads!

[kermischocolate]

Russia/Canada could go either way. Expect Samoa to actually turn up tomorrow.
Germany the other surprise package of the day.

Very interesting day 1- hope for more of the same day 2.

[bonzo]

Lost 12-7 to Spain after leading at half time.

Doh.

Stupid second halfs.

Stupid optimism disease.

[kermischocolate]

Lost 12-7 to Spain after leading at half time.

Doh.

Stupid second halfs.

Stupid optimism disease.

Day 2 is a very different beast to day 1.

[neiliog93]

That's a pretty poor defeat. I know Spain have Sevens experience but some of our lads are full time pros. I could readily have accepted losing to Samoa, but losing to Spain in any rugby context isn't acceptable.

[bonzo]

That's a pretty poor defeat. I know Spain have Sevens experience but some of our lads are full time pros. I could readily have accepted losing to Samoa, but losing to Spain in any rugby context isn't acceptable.

Yup.

[kermischocolate]

That's a pretty poor defeat. I know Spain have Sevens experience but some of our lads are full time pros. I could readily have accepted losing to Samoa, but losing to Spain in any rugby context isn't acceptable.

Yea but they're not sevens specialists.
Ireland have punched well above their weight to get to within 3 games of the Olympics. If they actually took it seriously Tokyo's not that unrealistic.

[Xanthippe]

That's a pretty poor defeat. I know Spain have Sevens experience but some of our lads are full time pros. I could readily have accepted losing to Samoa, but losing to Spain in any rugby context isn't acceptable.

Wow that's more than a bit harsh. Our lads may be professionals but they're not 7s experts and if you watched the game you'd have seen that Spain's experience was the biggest difference between the two teams.

Considering the fact that a year ago these lads had never played 7s I think they deserved huge praise for getting themselves to within 3 games of qualifying for the Olympics.

[neiliog93]

I think our expectations are bit low though. I know there was very long route to qualification for them. How many people give a toss about rugby in Spain, 7s or otherwise?

It's like us beating Canada in a special version of ice hockey with 3 players that they happen not to take very seriously, I guess.

[kermischocolate]

Spain have just beaten Samoa in the final. Outstanding performance

[Xanthippe]

So now that Spain have won the tournament do we praise our players for beating Zimbabwe who are ranked 20th, Tonga who are ranked 15th and Samoa who are ranked 5th or do we slate them for losing to the eventual tournament winners.

We are currently ranked 32nd but after our performance this weekend that could easily change if we decided to continue our participation

[Oldschool]

Spain have just beaten Samoa in the final. Outstanding performance

Ireland beat Samoa, Spain beat Ireland and Spain beat Samoa.
And based on both xantippe comment above that's a damn good performance all round.

[kermischocolate]

Spain have just beaten Samoa in the final. Outstanding performance

Ireland beat Samoa, Spain beat Ireland and Spain beat Samoa.
And based on both xantippe comment above that's a damn good performance all round.

As someone who loves 7s Ireland did very well this weekend- much better that I thought they would.
I'd love it if Ireland continued to take 7s seriously but getting core team status is seriously difficult, keeping it even more so.

Having spent a week with most of those Spanish players I'm delighted for them- they've worked so hard for this and Samoa looked like they just needed to go through the motions to win.

Roll on the Ladies next weekend.

[neiliog93]

We can praise them for doing well in the early games but criticise them for losing to a team from a country with very little rugby culture.

[Xanthippe]

We can praise them for doing well in the early games but criticise them for losing to a team from a country with very little rugby culture.

Who beat a country with massive rugby culture and are therefore going to the Olympics.

Spain have a rugby history that goes back to the 1920s. It may not be the biggest sport in their country but that doesn't mean they have very little rugby culture. They have also competed far more consistently on the 7s circuit than we have and therefore have a much better 7s culture than us.

[neiliog93]

I wouldn't say so though. I'd say that many more people watch 7s in Ireland than Spain, and indeed more players in Ireland too. The Spanish senior sevens team is more experienced, that's certainly true, I'll give you that.

The USA has a rugby history that goes back further than the 1920s, two Olympic gold medals I think, but you wouldn't say they have much of a rugby culture (and indeed they have more of a rugby culture than Spain).

I'll still think we should be beating Spain with some pros in our squad, Sevens experience or not.

[kermischocolate]

When it comes down to it rugby culture is fairly irrelevant. USA depending on the draw are an outside bet for a medal for example. Kenya hardly have an extensive rugby culture but are more than an outside bet for a medal.

I always compare 7s and 15s to road and track cycling - both involve riding bikes, both are totally different beasts. To be exceptional at one doesn't mean you automatically will be at the other.

Spain haven't been on the 7s circuit for 2 seasons but their experience showed on numerous occasions over the weekend. Firstly nothing is won on day one- the point is to get through to the cup quarters on day two. Secondly a 7s game is a very hard place to run down the clock. Spain used that to their advantage in the semi and final- on both occasions coming from behind to score the winning points long after the clock was red.

Fiji will go to Rio the favourites but as this year's series has shown, any of a number of teams can realistically win a tournament.

[Donny B.]

And now the Womens team aren't going either. Maybe now they can go back to giving a sh!t about the Six Nations?