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A pair of Eagles have been named to the official 2016-17 HSBC Sevens Series Dream Team. Announced on Sunday, the team recognizes the best players across the globe for their performances over the entirety of the HSBC Series. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Americas players have been named in the team.
Selected for the first time is Eagles forward Danny Barrett. Despite missing the final two stops with injury, Barrett’s combination of brute force and offloading ability earned him Dream Team selections at the Sydney, Las Vegas, and Singapore tournaments. As one of the premier power forwards on the circuit his inclusion comes as no surprise.
For the first time ever an Americas player has been included for two consecutive seasons with the selection of star winger Perry Baker. The 30-year-old enjoyed a sensational season, doubling as the overall leader in both tries and points scored. He was a tournament Dream Team pick in Vancouver, Hong Kong, Singapore, and London. Baker’s ever-improving vision and aerial skills have enhanced his status as one of the most popular players in the shortened game.
Blitzbokke hard-man Chris Dry and Fijian newcomer Kalione Nasoko are the other two forwards selected. Dry’s inclusion is something of a redemption after his startling omission from the South African Olympic team. Nasoko meanwhile while certainly impressing is something of a surprise considering another forward, Argentina’s Matías Osadczuk, was named as the circuit’s Rookie of the Year ahead of the Fijian.
Superstar playmakers Jerry Tuwai of Fiji and Rosko Specman of South Africa are selections that will come with few objections. Rounding out the side is all-time try-scoring leader Dan Norton from England. While Norton’s excellence is undeniable, the selection of two out-and-out wingers in Baker and Norton comes at the expense of a proper center.
Those who could justifiably feel hard done by are South Africa’s Werner Kok and Canadian star Justin Douglas. Kok was a key part of South Africa’s dominant overall Series title while Douglas progressed from promising to top class over the course of the season, shining in both attack and defense.
Previous selections to the overall HSBC Sevens Series Dream Team include Canadians John Moonlight (2013-14) and Phil Mack (2013-14), USA stalwart Zack Test (2014-15), and Baker (2015-16).
