TV commentator KEITH QUINN gives World Rugby his thoughts on the fifth round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
When I look back on three days of glorious sevens rugby in Las Vegas, naturally I have to look back to the players from the winning team, Fiji.
Added to the individual performances of the players on the field was the backdrop of the disastrous cyclone that happened in Fiji just two weeks before the tournament and I have to take my hat off to them.
I look to the leadership of that team with captain Osea Kolinisau, and to both Pio and Jerry Tuwai, and players such as Kitione Taliga who sprinted away in the grand final having only just joined the tournament and know that any other lesser Fijian team would have folded under the pressure put on them by that fine Australian team, who were 15-0 up at half time.
Apart from those guys the likes of Sam Myers, who in every game of the six they played in with his distinctive white headband, was a driving force and was a key reason that Australia made the final.
The question for this week in Vancouver is that Fiji have been to the mountain top and won in Vegas, but will there be a drop off going into Canada? That’s an issue to discuss. Personally I hope they can continue to play as they were, as they are so delightful to watch. They are eye-catching and spectacular in the way they play and I hope they can keep it going.
Another key focus was Kenya. Humphrey Kayange and Collins Injera have been playing together since they were on the back yard back home and that is clear for all to see. They raised their game yet again in America and that victory over New Zealand, 22-0, was one of the wins of the series as New Zealand were placed top equal coming here but they were just rolled aside by Kenya. It just underscores that Kenya, when they are in the mood with the right setting and support, they still score amazing wins which thrill the sevens world.
One thing that puzzled me in Vegas though was England. It’s one of the mysteries of the event. England are usually so authoritative in Las Vegas. It’s the same personnel who have battled through to the fifth tournament but then they had a real collapse this year in Vegas.
I was also disappointed by the performance of the All Blacks. Yes they finished with some silverware but they were not the force they were back in Wellington and Sydney. I think Gordon Tietjens and Simon Amor will be looking to rejig their teams for future events and they have got to as they can’t afford to have these flat performances.
In Canada it will be intriguing to see how these tams perform, and also the Canadian team, who have slipped down the series to 13th. They will have to bring their best game for their supporters who will be expecting them to produce a great home tournament.
There’s a lot of intrigue around the Canadian tournament, and following some new initiatives in Las Vegas such as the artificial turf, it will be good to see how this works in Vancouver as not only will they have the turf but also the roof. The wind, which was such a huge part in Las Vegas, will not be in Vancouver. We can hope for real running rugby over the weekend and we’re all looking forward to seeing how the tournament debuts.
