Team-by-team guide to the 2011 Dubai Rugby Sevens
Ahead of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens which kicks off a weekend of celebration in the UAE as the country celebrates its 40th Anniversary, Martyn Thomas takes a look at the 16 teams in action and predicts who will be scampering off with the honours come Saturday night.
FUJI
Key player: Joeli Lutumailagi - scored four tries last week but may find it tough without injured duo Setefano Cakau and Jimilai Naikadawa.
Last time in Dubai: Semis. Fiji arrive in Dubai as the team to beat following their thrilling win in Australia but they haven’t tasted success in the Emirate since 1998.
Sport360° Verdict: Will definitely be there or there abouts, a semi-final birth is to be expected. They hurt New Zealand on the Gold Coast last weekend.
SAMOA
Key player: Uale Mai - the veteran half-back has returned this year in a bid to revitalise Samoa after a disappointing fifth place overall finish in 2010/11.
Last time in Dubai: Runners-up. The Samoans have tasted Cup final heartbreak in their past two outings to 7he Sevens and will want to go one better this time around.
Sport360° Verdict: Mai is back but they are without a number of other players. Should make the last eight but may then struggle.
ARGENTINA
Key player: Manuel Montero - scored seven tries in Australia as the Pumas took the Bowl final.
Last time in Dubai: Bowl winners Argentina come into the tournament on somewhat of a high having tasted success with a 17-14 Bowl final defeat of Scotland Down Under.
Sport360° Verdict: Failed to make it out of a group containing Zimbabwe last year and will find it tough again.
UAE
Key player: Murray Strang - the naturalised half-back will look to dictate play.
Last time in Dubai: N/A The UAE make their debut in top level sevens competition on their home ground and will be highly motivated.
Sport360° Verdict: Have struggled against the top sides in Asia this year and will do well to avoid a whitewash this weekend.
NEW ZEALAND
Key player: DJ Forbes - the Kiwi skipper is a rarity in rugby, a prop who thrives in sevens.
Last time in Dubai: Semis. The reigning World Series champions are determined to hit back after defeat against Fiji in the Gold Coast, plus they will want to regain the Dubai crown.
Sport360° Verdict: If everything goes to form it looks as though the All Blacks will get a chance for immediate revenge against Fiji.
SOUTH AFRICA
Key Player: Chris Dry - with Cecil Afrika out injured, his tries will be more important than ever.
Last time in Dubai: Plate winners. The Springboks head into the tournament without playmaker Afrika, one of the best sevens players ever, but will want to build on their semifinal showing in Australia.
Sport360° Verdict: Losing Afrika is a huge blow but they should still make it to the quarters.
USA
Key player: Tai Enosa - versatile young back can direct set up play and finish.
Last time in Dubai: Plate semi-finals. Opened their account for the new season with an impressive win over Japan, but fell to Scotland in the bowl final on the Gold Coast, and they would do well to do better this weekend.
Sport360° Verdict: Should have too much for Portugal but from then on its damaged limitation you feel in the pool stages.
PORTUGAL
Key player: Pedro Leal - widely regarded as the country’s finest ever rugby player.
Last time in Dubai: Bowl quarters. Making their debut in this year’s World Series in Dubai where they were unlucky not to make the knockouts of the cup last year.
Sport360° Verdict: Face a tough task to get out of the group, they will take heart from last year’s performance where they beat France and England.
FRANCE
Key Player: Terry Bouhraoua - bagged five tries in Australia.
Last time in Dubai: Shield final. Their XVs cousins are the most mercurial team on the planet but the sevens side don’t have quite the same fondness for the bad and brilliant, usually veering towards the former.
Sport360° verdict: Drawn in a tough pool with defending champions England, Kenya and Zimbabwe but they should have enough to get to the quarters this year.
ENGLAND
Key player: Dan Norton - the Bristol winger can supply the tries missing since Ben Gollings’ departure.
Last time in Dubai: Winners. A dramatic win last year despite losing to Portugal in the Pool stages, Ben Ryan’s side will be looking for a smoother passage on Friday this time around. Will want to bounce back from a poor performance on the Gold Coast last week.
Sport360° verdict: Surprise winners last year and form suggests they’ll be lucky to get beyond the quarters.
KENYA
Key player: Andrew Amonde - sin binned for a dangerous tackle against Fiji in Australia and will be keen to make amends.
Last time in Dubai: Shield winners. Star man Collins Injera is missing which will be a huge boost to the other teams in the group. New coach Mitch Ocholla has yet to hit previous heights, when they finished fourth in the World Cup two years ago.
Sport360° Verdict: Always guaranteed to entertain, keep your eyes on them.
ZIMBABWE
Key player: Gardener Nechironga
Last time in Dubai: Bowl final. Produced an incredible performance last time out by reaching the Bowl final, but they were a surprise package in 2010 so teams will be loath to underestimate Zimbabwe this time around. The scalp of France is a real possibility, however.
Sport360° verdict: France and Kenya are beatable but England will be too strong.
WALES
Key player: Owen B Williams - The flyer scored four tries last time out.
Last time in Dubai: Plate semis. Wales have combined some indifferent displays at the Dubai Sevens with winning the Rugby World Cup Sevens here in 2009.
Sport360° verdict: They won the plate last week and should battle Australia for top spot in Pool D, quarter-finals
AUSTRALIA
Key player: Pama Fou - the former Brumbies Academy player is an expert finisher.
Last time in Dubai: Plate runners-up Having finished fourth in their home tournament last week, this youthful Australian team will quietly fancy their chances here. Captain Ed Jenkins is a key man, and his form could be the platform for a strong showing.
Sport360° verdict: The Wallabies will fancy their chances of getting out of the pool, and from there the semi-finals are a realistic aim.
SCOTLAND
Key player: James Fleming - the 24-year-old winger scored six tries in Dubai last year.
Last time in Dubai: Bowl semi-final Scotland’s sevens team unfortunately mirrors their XVs equivalent, and are shorn of attacking quality, highlighted as they were beaten in last week’s Bowl final.
Sport360° verdict: A pool stage exit is inevitable, and their big clash is with Canada for third place.
CANADA
Key player: Ciaren Hearn - the experienced full-back was part of the Canada World Cup squad.
Last time in Dubai: N/A A squad riddled with injuries means Canada will struggle to make any sort of an impact this weekend, although they have included several players who impressed recently in the World Cup in New Zealand.
Sport360° verdict: Look set for an early pool stage exit, unless they beat Scotland.
