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Preview: IRB Sevens, George

Thursday 04th December 2008

Outeniqua Park Stadium: It's no Twickenham...

The International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens Series moves to George in South Africa this weekend for the second leg of what has already been a fantastic spectacle of rugby in the 2008/09 championship - and it's only Round Two!

With the stunning new Dubai stadium 'The Sevens' enjoying a record-breaking start to life on the opening weekend of this season's Sevens action, George's Outeniqua Park Stadium has a tough ask to match last week's entertainment... but we think it can only get better.

Few would argue that George provides as beautiful a setting as any international rugby event, lying as it does at the foot of the spectacular Outeniqua Mountain range. A small provincial city on the southern Cape coast of South Africa, George is right in the heart of the majestic Garden Route that runs along the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The Outeniqua Park Stadium, rugby home of the South Western District (SWD) Eagles, is modest in scale compared to other vast arenas like Twickenham, Murrayfield, Hong Kong, Dubai and Wellington on the Sevens circuit, but it has its own appealing character: a warm, friendly and intimate atmosphere.

Previous winners include defending champions New Zealand (three times), Fiji (twice) and England, however hosts South Africa are yet to lift the elusive silverware in front of their home crowd in the previous six occasions that George has hosted the event. They came agonisingly close in 2006, only to be pipped at the final hurdle by the Kiwis.

Pool A: New Zealand, England, France, Tunisia

New Zealand's shock Cup semi-final exit in Dubai proved that Gordon Tietjens' troops are in fact beatable. One tends to forget that after the defending champions' 47-game winning streak (eventually ended by South Africa in Adelaide earlier this year), and will give future opposition a glimmer of hope. Their close shave with Kenya also raised a few eyebrows, but the Kiwis will be desperate to make amends for their early wobble with another tournament victory in George. They will have to get past England first though, the same side that knocked them out last week and who came within a whisker of being crowned kings of Dubai. Sweet revenge will surely be on New Zealand's agenda. Tunisia will be hoping they can rekindle the form of 2005, where they reached the Cup quarter-finals of this very same leg of the tournament. They have vanished a bit off the radar since then, but this weekend will no doubt be a chance to be tested against the best. The French too will be out for a better run having come so close in the Pool stages in Dubai, only to lose out on two tournament points with their 0-24 Bowl defeat to European rivals Portugal.

Pool B: South Africa, Australia, United States, Georgia

South Africa won the Dubai title and, not only did they score the most tries (22, equal with New Zealand), they also made the least unforced errors - an average of just three per game - and the most successful tackles, 113 made and only 20 missed for an 82 per cent success rate. However they are still to win more than one event in the same season of IRB Sevens rugby, meaning that they have also never won two in a row. Could this be it? In a Pool which should bring little threat bar Australia (whom South Africa dispatched 19-0 in last week's Cup quarter-final) the hosts should make it to the final. Whether they can go the distance this time out remains to be seen. The USA will enter George for the first time as one of the 'core' teams and will be boosted with a Shield win in Dubai. The USA squad also boasts an expatriated South African: Dallen Stanford.

Pool C: Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, Zimbabwe

Fiji huffed and puffed their way to the Cup semi-finals last week only to be denied a place in the final thanks to a try at the death by South Africa which was duly converted by Mzwandile Stick to force sudden death. The Islanders were then left gobsmacked when Stick's boot again saved the day, this time thanks to a monster drop-goal effort that sent the Fijians packing. Fiji, losing finalists last year in George, kick off the South Africa leg of the IRB Sevens Series against Scotland who looked anything but world-beaters last week. Dubai was a poor opening tournament for the Scots and their fans will bemoan the fact they lost to Kenya, Zimbabwe (Pool C opponents again this week) and USA, as well as struggling to beat hosts, the Arabian Gulf. Argentina could prove to be the surprise package this weekend if things go according to plan.

Pool D: Samoa, Kenya, Wales, Portugal

George's 'Group of Death' lines up last week's Plate finalists (Kenya and winner's Samoa), Bowl winner (Portugal) and Wales (the only side in this Pool not to make a final in Dubai). But that's not to say they won't pose a significant challenge - far from it in fact. They were left in blushes that resembled the same colour of their jersey after being nilled by the Portuguese in the Plate semi-final, and will want to prove their worth just like 'Big brother' did last weekend with a victory over the Wallabies in Cardiff. Like Portugal, the Kenyans continue to impress on the Sevens stage, and should be the team to beat in this Pool. A bold statement I know with the likes of red-hot Samoa on the list. Benjamin Ayimba's side beat England three times in the course of the 2007/08 World Series and also recorded notable wins against Australia, Wales and France en route to finishing seventh in the final standings. Last week, they came within seconds of producing an upset over New Zealand, lost by three points to eventual winners South Africa in the Cup semis, beat the Pumas in the Plate semis, and lost out narrowly to Samoa in the final. Yes, keep a close eye on this talented African bunch.

So who will win? Who knows, with so many countries now so competitive. The rejuvenation of England, the advance of Kenya, the potential of the new Australia squad and even the ability of France and Argentina when on song, added to the well-known and more consistent form of South Africa, New Zealand Samoa and Fiji ensures that the outcome here is gloriously uncertain.

