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All Blacks Sevens dealt tough draw as SVNS Vancouver pools revealed
By Finn Morton
It’s déjà vu for the All Blacks Sevens. After being drawn in the so-called ‘pool of death’ for the SVNS Perth, the New Zealanders will have to do it the hard way in Vancouver next month.
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The All Blacks Sevens struggled at Perth’s HBF Park on Friday through to Sunday. Following pool stage losses to France and Fiji, the men in black finished in the final four.
That uncharacteristically poor run of form on Australia’s west coast could still come back to haunt them, too, after they were drawn in another frighteningly tough pool for the first of two stops in North America.
The pools for #HSBCSVNSVAN have arrived 👇#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/1zooxEDoMc
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
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New Zealand will need to overcome the challenge of Perth bronze-medallists Ireland, SVNS Dubai champions South Africa, and the ever-dangerous Great Britain as they look to return to the Cup finals.
“We’re slowly building towards the Olympics, the Olympics is our main goal,” All Blacks Sevens star Sam Dickson told RugbyPass on Sunday.
“We’ve got a lot of boys returning from long-term injury that’s going to really reinforce our team and bring a lot of energy and fire.
“We’re not stressing. We know what we’re doing and we’ve got a plan in place.”
Cape Town and Perth Cup final-winners Argentina have been drawn in Pool A along with two-time Olympic champions Fiji, Spain and hosts Canada.
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After collecting the silver medal at each of the last two events, Australia’s quest to go one better starts with pool matches against France, the United States and Samoa.
The toughest pool in the women’s draw is pretty clear. After missing out on Cup final glory for the first time this season, Australia’s SVNS Vancouver campaign starts with matches against the United States, Fiji and Japan.
The United States finished last season in third position on the overall standings, and Fiji knocked Australia out of the Tokyo Olympics a few years ago. Anything could happen.
Another pool to look out for is Pool C. Great Britain shocked the sevens world with a win over Australia on Friday, but they’ll have their work cut out for them against heavyweights France, hosts Canada and Spain.
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The other pool will see SVNS Perth winners Ireland come up against a hungry New Zealand side, Brazil and South Africa.
SVNS Vancouver gets underway on February 23 to 25. Those interested in watching some of the world’s best rugby while enjoying the best party in town can get tickets HERE.
SVNS Vancouver Women’s pools
Pool A: Ireland, New Zealand, Brazil and South Africa
Pool B: Australia, USA, Fiji and Japan
Pool C: Great Britain, France, Canada and Spain
SVNS Vancouver Men’s pools
Pool A: Argentina, Fiji, Spain and Canada
Pool B: Australia, France, USA and Samoa
Pool C: Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Great Britain
Silly article. There are no easy pools under this new format.
As for Dickson, it’s time for him 34, Curry 35, & Mikkelson 37, to step aside. They’re too old, too slow, too predictable, too easy to haul in, too lumbering, for this ever evolving game.
On the evidence so far….not a chance.