2016 Olympics

[Thomas Profile]

Naivete got the better of Brazil, England just too clinical.

29 - 3 FINAL SCORE

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

Thought Brazil showed some potential there. Sadly at the moment too many one sided games although it's not through lack of effort.

[Thomas Profile]

Canada came to do the business, very impressed with their performance. Not sure what's happening with Japan.

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

Fiji played well there for the win, USA very unconvincing - good to see a tight game

[Thomas Profile]

I thought the USA nearly got the break for the win... you are right the USA was very unconvincing their defensive decision making opened up for FIJI.

Best game for me thus far

[Canalina Profile]

Scorers after day one

Nathan-Wong NZE 21 1
McAlister NZE 20 4
Woodman NZE 20 4
Farella CAN 20 4
Caslick AUS 20 4
Kelter USA 19 3
Landry CAN 18 2
Dalton AUS 17 1
Ladagnous FRA 15 3
Watmore GBR 15 3
Tonegato AUS 15 3
...

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

The final pool games will tell us more and I haven't checked how the draw might pan out, but an NZ - Aus final looks good.

[sjbret Profile]

On the occasion of the Olympic Games, the first ever published men 7's ranking is on line in les-archives-de-serge.
With only 61 countries, the ranking is partial because it counts World Cup & World Series tournaments only.
http://les-archives-de-serge.over-blog. ... culin.html

I would remind that a women's 7's ranking exists there since july 2012.
http://les-archives-de-serge.over-blog. ... 31036.html

[Thomas Profile]

The final pool games will tell us more and I haven't checked how the draw might pan out, but an NZ - Aus final looks good.

Australia was impressive in dismantling Fiji. Can't discount Canada, looking forward for the game against GB

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Spain is in the quarterfinals after Brazil only could beat Japan 26-10. Las Leonas are far from their best form, but at least reached the Olympic diploma and secured their grants until next Summer Olympics.

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

Canada had a total nightmare game although from the commentary you'd think it was totally down to English, sorry British brilliance!

Neither team look gold medal final material on this.

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

USA vs Australia - classic! That should convert some sceptics about the womens game.

[Thomas Profile]

Some harsh decisions against the US in the first half, should have scored in the first 6 minutes when they had Australia on the ropes and lucky for them to get away with a draw.

Britain just didn't look fluid.

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

Medal 1/4 finals with KO at Rio time

QF1: Australia v Spain (1700 = 2000 GMT )
QF2: Canada v France (1730)
QF3: Great Britain v Fiji (1800)
QF4: New Zealand v USA (1830)


WSS Playoff ( winner only gains core team place )

Brazil v Columbia (1600)
Kenya v Japan (1630)

[Thomas Profile]

Medal 1/4 finals with KO at Rio time

QF1: Australia v Spain (1700 = 2000 GMT )
QF2: Canada v France (1730)
QF3: Great Britain v Fiji (1800)
QF4: New Zealand v USA (1830)




WSS Playoff ( winner only gains core team place )

Brazil v Columbia (1600)
Kenya v Japan (1630)

My predictions for the quarterfinals:

Australia
Canada
Great Britain
USA ( THIS IS MY WILD CARD choice) if they can replicate the form they used against Australia anything is possible

WSS PLAY OFF:
Brazil
Kenya (not convinced on Japan)

[tryman Profile]

Some cracking quarter finals later today.

Reckon GB V Fiji will be the game of the round. Canada V France will be brilliant too.

Will be interesting to see how the USA get on. Special mention for Spain for getting to the quarter finals, well done.

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

Well Japan suddenly found their feet to set up the playoff with Brazil.

[Armchair Fan Profile]

It will be hard to explain to those not used to rugby that Spain did its best match in a 24-0 defeat... Finally an excellent reason to be proud of Las Leonas in Rio.

