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Payton Spencer named for All Blacks Sevens debut

26 Jan 2023

(Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

Both the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens confidently enter the HSBC Sydney Sevens, as series leaders, following their gold and silver medal wins respectively on home soil in Hamilton last weekend.

With only a few small changes made to the teams that took centre stage at the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton.

Now series leaders, the All Blacks Sevens will see the inclusion of Lewis Ormond who comes in for Moses Leo, after being ruled out with concussion and hopeful All Blacks Sevens debutant Payton Spencer for Regan Ware who hasn’t recovered from sustaining an ankle injury last weekend.

All Blacks Sevens Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said the team have refocused and looking to build together as a team.

“We have had a short turnaround this week and it has been important we have been able to recover, reflect, and reconnect, while we look ahead to the weekend. We will continue to build on our connections we have from the weekend.

“There was a lot to like in Hamilton, but we know we can take more opportunities with ball in hand and the players have really taken ownership of our defence and what we can improve,” said Laidlaw.

Laidlaw commended Payton Spencer’s work ethic, to see him in-line to debut this weekend.

“Payton’s selection this weekend has been credit to his work ethic and ability to adapt quickly to the sevens game. He has prepared really well this week, all we want him to focus on is doing his job, expressing himself and enjoy the opportunity to play sevens on the international stage.”

Following an inspiring display of sevens rugby at the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton, the Black Ferns Sevens Head Coach Cory Sweeney has named a near unchanged line-up for the HSBC Sydney Sevens, apart from the introduction of Tysha Ikenasio after Alena Saili sustained a calf injury during last weekend’s victorious weekend.

Sweeney said the team were impressive in Hamilton, the task for them now is to not become complacent.

“When you have tournaments back to back, the challenge is to recover both physically and mentally, while preparing for another tournament.”

“While we want to build on the momentum from Hamilton, we also want to hold the intensity we are demonstrating across our defensive systems and continue to attack across all areas of the field,” said Sweeney.

Sweeney said he is looking for Ikenasio to add some fresh energy to the team following the team’s success in Hamilton.

“Tysha impressed in her debut for the Black Ferns Sevens in Dubai and backed up her performance the following weekend in Cape Town. She narrowly missed out on selection for Hamilton last weekend, but we are looking forward to seeing Tysha’s youthful energy once again this weekend.”

All Blacks Sevens team is:

2 Brady Rush
4 Akuila Rokolisoa
5 Dylan Collier
6 Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
7 Sam Dickson (Captain)
9 Amanaki Nicole
11 Joe Webber
12 Leroy Carter
21 Che Clark
23 Lewis Ormond
27 Sione Molia
44 Roderick Solo
74 Payton Spencer

Unavailable for selection: Andrew Knewstubb, Kitiona Vai, Moses Leo, Regan Ware, Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson, Tone Ng Shiu (injury).

Black Ferns Sevens team is:

3 Stacey Fluhler
4 Niall Guthrie
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
13 Jazmin Felix-Hotham
22 Shiray Kaka
26 Tysha Ikenasio
34 Sarah Hirini (Captain)
77 Risi Pouri-Lane
83 Jorja Miller
99 Tenika Willison

Unavailable for selection: Alena Saili, Kelly Brazier, Mahina Paul (injury).

HSBC Sydney Sevens Draw (dates/times listed in NZDT)
Friday 27 January
3.06pm Black Ferns Sevens v Papua New Guinea
5.28pm All Blacks Sevens v Uruguay
9.05pm Black Ferns Sevens v France

Saturday 28 January
12.06am All Blacks Sevens v Kenya
3.12pm Black Ferns Sevens v Japan
5.49pm All Blacks Sevens v South Africa

Sunday 29 January
Play-offs

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Comments on RugbyPass

Head high tackle 12 minutes ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yes I just love how the two articles Ive read about this so far talk about the great matches the NRL and AFL will have on “ANZAC” weekend so RA and NZR should have a test match. SR will have exactely the same thing as NRL and AFL EXCEPT….. It will be between actual Aus v NZ teams.

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SadersMan 20 minutes ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yeah, nah. A test match in the middle of SRP is nuts. Cue, test players being given 4 or 5 SRP matches to prepare then recover from an ANZAC test. As we know, when star power leaves SR, the eyes switch off.

And comparisons with AFL & NRL ANZAC club fixtures are also silly. Neither code has international pull to contend with.

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AllenArias 28 minutes ago

Departing Quins boss Billy Millard in talks over huge Test job

I get paid over $130 1 to 3 hours working from home with 2 kids at home. I never thought I’d be able to do it but my best friend earns over $27k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. The potential with this is endless.

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SadersMan 1 hour ago

Sky Sports commentator on why Wallabies players are outplaying All Blacks counterparts

You’re confused.

A quick check of the Reds/Crusaders match statistics shows your first comment is nonsense. Hence I thought, either joking or sarcasm.

Then your 2nd comment jumps into the world of conspiracy theory. Despite HHT alluding to (admittedly somewhat clunky) the stupidity of Taylah using team variables (the draw) versus an individual match-up. Again I thought, joking or sarcasm?

Hardly rocket science mate.