Day One schedule:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT + 2 hours)

Match 1: Fiji v Scotland 11:37
Match 2: Argentina v Zimbabwe 11:59
Match 3: Samoa v Wales 12:21
Match 4: Kenya v Portugal 12:43
Match 5: New Zealand v France 13:05
Match 6: England v Tunisia 13:27
Match 7: South Africa v USA 13:49
Match 8: Australia v Georgia 14:11
Match 9: Fiji v Zimbabwe 14:43
Match 10: Argentina v Scotland 15:05
Match 11: Samoa v Portugal 15:27
Match 12: Kenya v Wales 15:49
Match 13: New Zealand v Tunisia 16:11
Match 14: England v France 16:33
Match 15: South Africa v Georgia 16:55
Match 16: Australia v USA 17:17
Match 17: Scotland v Zimbabwe 17:49
Match 18: Wales v Portugal 18:11
Match 19: France v Tunisia 18:33
Match 20: USA v Georgia 18:55
Match 21: Fiji v Argentina 19:32
Match 22: Samoa v Kenya 19:54
Match 23: New Zealand v England 20:16
Match 24: South Africa v Australia 20:38

George Squads

Argentina: Martin Bustos Moyano, Dino Tomas Caceres, Gonzalo Camacho, Pablo Gomez Cora, Francisco Merello, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Santiago Gomez Cora, Hernan Olivari, Nicolas Bruzzone, Martin Rodriguez, Horacio San Martin, Leonardo Senatore.

Australia: William Bishop, William Brock, Benjamin Coridas, Drumayne Dayberg-Muir, Aiden Toua, Luke Morahan, Richard Kingi, Jonathan Jenkins, Ben Mowen, Peter Betham, Brian Sefanaia, Stanley Hokafonu.

England: Isoa Damu, Greg Barden, Rob Vickerman, Micky Young, James Rodwell, Charlie Simpson-Daniel, Rhys Crane, Mat Turner, Kevin Barrett, Ben Gollings, Tom Biggs, Chris Cracknell.

Fiji: Seremaia Burotu, Etonia Naba, Sailosi Rabonaqica, Rupeni Nasiga, Iliesa Ratuva, Emosi Vucago, Iferi Lavo, Vereniki Goneva, Osea Kolinisau, Ratunaisa Narukutabua, Peni Rokodiva, Lepani Nabuliwaqa.

France: Florent Gibouin, Thomas Combezou, Nicolas Brindel, Eddy Labarthe, Paul Albaladejo, Loic Mazieres, Emile Cailleaud, Maxime Carabignac, Raphael Lagarde, Simon Bouty, Mathieu Acebes, Julien Patey.

Georgia: Simon Maisuradze, Jaba Bregvadze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Bidzina Samkharadze, Beka Tsiklauri, Alexander Todua, Georgi Shkinin, David Chitidze, Alexsandre Tuchashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Alexander Nizharadze, Goderdzi Joglidze.

Kenya: Naftali Ogolla Bondo, Victor Oduor, Cyprian Shimenga, Benedict Nyambu, Wilson Opondo, Humphrey Kayange, Vincent Mose, Brian Nyikuli, Gibson Weru Kahuthia, Lavin Asego, Collins Injera, Horace Otieno.

New Zealand: Paul Grant, Tim Mikkelson, Solomon King, D J Forbes, Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama, Julian Savea, Willie Rickards, Tim Nanai-Williams, Nafi Tuitavake, Alex Tulou, Zar Lawrence.

Portugal: Vasco Uva, Diogo Mateus, Eduardo Acosta, Pedro Leal, Pedro Silva, David Mateus, Aderito Esteves, Tiago Girao, Joao Mirra, Frederico Oliveira, Goncalo Foro, Ricardo Dias.

Samoa: Simaika Mikaele, Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Ofisa Treviranus, Apelu Fa'aiuga, Jerry Meafou, Uale Mai, Lolo Lui, Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Timoteo Iosua, Alatasi Tupou, Mark Tanuvasa.

Scotland: Fraser McKenzie, Roddy Grant, Struan Dewar, Colin Shaw, Chris Fusaro, Tom Bury, Ashleah McCulloch, Rory Hutton, Andrew Easson, Graham Hogg, Grant Anderson, Chris Kinloch.

South Africa: Mpho Mbiyozo, Robert Ebersohn, Frankie Horne, Vuyo Zangqa, Philip Snyman, Kyle Brown, Renfred Dazel, Ryno Benjamin, Paul Delport, Mzwandile Stick, Milo Nqoro, Gio Aplon.

Tunisia: Aymen Gloulou, Mohamed Yousri Souguir, Amine Gharsallah, Sabri Gmir, Lofti Nino, Abbes Kherfani, Mohamed Gara Ali, Seifeddine Hsouna, Mohamed Riahi, Mohamed Mhadbi, Housemeddine Haffar, Jalloul Hali.

USA: Todd Clever, James Gillenwater, Mark Bokhoven, Tui Osborne, Justin Boyd, Chris Wyles, Nese Malifa, Matt Hawkins, Kevin Swiryn, Dallen Stanford, Shalom Suniula, Don Younger.

Wales: Rhodri McAtee, Jason Tovey, Dai Flannagan, James Lewis, David Evans, Tal Selley, Tom Isaacs, Dafydd Hewitt, James Merriman, Craig Hill, Chris Davies, Jimmy Norris.

Zimbabwe: Alex Ndangana, Gordon Pangetti, Grant Mitchell, Gerald Sibanda, Ryan Manyika, Daniel Hondo, Cleopas Makotose, Slater Ndlovu, Gardner Nechironga, Willis Magasa, Tangai Nemadire, Wensley Mbanje.