Fast start needed at Dubai 7s

There's scarcely room for slow starts in Dubai, the season-opening tournament kicking off tomorrow.

Expectations for the 7s Eagles are surging following the abbreviated game's admission to the Olympics and a new sponsor deal. But in recent seasons the US has stumbled out of the blocks.

More important, after failing to score any points in last season's final four tournaments, Al Caravelli's next generation has yet to fill in for the likes of Chris Wyles, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Todd Clever, and others. Not much less may do if the US is to retain its 'core' place on the ever-improving 7s circuit: Argentina, the World Cup runnerup, also failed to score over the 2008-09 season's final two stops.

With high-scoring Kevin Swiryn sidelined by an ankle injury, nearly half the squad is new to the 7s World Series. Just four players came to this event last year, and only skipper Jone Naqica has played more than 10 tournaments.

What the Eagles lack in experience, they could make up in size. Matt Hawkins, Mark Bokhoven and newcomers Leonard Peters, Volney Rouse, and Peter Sio comprise a larger set of forwards.

The weekend opens with England, narrowly third a year ago, 6th-placed Kenya, and European 7s champ Russia. Next week looks more grueling: America's pool in South Africa includes New Zealand, Samoa, and World Cup champ Wales, all of whom topped the 11th-placed US a year ago.

Separately, a USA 7s highlight show will again air on network television after this February's Las Vegas event, organizers announced. ESPN 360 also will carry the knockout rounds from earlier tournaments.

USA to Dubai 7s and South Africa 7s
Forwards: Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians), Matt Hawkins (Belmont Shore), Leonard Peters (Gentlemen of Aspen), Volney Rouse (San Francisco Golden Gate), Peter Sio (Belmont Shore)
Backs: Nick Edwards (New York AC), Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore), Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore), Jone Naqica (captain, San Francisco Golden Gate), Mile Pulu (San Francisco Golden Gate), Andrew Suniula (Pearl City), Shalom Suniula (Pearl City)

Related:
    Prospect of Eagle 7s contracts, sponsor
    7s turnover a test of US systems
    Surging 7s Eagles could be facing turnover

   

Comments

[DaTruth]

Let's hope that this year's coverage of the USA 7's offers a little more in terms of explanation and hand-holding for viewers seeing rugby for the first time.

It's fantastic to get it on network TV, but if nobody understands what's happening, then rugby is not getting the most bang out of the exposure.

[Jasongatties]

Should be noted that ESPN360.com will air the ENTIRE USA Sevens tournament in Las Vegas, not just the knockout rounds like the first 3 stops. All 44 matches will air on ESPN360.com with highlights on ABC Sports a week later.

ESPN360.com Dubai Sevens coverage begins at 9:25 am Eastern on Saturday. Just the 4 finals the way I understood the press release, not the entire knockout rounds.

[LV 7's]

I disagree that a tutorial is needed. 7's is pretty intuitive and people should figure it out quickly enough.

Last yrs broadcast suffered from trying to squeeze in too much. The finals were cut to ribbons. I want to see the WHOLE final broadcast. People don't get a feel for the ebb and flow of the game by chopping it up into a "highlight" format.

In a 60 minute show there is probably 40 minutes of action give or take? Devote 20 of it to the final and the rest to highlights focusing on the US.

[Da Truth]

I'm not sure if a "tutorial" is needed, but if I recall correctly, the commentary seemed to be directed at a rugby-savvy audience, and probably left more than a few casual viewers stumped as to what exactly was going on.

I agree that the highlight format didn't work, and you didn't get a true feel for the game.

I would think that there will also be a bit of a learning curve for programming this type of two-day tournament format for this market. It's all groundbreaking stuff, and what works in Europe or Aus/NZ won't necessarily translate to a successful format over here.

Maybe a good format would be US highlights, a "road to the final" segment on the two finalists, then the full final?

But it's all good - these seem like "fine-tuning" issues - learning what fits for this market. Just happy it's being broadcast again!

[anon]

Harder Stadium in UCSB. Looks like USAR got this one right. Never been there but looks like it is a real venue.

Good on Kevin Battle as I'm sure he put in the hard work on this.

On campus, real venue, rurrounding youth toruney already being planned.

Good stuff.

[No So Fast]

Well, this season's version of the 7's squad has carried on the storied history of poor performance in Dubai. They went 0-3 on Day 1 including a loss to Russia. They've also been hit with 3-4 injuries, so another winless Dubai tournament may be eminent. Hopefully they'll bounce back in the next tournament like they have the past couple of years. I sure hope they enjoy this season as a core member of the circuit, because they've got a long road to become a core team for next season.

