Sevens World Cup Rugby Preview: The Teams

24 teams, six pools, three days.  Three champions will be decided, with the bowl, plate and cup (importance in that order) being played out in the same manner as traditional Sevens tournaments.

It is fair to say that New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, and England head a list of teams that could be considered favourites.  But this is not the William Webb Ellis Cup.  There will be plenty of upsets at this championship. 

South Africa, England, and Argentina are the only teams to have won the Cup (the major trophy in a sevens championship) legs on this year’s series, so no doubt New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, and France will look to rectify this.

However, Kenya, Tonga, Wales, Portugal, and Scotland have all beaten most of the major nations; and will be a chance of hoisting the title.

Let’s look at the Pools!

Pool A: New Zealand, Tonga, Arabian Gulf, and Italy

The Sevens All Blacks will start the tournament as the smallest of favourites.  They come to Dubai with the typical heavy expectations on their shoulders, even more so considering that they have not won a leg in this year’s series.

Victor Vito—the star of last year’s series—will headline a team coached by Gordon Tietjens, who has been at the helm of the New Zealand sevens team for 14 years.

Their only World Cup win came in 2001, when Jonah Lomu all but singlehandedly won them the tournament.  With Tonga in the group, also with an impressive roster of players, it will not be a cakewalk for the eight time World Series champions.

POOL B: Fiji, France, USA, and Georgia

The two time and defending champions Fiji play in a tough pool having lost to twol of their opponent nations, recently losing to America in Wellington. 

Coach Iliesa Tanivula has included five players for this year’s tournament from the triumphant RWC Sevens 2005 campaign.  This is a repeat of the policy utilised by Waisale Serevi during that campaign. 

One of these faces is wing Vilimoni Delasau, who last represented Fiji at the 2005 World Cup.  It is a risk recalling players, who are experienced, but not part of the day to day team.

This is probably the pool of death, with the USA and France becoming far more capable Sevens teams in the last two years.  USA has reached two quarter finals and a semi final this year so far, their best ever results.  France as a sevens team wield the same consistency as their Les Bleus big brothers.

POOL C: South Africa, Scotland, Canada, Japan

South Africa this season have matched their status with their 15 man team by becoming a genuine Sevens power.  With two of the four legs played so far this year won, many would suggest that the Sevens Springboks possess the strongest squad on paper.

Scotland will hope to win the major Cup on offer, named the Melrose Cup—after a Scottish border town which was the birthplace of the sevens game.

However, Canada and Japan both boast solid records, but may not be able to compete with the two powers in their pool. 

POOL D: Samoa, Australia, Portugal, and Ireland

Probably the second hardest pool, with Samoa favorites despite poor recent form; the Island nation has come third in the last two yearly World Series championships.  They are the one team that plays with a physical uncompromising style similar to their 15 man side.

Australia is the one major nation who have not transformed their status befitting them as a major test nation to the sevens game.  Still, they arrive in form, winning the Bowl (the third ranked Sevens tournament trophy) in USA.

Portugal has beaten Australia this season, but a large number of their squad have played recently in the fifteen man game.  Still, both these nations are looking for strong sevens results to filter to their national test teams.

Ireland is looking to build on the success of their Six Nations team.

POOL E: England, Kenya, Tunisia, and Hong Kong

A pool that is wide open, with England winning the New Zealand leg of the series this year, and Kenya claiming the scalps of not only the English, but the Kiwis and South Africans in the last 12 months.

However, Tunisia is fierce rivals of the Kenyans, and both teams firmly believe they are legitimate World Cup threats.  Tunisia have only featured in the South Africa leg of the Seven’s series this year and have spent most of the year preparing for the Cup.

They will look to repeat their feats of the 2005 World Cup, where they beat South Africa in the opening game.

POOL F: Argentina, Wales, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe

Argentina won the last leg of the championship, and are rapidly evolving as a quality sevens team.  A traditional problem has been evolving the necessary running style needed in Sevens, not often seen in Puma teams.

Wales have posted solid results in their history, but will struggle to foot it should they progress past the quarter finals.

Zimbabwe and Uruguay are both potent sevens exponents, with the former having a notable status back in their strife affected country.  Both minnows have beaten the heavyweights in their pool.