Preview: Dubai 7s

When Ireland and Japan were promoted to the World Series in Dublin in August, the 2015-16 World Sevens Series looked like being the best yet. However World Rugby’s surprise announcement earlier this month that the Series would be reduced from six rounds last year to possibly four, or as we have since discovered at best five (and without any official explanation) was not the sort of launch that was anticipated.

Nonetheless, the eleven core teams plus guests Brazil are in Dubai – so how are the runners and riders looking, and can anyone stop New Zealand making it four series wins from four?

With a shortened series, the opening round will be all the more crucial, and as several teams have discovered in past series, a poor performance in the opening round is very hard to recover from as it inevitably results in a low seeding and tough draws in later rounds.

Pool A

New Zealand

Squad:Ruby Tui (Canterbury); Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau); Jordon Webber (Waikato); Sarah Goss (Captain) (Manawatu); Gayle Broughton (Taranaki); Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland); Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty); Katarina Whata-Simpkins (Wellington ); Portia Woodman (Auckland); Niall Williams (Auckland); Michaela Blyde (Taranaki); Shiray Tane (Waikato).

The champions begin with several players missing due to injury, including Charlotte Scanlan (shoulder), Kayla McAlister (foot), Stacey Waaka (shoulder), Lesley Ketu (ankle), Alexis Tapsell (neck), and Selica Winiata (back), but nonetheless have a powerful team packed with talent.

That includes the one new cap in the team, Niall Williams, sister of All Black Sonny Bill Williams. Coach Sean Horan is excited about her: “She's an amazing athlete similar to her brother. She’s worked very hard over the last nine months to really make this happen. She’s a very powerful and skilful player, coming from a touch background so that's good. Physically she’s tough so we’re excited. We’re not expecting fireworks straight away, but she has real potential and we see a big future for her.”

The defence of their title began last seasons when, with the series won, the Ferns took the opportunity to field several new faces. The result was some under par performances, but also valuable experience for the wider squad, something that Horan also commented on: “We have a strong foundation”, he said, “but we will have to work and experiment. We want to win the World Series and we’re confident in our plans and processes.”

If New Zealand are not in the final then it will be a big surprise.

France

Squad:Audrey Amiel (Stade Français, FFR); Laurelin Fourcade (Bordeaux, FFR); Camille Grassineau (Bordeaux, FFR); Clémence Gueucier (Bobigny, FFR); Elodie Guiglion (FFR) ; Fanny Horta (FFR) ; Christelle Le Duff (Villelongue) ; Jade Le Pesq (Rennes, FFR); Laurianne Lissar (AS Bayonne, FFR); Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac-Sait Orens, FFR); Chloé Pelle (Lille MRCV, FFR); Jennifer Troncy (Montpellier, FFR)

France have extended their squad this year, and have also had their most comprehensive build-up to this series, with tournaments in Guildford and Elche and a two week camp in South Africa. The result, however, is a relatively minor reshuffle – and even that partly the result of injury to Caroline Ladagnous.

Last year was France’s first at the top level, and they surprised perhaps even themselves by very nearly gaining automatic qualification for Rio, until injuries resulted in their slipping out of the top four in the final tournament. However, winning the European Championship has sent them to Rio nonetheless, seeing off Russia in a dramatic final.

And it’s Russia who they meet again here, as well as New Zealand who they were partnered with throughout most of last year’s series.

France’s performance in Elche was impressive until the fell to Great Britain in the final, though they are first to admit that a warm-up training tournament is no real guide to this. France should make the quarters.

Russia

Squad:Marina Petrova;  Baizat Khamidova;  Maria Shemchuk;  Daria Lushina;  Ekaterina Kazakova;  Nadezhda Kudinova (captain); Marina Kukina;  Alena Mikhaltsova (ex. Bogacheva);  Kristina Seredina;  Maria Perestyak (ex. Titova); Ekaterina Vorontsova (ex. Kabeeva); Arina Bystrova (debut in the world series). Pavel Baranovskiy - coach.

Pavel’s team came so close to qualifying for Rio last season, and missing out must have hurt the team, and so they can be forgiven if their eyes are really on the repecharge tournament next summer. Even so, this is a very strong looking side who have the potential to beat anyone. Certainly their game with France promises to be one of the highlights of the opening day – Russia will have something to prove.

It is very hard to predict how the team will play. However, coming more or less straight from Russia’s summer season has invariably resulted in strong performances in the past, and they should be in contention again this year.