[Thomas Profile]

Leonas should have taken their chances in the first half, you are right the result doesn't reflect the game by any means. Charlotte was the key game make for the Aussies. Leonas have some good players there.

Canada did what they have to do. they absorbed the French pressure and then just had to fight back. silly penalties cost the French team.

1st Semi-Final Canada V Australia very intriguing.

GB look very good and clinical they may just win the tournament. NZ look shaky USA should have put the Kiwis to the sword especially during the yellow card they would be kicking themselves.

2nd Semi-Final GB v NZ

[Canalina Profile]

Top scorers after day 2 (according to my calculations, I haven't found the official one)

Tonegato AUS 30 points
Caslick AUS 30
Woodman NZE 30
Nathan-Wong NZE 27
Farella CAN 25
McAlister NZE 25
Dalton AUS 23
Landry CAN 23
Richardson GBR 23
Watmore GBR 20

[Ser Podrick of Payne Profile]

It's Brazil who win the WSS Core Team place with a 33 - 5 win over Japan. It was a very close first half but Brazil used the chip and chase very well in the second half, so it's a nice triumph for the home team and support.

Colombia earlier scored their first tries of the games but messed up a bit when having a one player advantage and in the lead, then Kenya scored a equalising try and had a very good second half to win 11th place 22 - 10.

The crowd is a bit small again but as ever with the long 7s days they always seem to build up some time after the games have started, and more certainly came in for the Brazil game.

Spain look a bit tired in their match with France, two quick scores against them. Wonder if a few will call it quits after this to go out at the top as a few are 30 years of age +. Could be a time to rebuild in the next 4 years. Two tries at the end for them made the score more respectable.

[victorsra Profile Website]

WE MADE IT!!!!!!

It is Women's Rugby 3-0 Men's Football (number of victories)

[mulu Profile]

It's Brazil who win the WSS Core Team place with a 33 - 5 win over Japan. It was a very close first half but Brazil used the chip and chase very well in the second half, so it's a nice triumph for the home team and support.

Colombia earlier scored their first tries of the games but messed up a bit when having a one player advantage and in the lead, then Kenya scored a equalising try and had a very good second half to win 11th place 22 - 10.

The crowd is a bit small again but as ever with the long 7s days they always seem to build up some time after the games have started, and more certainly came in for the Brazil game.

Spain look a bit tired in their match with France, two quick scores against them. Wonder if a few will call it quits after this to go out at the top as a few are 30 years of age +. Could be a time to rebuild in the next 4 years. Two tries at the end for them made the score more respectable.

The crowd is shocking and reminds me very much on the women's world series. World Rugby needs to invest much more in the women's rugby to make it more competitive and thus make it more exciting for spectators.

For me Rio so far is a massive disappointment (from a rugby perspective). 30 min slots for each game (in contrast to the 22 which work perfectly on the series), a empty stadium in the middle of nowhere (read an article that it is very smelly too), apparently massive problems with the transports for both fans and players, a very boring competition in the group stages (the gap between top 4-5 and the rest is 30-50 points).

Let's hope for a cracking final which attracts the crowd the teams deserve and for a massive men's tournament, otherwise Rugby can easily be kicked out of the Olympics post 2020.

[tryman Profile]

To be fair I'm watching diving now and there's loads of empty seat. There appears to be empty seats at all events. I think the men's 7s will be closer to being full. That said your right World Rugby need to do a hell of a lot more for women 7s and have a proper 8 event World Series. I think they have just 4 last year.

[Thomas Profile]

Victors stated elsewhere that the venue is in the back of Rio, currently watching the gymnasts and diving. the ground at rugby has been very empty. not taking nothing away from some of the teams, WR needs to put pressure on the likes of Sudamerica Rugby to invest in the women's program and not consider it and afterthought.

I just came back from a business trip away from Rugby but my observations shows that there are enough female players to get something started either in 10's or a small XV league.

You cannot live on 7's Rugby alone and it has shown in this tournament.