Olympic Men’s 7s Preview – Pool C

Perhaps the best chance for an upset comes in Pool C. New Zealand have not been at their best this season, Great Britain have been thrown together in a matter of weeks, Kenya won in Singapore and have played magnificent rugby at times, and even Japan has had their moments. Every game will be brutally contested, making whoever emerges a possible favorite for gold but also battered and beaten.

 

*cap totals reflect HSBC Sevens Series tournaments attended

 

GREAT BRITAIN

Like their women’s counterparts, this team is built around the English side though it does borrow two players each from Wales and Scotland. Sam Cross and Mark Robertson are established leaders in their respective sides, while James Davies and Mark Bennett have been drafted in from the Guinness Pro 12. Former England 7s stars Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Marcus Watson have also been roped in after spending the best part of the year playing XVs with their Aviva Premiership clubs.

The guys of the side are household names in the sevens world. James Rodwell is a beacon at the lineout and restarts, captain Tom Mitchell a fearless competitor and director, and Dan Norton among the best try merchants in the game. Lesser lights Dan Bibby and Phil Burgess are so by name comparison only – their on-field performances are rarely short of first class.

It’s always difficult to pull together unfamiliar players in such a short amount of time, and many have called Great Britain’s preparations rushed and inadequate. There is no denying the talent in the side, and if coach Simon Amor can fit the pieces together they could well be a surprise package.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Bennett, Mark	1.83 6-0	90 200	Feb 3 1993	2	Glasgow Warriors
Bibby, Dan	1.80 5-11	86 190	Feb 6 1991	25	England 7s
Burgess, Phil	1.85 6-1	95 210	Jul 1 1988	22	England 7s
Cross, Sam	1.90 6-3	100 220	Aug 26 1992	27	Wales 7s
Davies, James	1.83 6-0	102 225	Dec 25 1990	13	Scarlets
Lindsay-Hague, Ollie	1.81 5-11	83 180	Oct 8 1990	15	Harlequins
McConnochie, Ruaridh	1.90 6-3	93 205	Oct 23 1991	9	England 7s
Mitchell, Tom (capt.)	1.78 5-10	87 190	Jul 22 1989	34	England 7s
Norton, Dan	1.80 5-11	85 185	Mar 22 1988	57	England 7s
Robertson, Mark	1.88 6-2	95 210	Dec 30 1984	47	Scotland 7s
Rodwell, James	1.96 6-5	105 230	Aug 23 1984	69	England 7s
Watson, Marcus	1.77 5-10	86 190	Jun 27 1991	32	Newcastle Falcons

 

JAPAN

Newly re-established as a core team on the HSBC Sevens Series, the Japanese have rewarded their players by selecting virtually the same side with the only change the addition of RWC 2015 winger Kenki Fukuoka in place of Chihito Matsui. The settled squad means the team should be well prepared. Whether that translates into success on the biggest stage has yet to be seen.

Size is never a strength of Japanese sides but the presence of three players of Pacific Island heritage helps combat the deficit. Fijian exports Kameli Soejima and Lote Tuqiri should be found among the forwards, while Lemeki Lomano is a danger man in the midfield. It’s speed that makes this team dangerous, with Fukuoka the biggest threat but nearly every player capable of breaking the line.

Japan will be tabbed for 4th spot in the pool but have the capacity to cause an upset if their more fancied opponents are not on their toes. Otherwise the 9th place finals look their destination.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Fukuoka, Kenki	1.75 5-9	85 185	Sep 7 1992	2	Panasonic Wild Knights
Goto, Teruya	1.77 5-10	80 175	Dec 18 1991	4	N.E.C. Green Rockets
Goya, Kazuhiro	1.70 5-7	77 170	Apr 21 1993	12	Kubota Spears
Hano, Kazushi	1.85 6-1	87 190	Jun 21 1991	13	N.T.T. Shining Arcs
Hikosaka, Masakatsu	1.77 5-10	92 200	Jan 18 1991	12	Toyota Verblitz
Kuwazuru, Yusaku (capt.)	1.90 6-3	97 215	Oct 23 1985	31	Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Lemeki, Lomano	1.79 5-10	95 210	Jan 20 1989	14	Honda Heat
Sakai, Katsuyuki	1.72 5-8	88 195	Sep 7 1988	23	Toyota Shokki
Soejima, Kameli	1.90 6-3	94 205	Jun 1 1983	8	Genkai Tangaroa
Tokunaga, Yoshitaka	1.85 6-1	100 220	Apr 10 1992	3	Toshiba Brave Lupus
Toyoshima, Shohei	1.73 5-8	85 185	Jan 9 1989	11	Toshiba Brave Lupus
Tuqiri, Lote	1.88 6-2	98 215	Nov 12 1987	20	Kubota Spears

 

KENYA

The crowd favorites are not just here to be entertainers. One of their strongest ever lineups will make even New Zealand work hard for success. Kenya play with so much energy it’s like being forced to play an extra final in itself. With the extraordinary Humphrey Kayange and Willy Ambaka dominant in the air, teams must be accurate or risk being starved of possession.