Brazil

Squad:Amanda Araujo (Niterói); Beatriz Futuro Muhlbauer (Niterói); Bianca Santos (São José); Edna Santini (São José); Haline Leme Scratut (Curitiba); Isadora Cerullo (Niterói); Juliana Esteves dos Santos (São Paulo Saracens Bandeirantes); Juliana Menezes (Charrua); Luiza Gonzalez da Costa Campos (Charrua); Maíra Bravo (SPAC); Mariana Ramalho (SPAC); Raquel Kochhann (Charrua).

Crucial injuries, especially to the iconic Paula Ishibashi, have not come at good time for Brazil who are likely to only get two guest places in this year’s series. However they have perhaps the story of the round in young 17 year-old debutant Bianca Santos, a product of rugby social projects in the São Paulo favelas who has also benefited from playing rugby in the USA on an exchange programme.

Needless to say this is all really about experience ahead of Rio, but unfortunately given the draw it would be astonishing if they managed to make the quarter-finals.

Pool B

Canada

Squad:Britt Benn - (Guelph Redcoats) Napanee, ON; Caroline Crossley - (Castaway Wanderers) Victoria, BC; Arielle Dubissette-Borrice - (Toronto Scottish RFC) Toronto, ON ; Julia Greenshields - (Sarnia Saints) Sarnia, ON; Magali Harvey - (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC ; Jen Kish, captain - (Edmonton Rockers RFC) Edmonton, AB; Ghislaine Landry - (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON; Megan Lukan - (Unattached) Barrie, ON; Mandy Marchak - (Capilano) Winnipeg, MB; Kayla Moleschi - (Williams Lake Rustlers) Williams Lake, BC ; Karen Paquin - (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; Kelly Russell - (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON

Canada have had similar injury problems that several other sides have faced, with Ashley Steacy, Hannah Darling, Natasha Watcham-Roy, Bianca Farella, Sara Kaljuvee, Elissa Alarie and Nadia Popov all unavailable for selection. Nonetheless it is a sign of their depth of talent in the squad that Jen Kish leads what is still a very recognisable the team, other than the two debutants - Megan Lukan and Caroline Crossley.

“Caroline has great potential to become a mainstay in this team well beyond Rio”, says coach John Tait. “She continues to grow her skill set and already has become very strong at winning restarts, work rate and looking after the ball. Megan has developed her playmaking ability to threaten defences with her vision, passing and off-loading ability. I’m looking forward to now seeing if they can now bring those attributes to the series level of competition.”

Megan Lukan is another crossover athlete, from collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, and made two appearances for Canada’s Maple Leafs in Amsterdam last season as well as in the Central Coast Sevens last month. Caroline Crossley, only 17, also comes from Maple Leafs and appeared at Hong Kong Sevens last season as well as Amsterdam and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa where Canada were second to Australia.

This really is Dubai’s Group of Death - anyone really could be anyone on the day with these four teams, though Canada are probably still the most likely team to top the pool. They’ve never lost to Fiji or Ireland, and have a great record in the World Series against the USA, but Ireland will be a very different prospect to the one they neat two years ago, and Fiji and the USA both have new coaches who could bring with them new and unexpected styles of play.

United States

Squad:1. Kathryn Johnson;  2. Kristen Thomas;  3. Jillion Potter (C);  4. Alev Kelter;  5. Jane Paar;  6. Nia Williams*; 7. Lauren Doyle;  8. Kate Zackary;  9. Kelly Griffin;  10. Megan Bonny;  11. Richelle Stephens;  12. Jessica Javelet

Of course the headline news with the American squad is the return to the colours by Jillion Potter after her successful battle with cancer. She captains a team that also sees the return of Jessica Javelet, who had to battle through trials again after losing her place in the squad.

Richelle Stephens and Nia Williams make their World Series debuts, though McCoy – who was recently added to the overall training squad, which now numbers 25 – was in the USA’s PanAm Games and a NACRA Championship teams.

The other debutant is the coach, Jules McCoy who spoke about her first experience of selection: “The process is always difficult – more than 12 players always deserve to dress out," she said. "We look to build depth by getting newer players exposed to the rigors of circuit play, but also provide stability. Series tournaments will be used primarily for Olympic build-up opportunities, to identify combinations that might work best for us come August.

As for the changes she brings to preparations:

"We have been practicing a new approach to attack and defence, as well as spending time on our mental prep, with the mindset that we will make daily progress. The men's coaching staff have embraced me here at the OTC, and are helping me get on my feet, and the players seem eager as they work to embrace a different approach. We are all enjoying the challenge laid before us, and have every intention of rising strong."

