New stars emerge in Sevens arena

New stars emerge in Sevens arena

(IRB.COM) Wednesday 19 December 2007

Nearly a third of players in the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens were making their debuts on the IRB Sevens World Series, so it was inevitable that some new stars would rise to the surface in both that tournament and a week later in George.

We take a closer look at seven of these players.

ISRAEL DAGG, New Zealand

Gordon Tietjens has an unnerving ability to keep unearthing exciting young talent year after year for the New Zealand Sevens team with Israel Dagg the latest example, the full back being still six months shy of his 20th birthday.

Dagg, a member of New Zealand's IRB Under 19 World Championship winning side in April, didn't get much chance to shine on his IRB Sevens World Series debut in Dubai as Tietjens relied on his experienced players, but seized the opportunity seven days later in George to showcase his pace and quick feet.

The Hawke's Bay youngster scored three of his seven tries in the Pool stages against England, including the last gasp match winner in a 26-24 battle, and then belied a niggling injury on day two to score with his first touch after coming on as a replacement in the final.

Dagg wasn't the only newcomer to shine for New Zealand, the same was true for former Under 19 captain Victor Vito who impressed Tietjens with his performances on the wing, having previously only played as a forward, and scored two tries in their 34-7 defeat of Fiji in the George final.

ALAFOTI FA'OSILIVA, Samoa

Samoa may not have enjoyed the start to the season new coach Rudi Moors was hoping for, but in Alafoti Fa'osiliva they appear to have found a player capable of challenging for the honour of top try scorer in the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series.

Fa'osiliva is a strong and powerful runner, who is equally happy to crash over from short range or evade the defence from further out. He ended the South African leg as the leading try scorer with eight, including some important touch downs against Australia, Argentina and USA.

If Samoa are the re-establish themselves as title contenders again in the new year, then Fa'osiliva will be a key player alongside the likes of captain Uale Mai and 2006/07 Series leading try scorer Mikaele Pesamino, who was quiet by his standards in both Dubai and George.

VERENIKI GONEVA, Fiji

One of seven newcomers in the Fijian squad, Vereniki Goneva caught the eye in Dubai as the 2006/07 Series runners up belied the squad changes to reach the final, the 23-year-old scoring one of the islanders’ three quick-fire tries as they fought back from 26-0 down to 26-21 against New Zealand.

An exciting youngster who played for Fiji in last year’s IRB Pacific Nations Cup and was on a list of non-travelling reserves for their RWC 2007 campaign, scored five tries in Dubai but only added one a week later in George as injuries hit Jo Savou’s squad on day two.

DANIEL VAN DER MERWE, Canada

A member of Canada’s squad at Rugby World Cup 2007, Daniel Tailliferre Hauman (or DTH as he’s also known) van der Merwe took to the IRB Sevens World Series like the proverbial duck to water with his pace adding a cutting edge to coach Shane Thompson’s side in Dubai.

The 21-year-old scored six tries in the Series opener, matching the achievements of the more experienced New Zealander Zar Lawrence, but missed the Bowl final defeat after damaging ankle ligaments and his ability to score from anywhere on the pitch was missed by Canada a week later in George.

JOE SIMPSON, England

Another player still some months away from his 20th birthday, Joe Simpson was one of a few England newcomers to catch the eye with some lively performances as Ben Ryan’s side reached the Cup semi-finals in Dubai and then came within a whisker of a first win over New Zealand in five years in George.

The London Wasps Academy scrum half scored five tries in George, repeatedly popping up in the right places at the right time. He also calmly took over the goal-kicking when England lost key player Ben Foden to a tournament-ending shoulder injury on day two.

EDDY LABARTHE, France

One of 10 newcomers named by coach Thierry Janeczek for the opening legs in Dubai and George, Eddy Labarthe was at the heart of the French play, weighing in with five tries in South Africa as the new-look side showed glimpses of what they could achieve with more time together.

Labarthe scored some important tries along the way, none more so than his last gasp leveller against Wales in the Bowl semi-final in George as France fought back from 17-5 down to 17-7 to force sudden death extra-time, although this ultimately brought defeat.

RUARIDH JACKSON, Scotland

Not quite a newcomer in that he already had a handful of IRB Sevens World Series appearances to his name, but Ruaridh Jackson was a player to catch the eye nonetheless, particularly with his penchant for scoring important last gasp tries to snatch a victory as he did against France in the Dubai pool stages.

A player with pace and the belief to back himself in attacking situations, Jackson came within a whisker of being Scotland’s hero in their Cup quarter-final with hosts South Africa in George, scoring in the first half from an interception before racing the length of the pitch to give them a 17-14 lead before Vuyo Zangqa’s intervention at the death.

These were not the only players to catch the eye – others that did included Australia’s Damon Murphy with his four tries against Uganda in the Bowl quarter-final in George and Zimbabwe’s pair of speedsters Wensley Mbanje and Tangai Nemadire – and when the Series resumes with the New Zealand leg in Wellington in February, perhaps a few more will come to the fore.