South Africa too good in Vegas

South Africa picked up the LV leg of the IRB sevens circuit, defeating NZ in the final.

NZ were depleted after losing their star attacking weapon to injury. However the talking point of the tournament was NZ's Sam Dickson who copped a nine game ban for "making contact with the eye area" in the pool win over Fiji.

England were again knocked out when they were hammered by NZ for the second time in a row. The English looking to have lost direction after the departure of the now unpaid Ben Ryan.

South Africa now lead the series by one point.

Fiji and England are distant chasers in third and fourth, but England's dip in form and Fiji's financial woes look set to keep this years tournament a disappointingly predictable two horse race.

GloriousEmpire wrote:South Africa picked up the LV leg of the IRB sevens circuit, defeating NZ in the final.

NZ were depleted after losing their star attacking weapon to injury. However the talking point of the tournament was NZ's Sam Dickson who copped a nine game ban for "making contact with the eye area" in the pool win over Fiji.

England were again knocked out when they were hammered by NZ for the second time in a row. The English looking to have lost direction after the departure of the now unpaid Ben Ryan.

South Africa now lead the series by one point.

Fiji and England are distant chasers in third and fourth, but England's dip in form and Fiji's financial woes look set to keep this years tournament a disappointingly predictable two horse race.

Getting Fiji and England mixed up a little there?

Up until the final my understanding was that SA only conceded one try in the whole tournament which is a ridiculously outstanding defensive display. Kudos.  

Eye-gouging in Sevens?  

GloriousEmpire wrote:South Africa picked up the LV leg of the IRB sevens circuit, defeating NZ in the final.

NZ were depleted after losing their star attacking weapon to injury. However the talking point of the tournament was NZ's Sam Dickson who copped a nine game ban for "making contact with the eye area" in the pool win over Fiji.

Was it an accident?

Presumably given that the NZ management are considering appealing the ban their stance is to play innocent?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/9652041/Dickson-handed-nine-match-ban

Great result for the Blitzboks

They are showing real determination and steel this year. New coach Neil Powell is really doing a good job. Boks have been in 3 of the 4 finals this year and this was their 5th straight win over the All Blacks. It was especially impressive considering they were without their best finisher in Seabelo Senatla, Sampie Mastriet was nursing a hamstring and playmaker Justin Geduld came off injured in the first half.

This year is likely to go down to the wire between the All Blacks and Boks.

Cyril wrote:Eye-gouging in Sevens?  

Speed Gouging is the rightful technical term. Needs a slow-mo cam to pick it up.

The most impressive aspect for me was their defence considering how small their backs are.

The NZ final was a tough match and for the second time in a final against NZ they allowed NZ to score first, making it a tough challenge to come back, but two well executed tries brought them the lead, the last 4 minutes was some of the toughest rugby I have seen in sevens.

Somehow the Bokke managed to make enoguh tackles to win. They weren't without injuries either, so well done boys.

They should be proud of the fact that they haven't lost to NZ since 2012

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:South Africa picked up the LV leg of the IRB sevens circuit, defeating NZ in the final.

NZ were depleted after losing their star attacking weapon to injury. However the talking point of the tournament was NZ's Sam Dickson who copped a nine game ban for "making contact with the eye area" in the pool win over Fiji.

Was it an accident?

Presumably given that the NZ management are considering appealing the ban their stance is to play innocent?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/9652041/Dickson-handed-nine-match-ban

Having not seen it GG, I can confirm that there was nothing in it, and the citing and suspension were both obscene. I can only imagine it was part of a conspiracy to rob NZ of the valuable play maker required to beat SA in the final. Sam Dickson was not only no where near the players eyes, but he wasn't even at the same stadium at the time, rumour had it he was somewhere called Sapphire, a limo had collected him a good five minutes before the incident and it wasn't a Fijians eyes that his hands were near. DNA evidence should prove everything.

Yes the next leg us right here in wellies. I'm going to the Indian ODI to have a go at picking up the $100k with a one handed catch then off to masterton Saturday to watch the blues canes warmup so havnt bought tickets for this...though for the first time I've seen tickets are still on sale. Sevens sure is heating up and the boks did look great. If they can use this as a launchpad for their xvs players as NZ does this will assist with their back play options. Unlike most top union countries they don't have League as an alternative for code swapping but 7's is a nice feeder sport.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:South Africa picked up the LV leg of the IRB sevens circuit, defeating NZ in the final.

NZ were depleted after losing their star attacking weapon to injury. However the talking point of the tournament was NZ's Sam Dickson who copped a nine game ban for "making contact with the eye area" in the pool win over Fiji.

Was it an accident?

Presumably given that the NZ management are considering appealing the ban their stance is to play innocent?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/9652041/Dickson-handed-nine-match-ban

Having not seen it GG, I can confirm that there was nothing in it, and the citing and suspension were both obscene. I can only imagine it was part of a conspiracy to rob NZ of the valuable play maker required to beat SA in the final. Sam Dickson was not only no where near the players eyes, but he wasn't even at the same stadium at the time, rumour had it he was somewhere called Sapphire, a limo had collected him a good five minutes before the incident and it wasn't a Fijians eyes that his hands were near. DNA evidence should prove everything.

See this is why I suggested the "not serious" tags, because I can guarantee some cranked up loon will read this and will reply with a Costner.

The story of my life. The problem is when you don't take yourself seriously and yet other people do.

a Costner?????