VICTORIA, CANADA – The 2016-17 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series kicks off its fifth leg in Victoria/Langford region of Canada. The #Canada7s is unique because even though there are three 7s stops that include both the men’s and women’s circuits, the Canada Women’s Sevens is not held at the same time or place as the Men’s. It is something that the USA 7s used to have the same problem with but eventually combined. Hopefully, Canada gets there too. In the meantime, today we’ll look at the Eagle 7s and take a stab at predicting each tournament in this Canada 7s Women’s Preview & Predictions.
Three main issues stand out going into this tournament for the @USAWomens7s program and its head coach Richie Walker. Let’s take a look at them:
1) Player Changes (+/-): The USA made 5 changes. It starts with bringing back Cheta Emba, Kate Zackary and Sylvia Braaten. Mata Hingano will make her debut to make it 12 debutantes for this season so far. One key returning figure back in good health is top finisher Jessica Javelet.
2) Return to Form?: The USA finished 7th in Japan and need to return back to form. They have struggled to be consistent so far this series.
3) Hot Start: The key to the USA performing better is starting games on fire and building a solid lead and confidence to help see them through tight matches.
Optimist’s View: The team manages to shock people and lose a close match in the semi-finals.
Cynic’s View: The USA will win the Challenge Trophy bracket after a bad first day.
My View: They will likely make it to the quarter-finals before losing a close one and then rebounding to finish 5th.
#Canada7s: It is getting to the business end of the series with only France left after this leg. New Zealand, Canada and Australia are fighting it out for the series winner title. It will be tight race and maybe the tightest ever, so expect fireworks in the Great White North.
Here are my Pool Previews:
Pool A:
New Zealand
France
Russia
Japan
New Zealand will top the group based on their form and history. Though both the France and Russia have been inconsistent, I am going to pick the France to take second. Russia will be third and finally in last place will be the Japan.
Pool B:
Australia
Fiji
Ireland
Brazil
Australia will easily get the pool winner tag of this group. It is very tough to tell who will win between Ireland and Fiji as both sides have improved but they still have struggles. One of the two will finish second and the other third. Brazil will be last in a very competitive pool.
Pool C:
Canada
USA
England
Spain
Canada will top this group and give the home fans a show. The USA will raise a few eyebrows and nip England for second. A risky bet? I am very well aware. Spain unfortunately will likely be cannon fodder in this group.
Final standings will be:
Cup: Canada
Second: New Zealand
Third: Australia
Challenge: Ireland
That’s all for now, please feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter@: @RugbyWrapUp, @Matt_McCarthy00, @Junoir Blaber, @JWB_RWU, @Luke Bienstock, @Ronan Nelson, @MichaelHalsey24, @MeetTheMatts, @Brian C Cole and @Declan Yeats.
And as always, stay low and keep pumping those legs.
