Can England win a fifth title in Dubai?
Thursday 4 December 2014 14:01, UK
New Zealand may be the most successful sevens team in the history of the game, but the 12-time champions are not the favourites this time around as the Sevens World Series heads to Dubai this weekend.
Fiji and Samoa are the teams leading the way this year and are setting the bar high – and it is up to New Zealand and the rest to raise their game.
Rupert Cox sat down with former England captain Mike Friday – now head coach of the USA – to discuss how the rest of the nations will react to the Pacific Islanders' challenge and the special aura surrounding the Dubai Sevens.
Dubai – one of the great venues on the Sevens World Series. England have won it four times. Why is it so special for ex-pats in particular?
MIKE REPLIES: This is the tournament for the true rugby purist – a true rugby festival where rugby is at the centre of everything. It is unique as this is the only tournament where the entire rugby population gets to participate on the pitch as well as off the pitch – all at the same venue from under-8s through to veterans – men and women – social to international. I love it for that reason – it encapsulates why rugby is the sport that it is and you catch up with friends that you have made through rugby from round the world over the years.
The tournament has evolved and grown and yes we have seen changes – no longer does the international player change next to the social vet in the same changing room, although I have fond memories of preparing for games for England next to some old geezer who had a beer in is hand, having just played, wishing you luck. That interaction and spirit still exists in Dubai, albeit not in the changing room, but the connection is still very much there between all the players at all levels and those that come to purely enjoy the rugby. That was the vision when the tournament was first established and in true Dubai fashion it has grown to a whole different level without losing that magical spirit.
I first came here 21 years ago and this year I will bump into players I played against way back then and through the many years since. We will share some great memories. It’s also 10 years since I won this tournament as a coach for the first time, with Simon Amor (now England head coach) as my captain. So for us to be up against one another as coaches in game one on Friday will no doubt be weird for both us. Time moves on but rugby at the Dubai Sevens stays the same – an exciting, action packed, electric rugby festival for friends and fans alike.
What did we learn on the Gold Coast in the opening round of the series about how this series might unfold?
MIKE REPLIES: We learnt a few things. Firstly that the bar is being raised and the level of competition continues to increase. Countries are getting more and more competitive and the scores are getting closer, meaning that coaches will age quicker and referees cannot afford to get it wrong in the middle! Every decision is critical and mistakes by players are magnified at this level.
We saw the strength in depth and player resources that Fiji have at their disposal and they must be favourites for the series. We also saw the re-emergence of Samoa under the arrival of former boss Fuimaono Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua, who has bought back the discipline and focus to the Samoans.
They look a real powerful threat and no doubt under his guidance will be a consistent force this season. This leaves the traditional powerhouses of South Africa and New Zealand having to react and we have seen the reaction with some of the names that have appeared on their squad lists for these two legs. There is plenty of Super Rugby talent, which shows the intent to make a statement in Dubai.
Has the element of Olympic qualification had an obvious impact on Series?
MIKE REPLIES: Absolutely. I think we will see the arrival of a few more big name players who will bolster a country’s bid to gain a top four finish and win automatic qualification to Rio 2016. We have seen NZ and SA bring in Super Rugby players who have sevens pedigree and Samoa now have former NZ Sevens player Tim Nanai-Williams playing for them in the next four legs. I can see this trend continuing, with Australia following suit. It will be interesting to see what England do to support the Team GB bid as it is crucial to guarantee qualification in the series and avoid having to go to the regional qualifier next Summer, where France no doubt will take a different approach for that one-off tournament and stack their team.
How is your USA Sevens team looking? What can we expect after a good performance in round one where you just missed out on a Cup quarter-final?
MIKE REPLIES: We are continuing to improve on all aspects. The boys are understanding what is required if they want to give themselves the best chance to compete and the values and work ethic that is required, but we have to realise we are coming from 13th in the world and need move from being mere participants to real competitors. There is no doubt we have the potential as we showed in the Gold Coast but in a group we deserved to we didn’t reach the Cup stage because we made a few errors at critical times and that is the harsh reality of sevens at this level.
As a group we need to recognise we are moving in the right direction but we need to continue to learn and study the game as that is the area of development where we are having to play serious catch up. We are confident that we can get out of the group in Dubai but we will have to play to our full potential in all three games for all 14 minutes.
Plenty of changes again for series leaders Fiji. Will they be as strong this weekend?
MIKE REPLIES: Fiji are still the favourites and rightly so at the moment with the depth of talent they have available. Let us not forget their second team beat NZ at the Coral Sevens the week before the Gold Coast so I suspect there will be little effect on them as they are all naturally so gifted at sevens – they require very little coaching, just guidance and discipline on what to do to maximise their potential.
I think Ben Ryan has recognised that and is building an army of players who buy into that and he is seeing the results. I think Ben is making a statement that he picks the form 12 players at that time, regardless of age, which sends a clear message to all that strive to play for Fiji Sevens – which is every Fijian!
