JP Morgan 7s

First topic message reminder :

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/jpmsevens/

The new season must be getting close as tonight is the first round of the AP pre season 7 s tournament.

We're starting off at the Twickernham Stoop with Quins, Wasps, LI and Sarries all competing for that all important ticket to the finale on the 3rd of August at the Wreck.

So, who are we looking out for, which are the ones to watch?

bluestonevedder wrote:Damn. Those 3 squads are a real shame to be honest. COnsidering the quality of the 4 squads last friday. There were some massive names in them, and it feels like a bit of a cop-out.

Exactly. I am not expecting everyone to do a London Irish - their squad was ridiculous. A good balance like Quins or Sarries had would have been good though. A well known name or two would instantly make an impact.

For example Saints could have played Cato and Armitiev. Tigers - Ford,M.Young. Sale - Seymour,Cipriani, London Welsh could have thrown in tango man etc.

Given Ben Youngs is out until October there was never any way in hell Cockers was going to risk either of Micky Young or Sam Harrison at this event, he hasn't even sent along 4th choice Scott Steele which shows how protective of his 9s he is. Ford was always unlikely as he is seens as fairly key, Cornwall is the back up 10/12/13/15 ahead of the new season so he was about as close to a playmaker as were going to risk.

Having said that I wouldn't have minded seeing one or two more well known players. Oh, well I get to catch up on the bright young things coming through.

Very disappointed. Talking of Sale, wasn't there a rumour Cipriani was going to be named in the Sale squad? I would have loved to have seen that.

bluestonevedder,
I think that would have been good for Cirpriani. Really make him kick in and be in shape for the season. And would have been fun to see him play, too.

Hi Doctor,

Yeh I agree. I would have been interested in seeing how creative Cips was in a 7s environment. Part of me thinks he could have flourished and really put on a great display. I would have been interested to see how his defence is now too, since there's less room for error on the 7s scene.

London Welsh could be the bolter in this pool - all the teams are scratch in terms of 7's, but Welsh seem to have selected a load of 7's specialists who should gel fairly well. Not a bad ploy to choose a couple of Army Fijians too.

Only Michael Hills, former England 7's player, is from Welsh, remainder are guest players

.

Is that within the rules?

Bit of a joke really - something tells me that perhaps they hav'nt thought this promotion business all the way through.

Anyone seen the Bath squad yet?

Bathite, Bath's pool games aren't until next week, and the squads are named relatively late on. Probably expect them to name theirs in about a week or so.

Fair enough, I doubt we will name any big players though, our squad last year didn't even include our better academy boys who were on the edge of the first team

Yeh, judging by the squads named today for friday's games, I don't think the teams next week will name a fancy squad either. I'm deifnitely predicting the winning side to come from pool 1- their squads are just a class above. Bath could put a nice squad together if they wanted to mind, what with Biggs, Heathcote, Barkley. Banahan....

I would be interested to see how Guy Mercer would get on in a 7s tournament- think he could be a real handful.

Yep, Mercer would be an ideal hooker in 7s, not too sure about Barkley though, he's not the quickest these days. I'd love to see

Louw - Mercer - Banahan

Cook - Heathcote

Abendanon - Biggs

Banahan and Biggs both England 7s players and the rest look useful!

Yeh, that's a great looking squad. Abendanon would be quality- completely forgot about him. Let's hope they name a squad similar to this!!

I'd be willing to bet quite a bit that not a single one of those players will be in the squad.

The other guys I'd love to see involved are Olly Woodburn and Kyle Eastmond, both of which have the best chance of being in a squad. Eastmond would be immense at 7s!

Haha, yeh Eastmond would be unbelievable. He could be a good inclusion actually, given his limited appearances last season...you reckon this could be his pre-season start?

If we were going for first team 7s:

Manu, T Youngs, de Carpienter

B Youngs, Ford

Tait, Lewington

The Youngs brothers, de Carpienter and Tait have all played England sevens, Lewington captains the Tigers 7s team normally, Manu would just be a wrecking ball and Ford just his vision and skill set.

Incredible squad Sam. T.Youngs and Manu would just tear it up, and eveyone knows of Tait's quality. Would be interesting to get everyone's 'ultimate club 7s' team for this competition. Maybe posters from other teams could put of theirs?

I wouldn't have the Sale team was THAT weak. Quite a few guys were first teamers (starters or bench players).

Interesting to see Rees playing. Is that Tom Rees ex-Wasp? Because if he can play this comp, I'm sure he can play University rugby!

Guessing you might possibly be playing university rugby with Rees then Chequered??!

Well he supposedly going to study medicine at my Uni

So i've heard. You play rugby there then? Should definitely try and poach him

I share my time between rugby and rowing and we will definitely try and convince him to play for us!

Pretty jealous. Reckon he's a top bloke, and would dominate university-league games. Keep us up to date!! Might be good to come and catch a game if you persuade him to play!