What difference McCoy’s arrival will have is the big unknown. USA have suffered from inconsistency in the past, and – despite only two new caps - this has the feel of a new team. Whether they will be a hit or a miss only time will tell, but it’s a tough group and they will need to hit the ground running.

Fiji

Squad:Ana Maria Roqica, Rusila Nagasau, Litia Naiqato, Viniana Riwai, Rebecca Tavo, Tima Ravisa, Luisa Tisolo, Lavenia Tinai, Tima Tamoi, Talica Vodo, Jiowana Sauto*, Vaiti Coa*.

Another squad with a new coach, Fiji will come into this on a high having demolished all opposition on their way to Oceania’s qualification place Rio last month. That said, it was a win that was so one-sided that it is very hard to read anything into the team under the new leadership of Chris Cracknell.

How much influence he will have had on his charges in the relatively short time he has been with them is hard to gauge, but it is reported that his main target has been to improve the fitness of a team that has often promised much but has been inconsistent with tendency to fade in the final few minutes of games, or late in tournaments.

The other headline-maker in this team is Rebecca Tavo, the former Australian player whose Fijian background has allowed her to revive her career. Tavo’s experience of playing at the very top will be a huge boost for a team that suffers from probably lowest level of financial support in the series while benefiting from one of the highest levels of natural talent and understanding of the sevens game.

It may be that this tournament comes a little too early in the Cracknell era for his arrival to have made a significant difference to the team, and Fiji will consider themselves very unlucky with the draw. The crucial game will be with Ireland – but if Cracknell has worked any wonders the USA might be vulnerable as well.

Ireland

Squad:Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster); Megan Williams (St. Mary's/Leinster); Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht); Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster); Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster); Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum/Leinster) (capt); Eimear Considine (TID); Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster); Amee-Leigh Crowe (St. Mary's/Munster); Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Audrey O'Flynn (TID); Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)

Ireland looked very strong in qualifying and were consistently the best non-World Series team in the Europeans, but now comes the real thing. Last time Ireland made qualified as a core team most players switched to concentrate on 15s in advance of the World Cup – now there are no such distractions and the availability of players such as Ashleigh Baxter and Alison Miller means that history will count for nothing.

That said, the fact that Ireland did not beat any of the European World Series team in the Grand Prix last summer shows how tough it is likely to be for them to reach quarter-finals, never mind go further. No-one seems to learn faster than the Irish, however, and they will undoubtedly improve as the series goes on, but will they be ready to knock-out at least one of the established teams at their first attempt?

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, said: "The Dubai Sevens is the start of a very important number of months for our Sevens team. The women have re-qualified for the World Sevens Series and will be testing themselves against the best teams in the world. They are looking forward to the upcoming challenge of the USA, Canada and Fiji."

Pool C

Australia

Squad:Shannon Parry; Sharni Williams; Nicole Beck; Gemma Etheridge; Emma Tonegato; Evania Pelite; Charlotte Caslick; Chloe Dalton; Amy Turner; Alicia Quirk; Emilee Cherry; Ellia Green

Australia have also not be immune to injuries - Tiana Penitani (knee), Brooke Walker (leg) and Mahalia Murphy (toe) were all unavailable for Dubai, but needless to say the team still looks very impressive.

Tim Walsh returns to the women’s side after leading Australia’s men’s team to Olympic qualification (has any other coach qualified two different teams to the same Olympic Games?) and has named an experienced side with Sharni Williams as captain – which means that she maintains the amazing record of playing in every leg of the World Series since it began in 2012. Eight of the squad have at least 10 World Series caps to their name.

Walsh said: "It's round one of what is a big year for Women's Sevens and we're keen to get off to a strong start and stamp our authority on the series. We've kept the core group together for a couple of seasons now, and this consistency of selection is resulting in improved team performances and individual growth."

What Australia will be wanting to do is improve in their third place in the series last season, and the fact that they have reached the final in the last two Dubai tournaments means that their confidence will be high to get their series off to a great start.

"As a team, we always enjoy Dubai," Walsh added. "It's hot and fast - very similar to conditions in Australia. It's a real festival of Rugby, both Men and Women play there. There's an invitational tournament and 50,000 fans pack the stands. We go there with a belief we can perform and with the pre-season we have had we are confident we will perform. The results will then take care of themselves."

It’s hard to see Australia failing to at least reach the final again.

