Olympic Men’s 7s Preview – Pool A

It’s the Americas – and Fiji – in Pool A of the men’s draw at the Olympic Games. With eight teams moving ahead into the medal quarter finals it’s unlikely to make much of a difference, though it might have been more exciting to see the Americas teams spread out more evenly. Of course the main target will be Fiji, the two-time defending HSBC Sevens Series champions and top seeds in the competition. Can they be unsettled in the pool stages?

 

*cap totals reflect HSBC Sevens Series tournaments attended

 

ARGENTINA

Los Pumas finished in 5th spot on the overall standings, just narrowly ahead of the USA, and have retained the core of their squad with three ‘upgrades’ made from outside the regular group. Matías Moroni has been called in from Super Rugby as a running option in the midfield, and there are two France-based players included – the playmaker Javier Rojas and world class finisher Juan Imhoff.

Argentina are the only team in the tournament with no players at the 100kg (220lbs) mark, and their strategy reflects that. They will look to keep the ball alive at every opportunity and use their footballing skills to create space for the likes of Imhoff, Rodrigo Etchart, and Franco Sábato out wide.

In Bautista Ezcurra and Axel Müller they have two of the stars of this year’s HSBC Series and will not lack ability in attack. The question is can they hold out their larger and more direct opponents? Gold looks beyond their grasp and they should be considered outsiders for medal contention at the start.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Álvarez, Santiago	1.88 6-2	93 205	Feb 17 1994	22	C.A.S.I.
Estellés, Juan Pablo	1.87 6-2	92 200	May 5 1988	4	Atlético del Rosario
Etchart, Rodrigo	1.75 5-9	82 180	Jan 12 1994	19	S.I.C.
Ezcurra, Bautista	1.81 5-11	88 195	Mar 15 1995	10	Hindú
Imhoff, Juan	1.86 6-1	90 200	May 11 1988	2	Racing 92 (FR)
Luna, Fernando	1.90 6-3	95 210	May 12 1990	28	Córdoba Athletic
Moroni, Matías	1.85 6-1	91 200	Mar 29 1991	13	Jaguares
Müller, Axel	1.86 6-1	90 200	Nov 25 1993	21	Marista
Revol, Gastón (capt.)	1.70 5-7	76 165	Nov 26 1986	49	La Tablada
Rojas, Javier	1.72 5-8	85 185	Apr 15 1991	10	Albi (FR)
Sábato, Franco	1.85 6-1	88 195	Jan 13 1990	25	Alumni
Schulz, Germán	1.88 6-2	94 205	Feb 5 1994	18	Tala

 

BRAZIL

The hosts are one of the minnows in the tournament with only Spain ranked lower in world competition. They do have home-field advantage and also a great familiarity with each other. The vast majority of the side has played together in both 7s and XVs for the past year, and in some cases much longer. They will have to make up for a lack of game-time on the HSBC circuit this season, having only appeared in three main draws and the core qualifier in Hong Kong, where they failed to get out of the pool stages.

Two sets of brothers will spark much of the play. Lucas and Moisés Duque will man the centre of the pitch going forward, though captain Lucas will likely spend much time further back as the sweeper in defense. The Sancery twins will also be prevalent, Felipe likely in the forwards and Daniel in the backs. Both are coming off impressive showings in the Americas Rugby Championship but are still inexperienced at this level of sevens. A win for Brazil in the pool stages would be a massive surprise.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Albuquerque, Gustavo	1.72 5-8	85 185	Jun 28 1991	6	Curitiba
Bergo, Arthur	1.88 6-2	95 210	Mar 7 1994	1	S.P.A.C.
Bourda-Couhet, Laurent	1.71 5-7	75 165	Jul 12 1994	3	Bandeirantes
Claro, Felipe	1.70 5-7	79 170	Feb 18 1986	4	S.P.A.C.
Duque, Lucas (capt.)	1.70 5-7	83 180	Mar 15 1984	6	São José
Duque, Moisés	1.75 5-9	87 190	Dec 21 1988	6	São José
Fiori, Juliano	1.91 6-3	107 235	Jun 27 1985	6	Richmond (UK)
Giantorno, Stefano	1.73 5-8	80 175	Sep 17 1991	1	San Luis (AR)
Sancery, Daniel	1.85 6-1	94 205	May 27 1994	2	São José
Sancery, Felipe	1.85 6-1	92 200	May 17 1994	3	São José
Schaefer, Martin	1.83 6-0	96 210	Oct 18 1989	5	S.P.A.C.
Silva, André	1.70 5-7	80 175	Mar 22 1988	5	S.P.A.C.

