For starters, both teams are going to come up against some of the best rugby players they have ever played against. Both teams will face players that are full-time rugby players with experience in the Premiership and Super Rugby. That is a big ask for any team, let alone a team of amateur players. However, only one or two of the teams they are going to face have sevens specialist on their roster. Just looking at the J.P. Morgan 7's these last few weeks can show you how much of a difference that makes. It's very possible that having 7's specialists on their roster could give both SFGG and NYC the advantage they need.
Take the jump to see our preview of each team at the tournament.
New York City 7's: It's hard not to talk about the New York City 7's and the story that broke this week regarding the missing players from their squad. As it turns out, only one player failed to show up at the airport, not the three had been reported earlier. Many of the Eagles have been very active this summer and that took its toll. Of the six Eagles scheduled to play with the team only Nate Augsburger is with the team.
How much will that hurt the team? It's going to hurt for sure. Players like Nick Edwards, Andrew Durutalo, and Tai Enosa would add a lot of value to the team. However, the team that will play in the tournament is not bad. As we said earlier in the summer, Vini Daley is a fantastic player. Throughout the summer and at last week's National Club 7's he proved once again he is an up and coming player. He has a great step and a strong ability to shake off tacklers. Some of the players on the other teams may not be able to handle him with all that open space on the field. Another player to keep your eye on is Derek Lipscomb. He is a big physical presence that will help create space. The team also has players like Jon Kokinda and Jack Tracy that are more than capable of making an impact.
Augsburger should be a big help for the team as well. Over the last year he has had some ups and downs. The broken leg he suffered with the USA Falcons in the Las Vegas Invitational certainly didn't help his progress but before then he was in constant contention for a place on the IRB Sevens Series. The team will also benefit from the addition of Alosio Yamoyamo from the British Army. All in all the squad is pretty solid.
The team will face tough competition, however. Gloucester looked good in winning the J.P. Morgan 7's. Akapusi Qera and Rhodri McAtee are proven 7's players. McAtee won the 7's World Cup with Wales back in 2009. Still, the depth of their squad isn't that great and in a longer tournament than what they are accustomed to in the J.P. Morgan 7's they could face problems. Western Province are bringing a young team. Only one of the players, Werner Kok, has experience with the Springboks. They will be great rugby players to be sure but whether they can excel at 7's is another question. The VVA Saracens Moscow will have several teams from the Russian national team but they haven't exactly been a challenge for the Eagles in recent years.
Don't get us wrong, we think that the team is going to have a very difficult time but any thought that they team will be a laughingstock without the planned Eagles players is a little far fetch. Expect the team to be competitive and even contend for one of the quarterfinal spots.
Squad: Derek Lipscomb (Old Blue), John Feldman (Long Island), Vini Daley (Middlesex), Gareth Stoppani (Old Blue), Jon Kokinda (Middlesex), Sean Rafferty (Long Island), Jack Tracy (Tiger Rugby/Belmont Shore), Tommy Pasque (Denver Barbarians), Alosio Yamoyamo (British Army), Jaryd Robinson (Apache Rugby). Injured: Dimitri Efthimiou
San Francisco Golden Gate: SFGG have had more stability to their roster with their three Eagles--Carlin Isles, Jack Halalilo, and Mike Te'o--all making it to London. Also, having the core of their side be the same as it has been throughout the summer 7's season is going to be a huge plus. Remember, SFGG tore through the NorCal 7's series and then lost a tough final against Seattle-OPSB in the Pacific Coast final. They then lost to Seattle-OPSB in the Cup quarterfinals at nationals before making it to the Plate where they lost to Belmont Shore. That's only four losses all season (they lost to Old Blue in the pool stage), two of them to the eventual national champion.
SFGG has a very experienced squad that will be vital in London. Veterans like Mile Pulu, Volney Rouse, Bruce Thomas, and captain Mose Timoteo have all been in big game situations before. Pulu was considered one of the best 7's players in the country before picking up some injuries. Look for Timoteo and Rouse to combine well again as the halfbacks and do a good job of getting the ball in good positions. They are going to know how to use Carlin Isles so look for him to score some long range tries.
The younger players on SFGG's roster provide plenty of skill as well. Danny Barrett has been one of the story lines of the summer. He is a great runner and could be the next player to make the Cal to the 7's team transition. He has the perfect frame and background to succeed. Garrett Brewer and Tim Maupin are other players that made an impact over the summer. Maupin has shown himself to be a great presence on the wing. From top to bottom this is a solid team.
During the regular season the team didn't always possess a lot of pace, but with Isles and Jack Halalilo on the roster they are going to have pace to burn. Their starting lineup would be a great test for any 7's team in the country, including the Eagles.
Like New York, SFGG face difficult opponents. The Blue Bulls will have great players as always and will have the help of Andre Warner and Jason Kriel, both of whom have played with the Blitzbokke. However, outside of those players they are bringing a squad of younger players. How exactly those players will stand up against the experience SFGG squad will be a big question. Northampton aren't exactly known as a 7's powerhouse. They were competitive but finished winless in their pool at the J.P. Morgan 7's. Only Vasily Artemyev provides much of a 7's threat. The team from Buenos Aires will be the most difficult of the three teams SFGG will face. The team will have several players that have played with Argentina on the IRB Sevens Series.
Squad: Danny Barrett, Neil Barrett, Garrett Brewer, Michael Haley, Jack Halalilo, Carlin Isles, Tim Maupin, Mile Pulu, Volney Rouse, Mike Te'o, Bruce Thomas, Mose Timoteo
Prediction: We don't think we're going out on too much of a limb to suggest that one of the two American teams will make the Cup quarterfinals. There only 12 teams in the tournament after all. We think the SFGG have the best opportunity. They can score and play solid defense. Look for them to beat both Northampton and the Blue Bulls while dropping the match to Buenos Aires. The loss of their Eagles will hurt New York City, but at the same time they have plenty of good players. However, they face a more difficult pool. We think they pick up a win in pool play. If SFGG gets hot, they could make it far on day two.
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