Remember that Sarries won the Melrose Sevens this year when Kelly Brown took a team up. Mostly first VII with some second stringers but they played some beautiful stuff.

It'll be interesting to see if Sarries open it up more in the XVs this year as they're certainly capable.

I hope they've seen from their disappointing end of last season that their more conservative tactics can be exploited and look ineffective against confident teams capable of periods of all out attack. Against te top sides, at least, they will need to try something different to succeed

They certainly are Hammer, I think a slight issue was that they lost to Tigers in the AP final when playing good attacking rugby but won when playing that horribly dull kick and defend stuff. The old "if it ain't broke don't fix it" came in and they didn't kick on last season.

I expect this season they may do better. They certainly have the players.

If they play in a more attacking fashion, the following backline will sure scare defences:

Goode
Ashton
Tomkins
Barritt
Short
Hodgson
De Kock

Subs- Spencer, Farrell, Wyles

If they do play 'better' and Farrell has moved on........bodes well for England

Dunn has pulled out of the Tigers squad and is replaced by former England under 18 centre/wing Luke Jones (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18243381). Bit of a blow as Dunn has more experience of being at Tigers than Jones who is a recent acquisition for the academy.

Matt Cornwall the Tigers captain for the night has talked up Lewington ahead of this evening. The footballing skills and pace of the winger/full back catching the eye. It would be good if Lewington could continue his upward arc after shining in the academy initially he went missing for a season before showing a bit at Notts and then shining for the Tigers in the LV Cup last season (beautiful try against Quins and a great performance against Bath).

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Matt-Cornwell-relishing-leading-Leicester-Tigers/story-16567596-detail/story.html

Sounds like I might be pleasantly surprised. Biggs and eastmond definitely playing the the sevens along with 'some youngsters' and 'some older heads' but the whole squads is available! Interesting

Blimey sounds like Bath are going all out for a victory then. A Bath vs LI game on finals night could be interesting.

Could be interesting if the 'youngsters' included Cook, Woodburn and the sizeable young centre (Williams?).

Yeah it is Williams, but he's probably injured again

I reckon Cook and Woodburn might not be involved, as both are pretty key squad players, I think by youngster he means the next set of kiddies

I hope Bath do play a strong team. It means they'll be at least 3 sides in the final actually trying to win the tournament.

Hopefully in the final Saracens play this side:

Brits,Wray,Joubert

Spencer,Mordt

Wyles,Short

Rest of squad - Spurling, Itoje,Baldwin,Strettle,Ashton

Very strong looking squad that beshocked. Would be a great watch. I'd be interested to see how Ashton performs in 7s, not sure if he's played it before?

I am not sure if he has. That's why Ashton would be on the bench.

Short,Wyles and Strettle all have more sevens experience.

Even If they only add Wyles to the final squad I will be happy. He's very elusive if nothing else.

In my opinion there wasn't enough pace in the team that took part in the recent London stage. Only Short was the clear threat out wide.

Of course Goode could be thrown in too. I expect a strong side anyway.

No one watching today, eh?

really like LW strip. Might buy it

plus they are awesome!

Same here McKay. If I can scratch the cash it may have to be an investment. Good to see LW doing a decent job out there.

Did I catch what the commentators right? That many of the LW squad are not really contracted to LW?

They were mostly invited players apparently

Well thank God they rsvp'd

As a Sale fan, plenty of talent on show there - we are taking it semi-seriously. Bordill, Easter, Cliff, Addison, Brady, Leota, Amesbury all played first team rugby last season and Jennings is a star of the future. Not a lot you can do about Welsh who will go into final as favourites.

How come London Welsh are now rated as favourites?

We have not yet seen the squads that will contest the final.

It will be interesting to test the question - which is more potent - a team of 7 specialists who are virtually unknown outside 7s vs much higher profile XV players?

Didn't see this coming, but Glaws have named a very strong side. As we're hosting you'd expect some first teamers, but not this...

Matt Cox, Huia Edmonds, Shane Monahan, Gareth Evans, Rob Langley, Mike Tindall, Dan Robson, Henry Trinder, Ross Moriarty, Freddie Burns, Jonny May, Ian Clark

Still not happy its on a Thursday night though, stupid Olympics

Mike Tindall? Really? That's funny, I think.
Can't wait to see run trundle through some nice little 21 year old lad (after which that 21 year old lad might simply run around him).

mckay1402 wrote:Well thank God they rsvp'd

What is their squad?

HKC you didn't see it coming?In the media - Gloucester have been saying "we'll put out a strong squad".

Noticed yet again there are no players who took part in summer tours. Are they not allowed to play?

Tindall seems like a strange choice. One of the slowest centres around these days.

Looks like a good squad though. Interesting to see how Huia Edmonds does for you.

Aren't Bath going to play a decent squad too? Should make things spicy!