 

FIJI

For those who follow sevens with any regularity the majority of Fiji’s team need no introduction. Head coach Ben Ryan had the luxury of leaving behind an amazing list of talent who would walk into virtually every other side in the tournament. Fiji have been the best team in the world for two years running and are sending one of the greatest sevens teams ever assembled to compete at Rio.

Their speed and athleticism – to a man – is extraordinary, made even more troublesome by the remarkable size throughout. Leone Nakarawa and Viliame Mata are the biggest men in the competition and both possess startling dexterity. Nakarawa is one of four stars brought into the side playing their rugby overseas – the others being forward Semi Kunatani and gas-men Samisoni Viriviri and Josua Tuisova. Mata and Savenaca Rawaca will head to the UK after the tournament.

Rugby sevens is Fiji’s national sport and while a gold medal hasn’t been rubber-stamped, on paper they are near certainties to win a first ever medal at any event for their island nation.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Domolailai, Apisai	1.93 6-4	98 215	Apr 16 1989	20	Nadroga
Kolinisau, Osea (capt.)	1.83 6-0	90 200	Nov 17 1985	52	Suva
Kunatani, Semi	1.92 6-3	98 215	Oct 17 1990	19	Toulouse (FR)
Mata, Viliame	1.97 6-5	120 265	Dec 22 1991	9	Davetalevu
Nakarawa, Leone	2.01 6-7	119 260	Apr 2 1988	7	Glasgow Warriors (UK)
Ravouvou, Vatemo	1.71 5-7	81 175	Jul 31 1990	21	Nadi
Rawaca, Savenaca	1.89 6-2	105 230	Aug 20 1991	16	Nadroga
Taliga, Kitione	1.86 6-1	87 190	Apr 21 1993	9	Namosi
Tuisova, Josua	1.80 5-11	108 240	Apr 17 1994	2	Toulon (FR)
Tuwai, Jerry	1.74 5-9	81 175	Mar 23 1989	18	Naitasiri
Veremalua, Jasa	1.95 6-5	98 215	May 29 1988	24	Nadroga
Viriviri, Samisoni	1.83 6-0	90 200	Apr 25 1988	24	Montauban (FR)

 

USA

Is it fair to call the Eagles dark horses? It’s at least a testament to the hard work done by the players under the leadership of head coach Mike Friday that they are in the mix for medal contention. Their 6th-place finish on the season matched their best-ever result of a year before, but somehow that doesn’t seem to reflect their potential. Friday has also built up his stable of talent and there are players outside the group who are more than capable of competing on the world stage.

Most of the first-choice side picks itself. Danny Barrett is a firebrand who dreams of the big collisions, and Folau Niua the unpredictable architect in the middle – equal parts genius and madman. The return of Andrew Durutalo from Super Rugby duty adds an immovable object over the ball. Also joining the squad late are Nate Ebner, taking a sabbatical from his NFL career, and former XVs captain Chris Wyles. Neither are expected to be first choice players but both are exemplary professionals who will have important roles to play on and off the field.

At their best the Eagles are one of the most exciting sides in the world. While Fiji are quicker as a team, in Carlin Isles and Perry Baker the USA have the two fastest rugby players at the games. That x-factor alone could be enough to put them into medal contention come Thursday.

NAME	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Baker, Perry	1.85 6-1	83 180	Jun 29 1986	19	USA 7s
Barrett, Danny	1.91 6-3	105 230	Mar 23 1990	23	USA 7s
Bender, Garrett	1.94 6-4	104 230	Dec 2 1991	24	USA 7s
Durutalo, Andrew	1.86 6-1	110 240	Oct 25 1987	30	Sunwolves (JP)
Ebner, Nate	1.83 6-0	100 220	Dec 14 1988	3	USA 7s
Hughes, Madison (capt.)	1.75 5-9	80 175	Oct 26 1992	23	USA 7s
Isles, Carlin	1.73 5-8	76 165	Nov 21 1989	29	USA 7s
Niua, Folau	1.83 6-0	93 205	Jan 27 1985	40	USA 7s
Pinkelman, Ben	1.93 6-4	99 220	Jun 13 1994	7	USA 7s
Test, Zack	1.91 6-3	92 200	Oct 13 1989	62	USA 7s
Unufe, Maka	1.87 6-2	94 205	Sep 28 1991	23	USA 7s
Wyles, Chris	1.83 6-0	93 205	Sep 13 1983	14	Saracens (UK)

 

FIXTURES (all times local Brazil)

TUES, AUG 9 – 13:00 – USA vs Argentina
TUES, AUG 9 – 13:30 – Fiji vs Brazil

TUES, AUG 9 – 18:00 – USA vs Brazil
TUES, AUG 9 – 18:30 – Fiji vs Argentina

WED, AUG 10 – 13:00 – Argentina vs Brazil
WED, AUG 10 – 13:30 – Fiji vs USA