[Cmon guys]

Russia? Please that's embarassing. Sure the ruskis have a few pros now but the guys on this team should expect better of themselves. The problem is not enough team speed/creativity

[Next?]

It's been a decent run for AC but the end is near.

Al has had total and complete control over the 7's Eagles for several years now.

He has been blessed with the largest budget of any 7's coach before him. The largest salary as well. He has had more competitions (IRB 7's Series) and more camps. He had Clever, Z, Wyles and lots of Olympic Training Center camps, World Games and second tier tournaments to blood new players.

Nigel Melville has just left Al alone, allowing him to do anything he likes.

If Al would have taken the team to a new level, a higher level than the odd cup appearance, then he would have deserved the credit. If on the other hand, as it appears, the team has hit it's high water mark. Then Al, working as the President, GM and Head Coach of the 7's Eagles must shoulder the same blame any sports pro would. Total control has it's cost, he can't blame anyone but himself.

Assuming this is Al's last season, who are the candidates for the next Eagles 7's coach?

[Beagles]

Not much of a surprise about Russia. Start seeing a number of minnows making things happen on the 7s series. The reality is that some of these countries were locked and loaded for 7s to be an Olympic sport. Within weeks after the announcement players and coaches were put on centralized contracts, facilities were dedicated to rugby 7s and being a sport were raw speed and athleticism goes a LONG way the results will come quick. USA 7s is still guys that have real jobs. Al Caravelli is a senior manager at HP and the players are roughing it just like the 15s players giving up careers and families for rugby 7s. The upside is when the USOC gets their weight behind it the start may be slow, but the top end blows the rest of the nations out of the water. For example. When BMX became an Olympic sport the USOC built a 2M dollar exact replica of the Beijing course for Team USA to train on before the games. It will come, but it may not be the same personnel. Al may not be the man for the future.

[DaTruth]

"Next?", you're WAYYYYYY off base.

Caravelli has been breaking ground here in terms of a professional program consisting of non-professional staff and players. Professional in approach, amateur in funding. Even with this excellent setup, consistent results are a ways off.

Until players are full-time contracted players, we're not going to see consistent results.

He's highly-regarded on the IRB circuit, and the limiting factor is funding and contracting, not coaching.

You could bring Gordon Tietjens in, and the results won't differ much until we have full-time pros, and the higher-quality athletes that pro contracts attract.

That said, they only lost to Kenya by an unconverted try, and lost to Russia (who are regarded at a team to watch this Series) by a conversion. It's still 0-3 at the end of the day, but it's not like they're stinking it up.

There's no way this is his last season, unless he were to decide to step down for other reasons.

[Next?]

DaTruth, are you Al? It's all starting to make sense. We know Al posts anon. I'm going to need to look at all your post now.

Certainly everyone acknowledges your efforts as 7's head everything, but you can't deny you have received more than any 7's coach before you and your results have only been fair.

Well if fair, stays fair, or becomes below fair, bye bye.

[Pseudonym]

"Next?" - you are a douchebag.

Al has professionalized his job as Head Coach successfully, and has done so mainly out of his own pocket. From what I have heard, he only bills USAR for his travel, and lets the team keep his "large salary".

How did I know that? Maybe I'M AL?! But, if I'M Al, who is "DaTruth"?! (And who is coaching the 7's team if Al is writing on here??!) Oh no, its a conspiracy against you! But, I guess you know that Al posts here under a pseudonym, so you should be able to figure it out.

[DaTruth]

Generally, when someone lashes out like that it indicates that they're just looking to move the conversation away from the real issues.

[LV 7's]

Tough start but other than the England game the Eagles were right in it. A brak here or there and the Eagles end the day with a 2 - 1 record.

A guy like Kevin Swiryn being out certainly doesn't help.

I'm sure the Eagles will improve from here though the road will not be easy with a tough pool draw next week.

Good luck tomorrow!

[David C]

Al is gone? Are you a complete moron?? Al has done damn well with the team better than any of the XV's coaches. If Coach Al could keep some of his players for more than one season, like most 7's teams do, our team would be hella competitive. Its tough for AC to keep a competitive team when every international season the XV's team keeps scooping up the good players. Leave the team alone and they will succeed.

[Al]

Hello Al, his brother Al and of course his coz Al. You have done a AL of a job and the rest can just go to AL.
There are seven and half tournaments to go, don't sharpen the knives yet.

[don't worry]

Do you really think AC isn't getting paid? That he isn't asking for even more compensation in his plan to sell the 7's team to a private party.

