Ahead of the start of the action for the Dubai Rugby Sevens on Friday, Paul Radley looks at some players looking to catch the eye this weekend:
Seabelo Senatla (South Africa)
If there has ever been anyone faster on a rugby field, they must have been driving a Lamborghini. Senatla scored 47 tries in last season’s series, eight more than the next best. One he managed against Australia in Dubai here 12 months ago, chasing a Branco du Preez kick, looked more of a miss-match than Roadrunner versus Wile E Coyote.
Jerry Tuwai (Fiji)
The fisherman’s son was unemployed before being selected for the Fiji sevens team in 2014. Now he is one of the stars of the world series, whose skills have earned comparison to the great Waisale Serevi. The fact Fiji have managed to keep hold of him, for once resisting the talent drain overseas, is a boon for any fan of sevens.
Regan Ware (New Zealand)
The fastest player in the New Zealand squad, according to Gordon Tietjens, the coach. Tietjens has been effusive in his praise of the young Waikato wing, saying he is a “great defender and attacker”. Given the All Blacks sevens finished third on the series last season, expect them to mean business in Dubai.
Perry Baker (United States)
One half of the “Chuckle Brothers,” as coach Mike Friday terms his partnership with Carlin Isles, the other jet-heeled back in his burgeoning US side. Baker might not be quite as fast as Isles, the explosive former sprinter, but he is no less potent with the ball in hand. With these two in harness, the US will be a threat.
Dan Norton (England)
A permanent fixture in an England side that has lost some of its senior components in recent times. Norton provides England’s most obvious scoring threat. The quick stepping wing is fourth in the all-time list of try-scorers on the world series, behind Santiago Gomez Cora, Ben Gollings and Collins Injera.
Danny Tusitala (Samoa)
Unique among the field of world series players in that he knows what it is like to win the Sharjah 10s. The playmaker, who is a product of Jonah Lomu’s old school, played club rugby in the UAE in 2010.
As such, the nerves he admits to feeling ahead of his series debut will be offset by some handy local knowledge.
Henry Speight (Australia)
Not so long ago, XVs internationals used to abound on the world sevens circuit. David Campese, for one, dovetailed a stellar Test career with playing the abridged format.
Speight, a powerful wing, is invoking that spirit by turning out for Australia in Dubai, having played for the senior Wallabies at the World Cup in the UK on recently.
