All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens welcomes back star names DJ Forbes and Tim Mikkelson for the next two rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series, starting with the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens next weekend.
Forbes injured his foot during New Zealand’s win in their home event in Wellington last month, while Mikkelson missed both that event and the USA Sevens in Las Vegas due to a groin strain. But while they return, the defending Hong Kong champions will be without Gillies Kaka who broke a hand in round five.
Tietjens has also selected two newcomers in Jordan Bunce, the son of All Blacks legend Frank Bunce, and Lewis Ormond who have both impressed during this week’s training camp in Mt Maunganui.
“It’s great to have DJ and Timmy back in the mix especially for the big games,” said Tietjens. “With two newcomers in the team, having their experience to assist Jordan and Lewis in their first outing is of huge benefit.
“Jordan worked hard this week. He’s great on attack and has worked on his defence so gets his reward. He’s an exciting player for someone so young and certainly has a future in the game. To grow him as a sevens player in Hong Kong is a huge opportunity for us.
YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE
“Lewis scored some great tries this week and really stood out. He’s only been playing three years and as an ex-basketballer he offers lots of height which is good in terms of contesting ball in the air. He’s a forward in sevens, a centre in 15s so brings a great set of skills to the game.
“There’s a lot of youth in the side, but there are some very experienced players going to Hong Kong and that’s the key to our overall performance so we’re very comfortable bringing those younger players in.”
The All Blacks Sevens currently trail Series leaders South Africa by five points going to Hong Kong with the top four finishers come the climax in London in May qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
They will face Scotland in their opening Pool B match on Friday, before tackling Portugal and Australia on Saturday.
“It’s important we start well against Scotland on the first day, then Portugal and Australia on day two. It’s a tough pool, but I believe we have the players to compete well,” added Tietjens.
New Zealand squad: Jordan Bunce*, Dylan Collier, Scott Curry, Ambrose Curtis, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes (captain), Rieko Ioane, Tim Mikkelson, Lewis Ormond*, Sherwin Stowers, Beaudein Waaka, Joe Webber.
* denotes uncapped player
ONE NEW FACE FOR AUSTRALIA
Teenager Brad Wilkin is set for his HSBC Sevens World Series debut after being named in Australia’s 13-man squad for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
The 19-year-old was named Player of the Tournament at the recent National Sevens Championship in Sydney and has impressed coach Geraint John and other management since his transition from the 15s game.
Tom Lucas and Shannon Walker have also been included in the extended squad that will travel to Hong Kong, with Lucas the beneficiary of his form at the National Sevens Championships while playing for Queensland Red earlier this month.
James Stannard (hamstring) and Lewis Holland are unavailable for selection through injury.
“Brad has been knocking on the door for selection ever since he joined the sevens programme,” explained John. “I have been impressed with how he has not only conducted himself on the training pitch but off it too. Brad is an understated character but make no mistake, he has a skillset and edge that I feel will add a lot to the squad.
“Hong Kong is my favourite tournament on the circuit – it’s a packed house, a cracking atmosphere with plenty of quality rugby sevens on view. I’m told quite often that Australia hasn’t won a tournament in Hong Kong for a fair few years – however, we as a group can’t control the past and only the future. We will be playing some of the best sides in the world and that is a challenge we are looking forward to meeting head on.”
Australia sit fourth in the standings with four rounds of the Series to go, albeit only three points clear of England, and will looking for strong performances in Hong Kong and Tokyo the week later in the race to secure qualification for Rio 2016.
Australia squad (one to be omitted): Cameron Clark, Tom Cusack, Allan Fa’alava’au, Con Foley, Pama Fou, Greg Jeloudev, Ed Jenkins (captain), Tom Lucas, Nick Malouf, Sam Myers, Jesse Parahi, Shannon Walker, Bradley Wilkin.
LATE STARTER LYLE HANDED SCOTLAND DEBUT
Fraser Lyle is set to represent Scotland for the first time at any level after being called into his country’s sevens squad for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Lyle’s call-up is one of four changes made by Scotland sevens coach Calum MacRae with Lee Jones, Damien Hoyland and Colin Gregor all returning to the squad after missing the Las Vegas round of the HSBC Sevens World Series last month.
Until November this year, when he was handed a short-term contract by PRO12 outfit Glasgow, Lyle had never played at professional level.
Scotland have been drawn in Pool B in Hong Kong alongside New Zealand and Australia and Portugal, who are currently six places below Scotland in the overall standings in 14th.
“Our live sessions, in training, have been very competitive with some new faces entering the mix, ahead of Hong Kong and Tokyo,” MacRae said. “Our toughest pool to date waits for us in Hong Kong, therefore experience and belief are going to play a big part in how we progress.”
Explaining his changes, MacRae said: “Fraser (Lyle) has acquitted himself very well since entering training. I see him giving the team go forward with his strong running game and he can put it about defensively. At 26, he has clearly grafted to get to this point in his rugby career and I’m sure he will make a lot of people very proud when he takes the field in Hong Kong.
“Lee (Jones) is a real competitor and has the positive mindset to back himself against any player or team he comes up against. He’s a guy you’d take to battle with you.
“James (Fleming) came in and held his hand up in Wellington and Las Vegas with some outstanding defensive efforts to go with the tries he scored at important times. He will challenge Damien Hoyland for the starting jersey. This is a chance for him to back up those performances. Russell (Weir) played with a lot of maturity in Las Vegas. He has an edge that rubs off on the guys around him, not accepting second best.”
NEW ZEALAND FIRST UP
For the second Hong Kong tournament running Scotland face reigning champions New Zealand in their opening game. New Zealand won last year’s fixture 33-0.
MacRae continued: “The New Zealand game will set the tone of the tournament, win, lose or draw. They are a formidable outfit who work hard for each other. We know that delivering on the things we have worked on in training will make us very competitive.
“Portugal throw the ball around well and if teams fail to shut them down they will play right to the wire, as we found out on the Gold Coast when we drew with them.
“They turned Wales over in the Shield final in Las Vegas which showed they are a good team, while the Aussies are a side we have a lot of respect for.
“They play direct when they need go forward, and have intelligent ball players who move you about off the back of that. First up one v one tackles need to be on the money.”
Scotland squad: Scott Riddell, Joseva Nayacavou, Chris Dean, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Damien Hoyland, Nyle Godsmark, Russell Weir, James Fleming, Lee Jones, Fraser Lyle.