From top to bottom this is a solid, physical team with even playmakers Biko Adema and Augustine Lugonzo capable of sticking a tackle. Collins Injera is a human highlight reel in himself and then there’s the bulldozing power of Oscar Ouma to go with hard and fast runners in Billy Odhiambo and Dennis Ombachi. Kenya shocked the world with their win in Singapore, can they do it again in Rio?

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Adema, Biko	1.77 5-10	85 185	Sep 1 1987	54	Nondescripts
Ambaka, Willy	1.93 6-4	100 220	May 14 1990	29	Harlequin
Amonde, Andrew (capt.)	1.90 6-3	104 230	Dec 25 1983	48	K.C.B.
Ayodi, Oscar	1.85 6-1	94 205	Sep 21 1989	26	Homeboyz
Injera, Collins	1.82 6-0	90 200	Oct 18 1986	66	Mwamba
Kayange, Humphrey	1.98 6-6	106 235	Jul 20 1982	67	Mwamba
Lugonzo, Augustine	1.72 5-8	86 190	Jul 29 1992	10	Homeboyz
Mwale, Bush	1.85 6-1	93 205	Nov 14 1993	13	Homeboyz
Odhiambo, Billy	1.85 6-1	95 210	Nov 7 1993	27	Strathmore Leos
Oliech, Samuel	1.85 6-1	92 200	Dec 15 1993	6	Impala
Ombachi, Dennis	1.89 6-2	98 215	Dec 14 1991	22	Mwamba
Ouma, Oscar	1.83 6-0	105 230	Mar 3 1989	32	Nakuru

 

NEW ZEALAND

The traditional powerhouse has not been at its best this season. Injuries and and changes nearly every tournament hampered Sir Gordon Tietjens and yet through it all his team still finished in 3rd overall. They field the biggest, most powerful lineup in the competition and will be an immense challenge for anyone.

Added to the legendary D.J. Forbes and Tim Mikkelson are the Ioane brothers, with giant Akira a steam engine when he gets going and Rieko slightly smaller but faster on his feet. Sonny Bill Williams has had some time to adjust to the sevens game and looks better with each tournament, and there are specialist stars in Joe Webber and Gillies Kaka to pull the strings, with Augustine Pulu also fit again to challenge.

New Zealand have depth, pedigree, and huge physicality. They also have weaknesses. Their competitiveness can lead to discipline issues and their stars can sometimes take it on themselves too much. They are also perhaps a little short in world class speed, something that could come back to haunt them. Look for the men in black to be standing right in the middle of the medal hunt on Thursday.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Curry, Scott (capt.)	1.93 6-4	100 220	May 17 1988	31	Bay of Plenty
Dickson, Sam	1.93 6-4	101 220	Oct 18 1989	29	Canterbury
Forbes, D.J.	1.87 6-2	104 230	Dec 15 1982	79	Counties Manukau
Ioane, Akira	1.95 6-5	113 250	Jun 16 1995	9	Auckland
Ioane, Rieko	1.93 6-4	102 225	Mar 18 1997	10	Auckland
Kaka, Gillies	1.85 6-1	90 200	May 28 1990	30	Hawke’s Bay
Mikkelson, Tim	1.94 6-4	103 225	Aug 13 1986	62	Waikato
Ormond, Lewis	1.93 6-4	100 220	Feb 5 1994	8	Taranaki
Pulu, Augustine	1.81 5-11	90 200	Jan 4 1990	6	Counties Manukau
Ware, Regan	1.84 6-0	94 205	Aug 7 1994	9	Waikato
Webber, Joe	1.83 6-0	96 210	Aug 27 1993	23	Waikato
Williams, Sonny Bill	1.93 6-4	108 240	Aug 3 1985	6	Counties Manukau

 

FIXTURES (all times local Brazil)

TUES, AUG 9 – 12:00 – Great Britain vs Kenya
TUES, AUG 9 – 12:30 – New Zealand vs Japan

TUES, AUG 9 – 17:00 – Great Britain vs Japan
TUES, AUG 9 – 17:30 – New Zealand vs Kenya

WED, AUG 10 – 12:00 – Kenya vs Japan
WED, AUG 10 – 12:30 – New Zealand vs Great Britain