All Blacks Sevens ready for bright lights of HSBC Las Vegas Sevens

Mar 1 • General News, Sevens Rugby, Sevens World Series • 1770 Views • Comments Off on All Blacks Sevens ready for bright lights of HSBC Las Vegas Sevens

A week of preparation state-side has the All Blacks Sevens team ready to fire at this weekend’s HSBC Las Vegas Sevens.

The All Blacks Sevens team is;

1. Trael Joass
2. Tim Mikkelson (c)
3. Tone Ng Shiu
4. Joe Ravouvou
5. Scott Gregory
6. Vilimoni Koroi
7. Sam Dickson
8. Akuila Rokolisoa
9. Regan Ware
10. Kurt Baker
11. Jona Nareki
12. Sione Molia (c)

*Te Puoho Stephens is the travelling reserve, should he be brought into the playing squad he will be in line for his All Blacks Sevens debut.

All Blacks Sevens Coach Clark Laidlaw has made two injury enforced changes to the side that lifted the trophy in Sydney, with Andrew Knewstubb and Amanaki Nicole replaced by Akuila Rokolisoa and Trael Joass.

“Trael and Akuila both played well at the World Cup last year but have had limited game time since. Both players are hungry and excited about getting an opportunity and we’re excited about the freshness they will bring.

The team travelled to the USA earlier than usual which has had a positive impact on preparation.

“Usually we arrive and Monday has to be a recovery day, this week it was a full training day, so the early travel as allowed us to have a full training week and we have prepared well. It’s been really positive and hopefully we’ll see that in how we play.

The team will come up against Samoa, Canada and Spain in the first two days of pool play.

“We should be confident because we played well in Sydney but in Sevens you have to start again every week – a new tournament in a new country. Samoa is one of three teams that have beaten us this season and we come up against them first, we couldn’t have asked for a harder game first up.”