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There is so much rugby going on that there is very little time. As well as the Super Rugby Pacific, the U20 Rugby Championship begins on Thursday. Amid rugby’s overdose, it is no surprise that the next round of the World Rugby HSBC SVNS Series in Singapore will be held without fanfare.
Here’s a quick hit ahead of the women’s first match when they take on Brazil at 2.50pm (AEST) on Friday.
The tournament is held in Singapore, so it’s a pretty good time to enjoy a game or two.
Some context. This is the sixth and final tournament in the SVNS series, with a winner-take-all final taking place in Madrid on May 31. After the Singapore tournament, the top eight teams will battle it out for the overall SVNS Series title. (The bottom four teams will face the top four teams in the Challenger Series to see which four teams will qualify for next season’s SVNS Series.)
There is quite a bit to check for the Australian sevens team, especially the women’s team.
Australian Sevens – Men
The Australian men’s team is sixth in the standings, but it’s not great. Guys need to have some consistency. That said, the men’s series is very competitive.
The highlight for Waratahs supporters was seeing Teddy Wilson’s debut. He didn’t get much game time with the Tahs for some reason. Anyway, I’m sure he’ll be fine in Sevens.
The men will have more challenges in the pool with both Argentina, who have won three tournaments so far, and New Zealand, who won in Hong Kong. Additionally, their best playmaker and star, Maurice Longbottom, was eliminated. On the other hand, we find out where Michael Hooper is in his transition to the Sevens. Although he performed quite well in his debut match in Hong Kong, it will still be a difficult challenge to make the Olympic team. There are not many seats available.
Michael Hooper. (Photo caption: World Rugby)
Keep an eye out for Michael Icely. He has been involved with the Sevens program for several years and has looked quite good in Hong Kong. And he also won the Shute Shield’s Ken Catchpole medal last season.
Australian Sevens – Women
The women’s national team is really very different. There is no Charlotte Caslick. Something like that has happened before. Neither is Sharni Smale. Something like that has happened before. But there is neither Caslick nor Smale. Now that hasn’t happened in a long time. Smale has just had her gallbladder taken out and Caslick has some issues that her team is managing so they can be ready for Madrid and the Olympics. Coach Tim Walsh called it rehab and prehab.
So this tournament has a new captain at the helm: 23-year-old manly mermaid Madison Ashby. In fact, she always came across as a waiting captain. Like Caslick, she is focused and competitive. Without any research, over the last eight years I can only recall Shannon Parry, Sharni Williams, Charlotte Caslick and Demi Hayes having captained the team (although I think Emilee Cherry may have captained the team at some stage).
Ashby will meet the challenge and a half. Not only is the team without two of its most experienced players, but they are also without Bienne Terita and Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea. These two players in particular allow more opportunity and variety for the women to play through the middle rather than just left or right.
But next to him is Lily Dick, who will bring some much-needed physical prowess alongside Bella Nasser.
The squad will see several inexperienced players, including Bridget Clark, Ruby Nicholas and Sidney Taylor, get a chance to step up and showcase their skills once again.
The women need to be at the top of the pool, but it’s still an interesting competition in Brazil, Fiji and England. None of them are classified as easy competitions. The Australian women only beat Fiji in Hong Kong and lost to England in Perth.
Charlotte Caslick will not play for Singapore Sevens. (Photo credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
So Australian women will be in for a fascinating watch this weekend.
Sydney’s weather is definitely not Singapore sling weather, so enjoy a Singapore Sevens with a hot chocolate or whiskey.
By the way, the New Zealanders are the favorites to win the tournament. The New Zealand women’s team has been on a roll, winning the last three tournaments, while the New Zealand men’s team has turned its season around with a win over Hong Kong.
Date and time to add to calendar
HSBC SVNS Singapore – Australia Women’s Match
Pool C
Friday May 3rd
Australia v Brazil – 2.50pm (AEST)
Australia v England – 8:05pm (AEST)
Saturday May 4th
Australia v Fiji – 2.50pm (AEST)
HSBC SVNS Singapore – Australia Men’s Match
Pool A
Friday May 3rd
Australia v Argentina – 4:42pm (AEST)
Australia v Canada – 10:14pm (AEST)
Saturday May 4th
Australia v New Zealand – 5.12pm (AEST)
Australian Women’s Sevens Team at SVNS, Singapore
1. Lily Dick
3. Faith Nathan
4. Dominique du Toit
5. Teagan Levy
6. Madison Ashby (c)
8. Kaitlyn Shave
9. Aunt Heinz
10. Bela Nasser
12. Madison Levy
14. Bridget Clark
23. Ruby Nicholas
65. Sariah Parkey
98. Sydney Taylor
Australian Men’s Sevens Team at SVNS, Singapore
1. Henry Hutcheson
2. Ben Dowling
3. Henry Palmer
4. Dietrich Cockroach
6. Henry Patterson
10. Nick Maloof (c)
12. Nathan Lawson
14. James Turner
18. James McGregor
25. Hayden Sargent
30. Teddy Wilson
77. Michael Hooper
87. Michael Isley