Tom Mitchell and Jeff Williams return for England in Dubai but Marcus Watson is out with injury. How do rate their chances of making it five titles in the desert?
MIKE REPLIES: Mitchell is a massive player for England and reminds me of Simon Amor as a player – he's very quick and a clever player who runs the show brilliantly. The big question is whether he will play 9 or 10? Jeff brings a bit more physicality and pace to the squad and whether he will be deployed as a centre or forward will be interesting as England have struggled at breakdown when they are not able to control the ball and then have to defend for long periods in games. They are hugely dangerous on turnover ball and Phil Burgess will be key in that area for them. I think losing Watson is not great as he's got a real X-factor and causes a lot if havoc will the ball in hand.
Wales had a good tournament in Australia – reaching the Cup quarters on day two. Scotland again showed glimpses but missed out. Who should we look out for from those two this weekend?
MIKE REPLIES: A new coaching team with Wales this weekend. Former sevens player Nick Wakley comes in to assist Gareth 'Babs' Williams, which I think could be a good cocktail for the Welsh as they will complement each other and add to the squad balance in both an attack and defence-oriented approach. The return of 'The Brain' Lee Williams is the most important thing for Wales from a player point of view as he makes things tick and with the big forwards like Jevon Groves up front, they have a strong breakdown and aerial game. They should qualify from a group that includes South Africa, Portugal and Canada.
Scotland are pretty much the same squad this weekend although a little bigger, so more physicality to win the ball and retain possession. But it’s more about whether they will hit onto the ball in attack with good lines and pace, as that is the issue they need to address. In a group alongside Samoa and NZ, two sides who play a very physical and confrontational game that historically Scotland struggle with – they will have to front up!
NZ are no doubt still smarting after a below-par show in Australia. Should we expect a reaction from Gordon Tietjens men?
MIKE REPLIES: Kurt Baker's return is a big statement and an even bigger one is that Tietjens chose not to pick the dangerous winger Frank Halai, who was in their camp in the build-up to Dubai. New Zealand will be stewing from their Gold Coast performance – going out in the quarter-final doesn't happen very often and they will no doubt will be hugely focused currently sitting outside the top four in the table – a position they are not use to being in! It will be a huge test of their resolve as they are under pressure as a group with the strength of some other squads - especially Fiji, Samoa and South Africa...
Samoa look well and truly back. Tom Iosefo and Afa Aiono are back. Are they a real threat once again?
In simple terms YES! With their authoritarian coach Tafua back in charge, bringing a real focus and discipline to the squad, they are different gravy. He is the father figure of Samoa Sevens they need to ensure they stay on track as a squad. Beware the Samoans – when they are fit and focused their power game is a ‘man test’ for any side.
Kyle Brown is back with the captain’s armband on for The Blitzbokke. Former sevens stars Ryno Benjamin and Cheslin Kolbe also return. Will that give South Africa a real boost?
MIKE REPLIES: South Africa are one of the favourites this weekend. They have strengthened significantly and with Brown – their talisman – returning this adds real balance. I am massively interested in seeing Benjamin returning – a confrontational and physical player who was a star on the sevens circuit a few years ago and never takes a step back. He is able to play upfront or as powerful ball carrier in the centre of the park.
If he can handle the pace it will give them a real point of difference. Kolbe has real X-factor with proper 'naughty feet' and has been turning heads in Super Rugby as well as when he played in the Sevens World Cup 18 months ago. Coach Neil Powell's biggest headache is who is starting sevens will be – and getting the balance right. He has so many options open to him with Seabelo Senatla returning from the Springbok senior tour.
Greg Jeloudev and Allan Fa’alava’au are back for the Aussies. How will that help them? How has new head coach Geraint John impacted Australia Sevens?
MIKE REPLIES: Both will certainly add to the squad Jeloudev is a busy player who works hard to link play and maintain continuity in possession for Australia. He has a good engine on him! Fa’alava’au has X-factor out wide – a big, rangy runner who is light on his feet and all he needs is a one-on-one to either attack himself or manipulate defenders to create an offload opportunity for his support players.
At the moment it's difficult to say what Geraint John is doing differently this series so early on. Australia didn’t seem as efficient at the breakdown on the Gold Coast as they had done previously but that is more because their former coach Michael O’Connor worked a system with players operating in threes whereas John prefers one player clearing out and a third man making a decision from there. Nonetheless, they have quality players with good basics and are a threat to anyone. Not having Jesse Parahi this weekend is a huge loss for them as he is a real physical ball carrier and enforcer - so more pressure on Ed Jenkins and Sam Myers to deliver.
Watch the 2014 World Rugby Dubai Sevens on Sky Sports 3, 5-6th Dec. Click here for details