England

Squad:Claire Allan; Rachael Burford; Helen Fisher; Vicky Fleetwood; Fran Matthews; Katy McLean; Emily Scarratt (captain); Michaela Staniford; Jo Watmore; Kay Wilson; Amy Wilson-Hardy

Emily Scarratt captains an England team with just one sevens deputant - newcomer Vicky Fleetwood – who is included in a team full of experience, including Michaela Staniford, Jo Watmore, Alice Richardson and Amy Wilson-Hardy.

England’s preparations have been  kept under wraps in the lead up to Dubai, with a behind-closed-doors tournament in Guildford followed by their appearance at the Elche Sevens where they stood out as the only team not to publish their squad or comment on the results. Rarely has an international sevens tournament win resulted in such little celebration!

Admittedly the teams in Guildford and Elche were actually Great Britain teams. While the wider GB squad includes only four players who cannot play in the World Series, and it will be interesting to see what effect training and playing as in one squad, and now switching to another – especially as the GB team in Elche was coached by Richie Pugh, while England will be lead by Simon Middleton.

Middleton does not see this as a problem – indeed he sees it as a positive: “It is a great opportunity for us to see the synergy and game understanding that we have been working on over the past three months with the nominated girls from the WRU and SRU.”

As for England in the World Series: “Our approach as we go through the World Series will be to utilise the depth of what is a very strong squad as we go through to the Olympic year. We need the players to get an ample amount of game time so we can look at them with Rio in mind. Initially for Dubai, we’re going with an experienced squad with the aim to finish high in the series table so we can aim for a top three seeding in the Olympics.”

As with France, it is hard to know what to read into Elche and Guildford – if anything – but what did stand out, especially in the Spanish tournament, was how the Great Britain team stayed fit and strong right to the end allowing them to beat a hitherto unbeaten France in the final relatively comfortably. It is not something that matters as much on the opening day, but if England can remain in contention into the semi-finals being one of the fittest team in the tournament could make all the difference.

England will certainly make the quarter-finals as – even if Australia maintain their dominance in the fixture – they should be too strong for Spain and Japan, and the really should go further than that.

Spain

Squad:Alexandra Castillon; Angela Del Pan; Berta Garcia; Elizabet Martinez; Iera Etxebarria; Irene Schiavon; Marina Bravo; Maria Casado; Patricia Garcia; Paula Medin; Tesesa Bueso; Vanesa Rial.

The Spanish squad will probably be the most familiar to regular followers of the World Series. Only new cap (Tesesa Bueso) has been selected, and she is hardly new to international rugby. All of the rest of the squad have over a year’s experience at the top level, and in three cases this will be at least their 10thseason of international sevens. Indeed ten of the squad have appeared in every year that Spain have been in the World Series.

Which, it has to be said, is a concern. Spain have been slowly but surely slipping down the rankings, from Europe’s number one team four or five years ago to number four today, and the team has been little changed throughout. Four of the 12 players in the squad are aged 30 or more (and by the end of the month it will be five), and only one – Teresa Bueso – is under 20. Now really should be the time to try more players into the team – assuming that they are there.

As a result Spain are possibly the most predictable of the teams in Dubai, and regrettably it is hard to see anything other than the trend of previous years continuing. Spain narrowly escaped relegation last season, and it is that same battle they are most likely to be involved in this season.

Japan

Squad:To be confirmed

Just five days after their dramatic win in the Asian Olympic qualifier, Japan will find themselves on their biggest stage yet. And we are expecting something special. In the past 12-18 months Japan’s sevens team have risen to new heights, eclipsing continental rivals who they used to struggle to beat barely a year or two ago.

It is all the result of several years of investment in the national team, ever since the JRU took the national sides away from the women’s union.

It has been a slow but steady advance, but perfectly timed. Japan are now at the Olympics, and given the publicity the game is now getting in the country, the only way seems to be up.

However, this will be tough and a quarter-final place first time round may be a lot to expect. Though they were winners of both the qualification series last month and the Asian Championship the month before, this was not achieved without the odd stumble. Over four tournaments, only in the second leg of the Asian Championship were they unbeaten – and they needed to be after finishing only third in the first leg. Only last Sunday they just needed to beat Kazakhstan in the pool game to wrap up their qualification, but let it slip before coming good in the final. There is a lot for them to learn, but this is clearly the best team that Asia has produced so far.

Our tips for the quarter-finals:New Zealand, Australia, Canada, England, France, United States, Russia, Ireland