Al has done a fair job. He deserves to get paid. USAR deserves a team that is getting better from the man with complete control.

The season isn't lost on it's first day, calm down. But lets see how this played out. The team should improve. Who was that NZ Eagles coach, who beat England and got to the Cup in Wellington.

If Al wants to be the top banana he got to prove the goods. He's got all season to do it, what is it you guys are worried about.

Al has said it was the best camp ever, again, best team ever, again. What is there to worry? about?

[My Dinner With Andre The Giant]

Regarding Santa Barbara...it's a great venue on many levels. Nice stadium and appropriate size. On campus. Perfect weather to be expected. FUN college town. Plenty of pretty decent fields adjacent to the stadium.

My only problem, and it's a big one, is the location. It's about 2 hours away from a major airport, and that time can be doubled during rush hour. Then there's the fact that it's a long flight to LA or Burbank for many of the teams. Transportation will be a tremendous burden for some of the teams.

[ASU FAN]

I think UCSB is a good call. D2 colleges are still stuck at some soccer complex in the Orlando boonies.

[Paul Meyers]

UCSB has a very nice stadium, especially of the games are held during the day (so-so lights). It is a long drive from "civilization" but the teams only have to make the drive once, unless they aren't staying nearby. I hope local marketing can put a good-sized crowd in the seats. In any case, there will be more fans in the stadium than at Life. In last year's round of 16/8 there was not even a P.A. system for the 2-300 fans that attended. National anthem? Flagpole? Hmm.

By the way, did you see that the U-19 championships are being held at Rio Tinto Stadium in SLC? Now there's a stadium! 20,000 seats and absolutely amazing facilities. I'm sure the Utah Rugby Union marketing machine will spin up to put 3-5,000 people in the seats for the championships.

[bone cracker U]

West Point also put in a bid for the eastern venue. Top class facility, but USAR selected Life over Army.

The fix was in! USAR...it's not what is good for the game, it's who the boys and girls in Boulder like best.

Why is it every time USAR does anything it sucks?

[B Frank]

Maybe Obama had that weekend booked?

[Al Roker reporting]

Hmmmm .... mid April in the Northeast ... could be beautiful, or there could be freezing rain or snow. Life College - in Georgia - nicely into spring weather,

What is the wise thing to do - play the games at Life where the chances the weather will be an issue are not great or play at West Point where weather could hamper teams ability to travel or hamper the quality of the matches.

Given that Life also has quality facilities and a rugby tradition that it is a fairly obvious choice.

Either location is a solid choice but weather definitely is a factor.

It's a stretch to say the least that US Rugby dropped the ball on this one.

As for the D2 teams- Orlando has some outstanding sports facilities. These kids will likely be playing on some of the best fields they ever have or ever will. And given that a D2 rugby championship isn't likely to draw any sort of crowd Orlando is a good choice.

[college]

they played in orlando last year and the field blew

[Ray Viers]

With regards to the broadcast of the USA Seven's, it has always been a fine line within the commentary team of calling the games for both the US market and the international audience with regards to explanations.

Having been involved within the commentary team since the inception of the USA 7's (the last four years as a commentator), we try to be as instructive as we can be, but the Seven's realistically can not be regarded as a teaching moment.

The match commentary must reflect what is going on on the field of play, and our first responsibility is to a world wide audience, of which the USA is only a part.

As our one hour highlight program is limited to only around 40 minutes of actual rugby programming, there is an opportunity to briefly describe the game, but we really want to highlight the players, the action and the global nature of the Seven's as a spectacle, not teach the game to viewer's new to rugby.

You can only fit so much into a five pound bag.

I do appreciate everyone's interest and comments on our broadcasts.

Cheers!

Ray Viers

[It's not the commentary...]

I think it's not the commentary or lack of explanation that was confusing. It was more the showing of highlight clips...they were hard to follow and if you were a non-rugger, I think they pushed you away.

Any coverage is good, but just wish it were presented a little better last time.

[shoe fits]

Ray to be precise, you can actually fit 5 lbs into a 5 lb pound bag. Thanks for the commentary and the explanation.

[silk milk]

Interesting point by Mr. Ray.

A bag weighing 5 lb., made of silk, could hold much more than 5lbs.

It could hold the entire contents of the last Board meat-up. For instance; 7 bottles of liquor, $345 in singles, comic books, imported cheese, a croquet set, a bowl of fruit, a prom dress, a blow-up mattress/doll combo, a small animal, a midget, and a liter of baby oil.

A bag weighing 5 lbs. made of dung would actually hold about 5 lbs. of shit.