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DS 1 hour ago

2025 Lions' selection: An idiot's guide

My Lions Coaches would be P.O’CONNELL -FORWARDS / LINEOUT ,J. FOGERTY - SCRUM/BREAKDOWN, J. NIENABER - DEFENCE, R. WRIGGLESWORTH - ATTACK,, N.JENKINS - KICKING - , S.LANCASTER - SKILLS[ knows A.Farrell very well and alot of England and Irish players who will be touring] My Lions SQUAD 41 PLAYERS STRONG 1] P.SCHOEMANN - E.GENGE - A.PORTER 2] D.SHEEHAN - R.KELLENHER - J.GEORGE - D.LAKE [4 HOOKERS] 3] W.STUART - Z.FAGERSON - T.FURLONG [If proves fitness and form Otherwise F.BEALHAM 4] M.ITOJE - D.JENKINS 5] T.BEIRNE - O.CHESSUM - G.MARTIN 6] T.CURRY - J.MORGON -J.RITCHIE 7] B.CURRY -B.EARL - R.DARGE 8] C.DORIS -J.CONAN 9] JGP - B.WHITE - A.MITCHELL 10] F.RUSSELL - M.SMITH - G.FORD 11] J.LOWE - D.V.D.MERWE 12] B.AKI - R.HENSHAW [If S.TUIPULUTO doesn’t prove his fitnss and form] 13] H.JONES - G.RINGROSE - T.JORDON [Utility 14] T.FREEMAN - D.GRAHAM - E.DALY [Utility] 15] H.KEENAN - B.KINGHORN

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SC 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Fair point. Serin is very good as are the others CV lists at 9.

My point was that none are Dupont’s class or experience at this point in their careers.

11 Go to comments

CV 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Serin oozes class. He’d walk into any other test side. Then they also have Jauneau, Coly, Couilloud, Le Garrec… Six or so test level nines. At 10 they have Hastoy, Berdeu, Reus, Le Brun… At Toulouse they have 21 year old Valentin Delpy. He’s excellent too. The only position I see they have less depth in is tighthead prop. Haven’t been impressed with Colombe.

11 Go to comments

SC 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Did Ireland beat the All Blacks after the 22 series?

Wasn’t it the Irish who were patting themselves on the back at the RWC after their pool victory over South Africa telling them they will see them again in the Finals overlooking their QF vs the All Blacks?

If you are going to lecture NZ on respect then don’t live in a glass house, Red.

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JW 1 hour ago

Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

I think he should need to go and permanently reside in Tonga

That’s ridiculous, aren’t both his parents Tongan? Thanks like saying Lomax shouldn’t have been allowed to be an All Black.

I don't see any benefit to NZ rugby

How is being able to select someone with the experience of going to a Rugby World Cup already not a huge benefit for the All Blacks?

Fiji is a viable rugby nation with it's sides talent overwhelmingly coming from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa should have to do the same

You need to give it the same amount of time then.

Again, you’re making no sense. It seems like you really are trying to make an example of the wrong situation because of the NH poaching problem. I suggest you listen to what I’m telling you and not just gloss over the facts to suite your argument.

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JW 1 hour ago

Five Aussie takes: Wallaby watch on wings, rocks and diamonds of Tahs attack

Not sure I agree with Josephs idea of resting players/using this game to freshen things up, it should have been a winnable one I would have thought. Maybe their lack of wins against NZ sides is really starting to grind on them down south and theyre going all out to win the tough games?

I thought Kalani was superb. Is he Wallaby capped/locked already and can NZR snaffle him lol Tate has been dropping a bit of form so perhaps another game out will do him good. I definitely feel like he’s still the type to run on short bursts of form (as apposed to the ‘permanent’ type) so saving the best for last could be a real angle if he was serious.

I think Kiss has improved on his approach from the first two season, or it at least took the team a while to adapt. Enjoy their play this year.

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JW 1 hour ago

Sky Sports commentator on why Wallabies players are outplaying All Blacks counterparts

None of what?

Sarcasm? I think the view that the fixture list was doctored might have started off as peoples sarcasm, is that what you mean?

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Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 4 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Another solution would be to move the schedule a week later - there’s a month long break before the Rugby Championship so why would the NZRU schedule the first game in conflict with a major club final?

Once you remove the scheduling issue - it becomes purely about player welfare and that’s the French unions issue to deal with. The whole idea of becoming the best team is moot if you cede all your national power to a club competition.

11 Go to comments

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 4 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

You say that winning isnt about psychology and then cite the NZ teams that lost at world cups because they were fretting about choking. Psychology is absolutely part of a winning strategy - its the ability to know that you can come back from adversity because you have trust in the “weapons” that you talk about. Its the difference between chasing someone down or saying “I’m beaten" - there’s no point”

11 Go to comments

J Marc 5 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Some very interesting points in your post.

11 Go to comments

CO 5 hours ago

Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

Exactly, Moana is entirely a NZ side and it the second Auckland franchise. Its the only side in the world that's been setup for the alleged purpose of developing players for two other ‘countries’ from playing talent from another country.

In reality it's best players are always going to be picked for the Allblacks as they're eligible kiwis. That's never going to change so the best thing to do is stop the pretence and make the team just another NZ super franchise that isn't ethnically based to allow talent equal access to professional contracts regardless of their ethnicity.

Commentaries claiming players from this team need to be ignored by the Allblacks selectors are of course advocating for the ridiculous situation that NZ becomes the only rugby country that overlooks players born and living in that country with that countries citizenship.

20 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Serin?

11 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

I am not really sure how this tour benefits France beyond showing NZ ways to beat them. They already know how to beat NZ.

Ireland won a series there in 2022 which prompted a year long shift in strategy to specifically beat Ireland. This was confirmed recently by Will Jordan.

Winning tight matches isn’t necessarily about psychology. It’s about having weapons to get over the line. For SA that was a scrum to win penalties and a kicker to either kick the penalty over or down the line if a try is needed. See SA v England in 2023 SF.

England used their jacklers to win penalties to get them deep into the 22 a couple of times late against France. Ireland improvised with drop kicks to win versus SA.

NZ spent decades fretting over choking in RWCs. Their strategy was often to develop such an outstanding team that pressure wouldn’t come into it. All they needed to do (France 99, 07) was to use some of their prep to learn how to neuter their opponents.