With just days to go for Sri Lanka’s mega rugby event, the Carlton Sevens, we take a look at some of the front runners and favourites of the tournament. This two- day extravaganza will feature top teams around the world and the best of sevens rugby will be showcased at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
New Zealand Legends
The New Zealand legends are one of the top contenders for the Carlton sevens. Despite losing a few of their regulars they are expected to come out fighting. The famous New Zealand Haka descending from the traditional Maori war dance and performed to the opposition before a match in order to intimidate, tells everything about New Zealand rugby. The New Zealand legends who display an expanded variety of rugby will rely mostly on their continuous attacks to dismantle the opposition. These Kiwi’s grown up and nurtured on the field of rugby will do all in their power to live up to the legendary All-blacks reputation. South African Vipers
The other front runners of the tournament are the South African Vipers. The Vipers having won the Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament for the third consecutive time, will be the inform team coming in to the tournament. The vipers who are a domestic development team of South Africa sevens gave in a giant killer of a performance in the Singapore tournament and is one of the emerging giants of world sevens rugby. The Vipers possess some of the fastest men in their ranks and are deadly on the counter attack. They were also the runners up of the last years Carlton 7s.
Australian Legends
The lads from down under who finished in 6th place in the last years Calton 7s will no doubt put shoulder to wheel and come out threatening and determined this time around. The Aussie’s who have been a force to be reckoned with at the world stage will bring in their big boys to try and to carnage their way through. Aussies well-known for their brutal strength will use it to counter their opposition.
Samoa Barbarians
The flamboyant Samoans who have a number of players who are a part of the team that became the IRB world series title holders will be at full strength and ready to go against the rest of the giants. The country which has only a population of less than 200,000 have been a frightening force in the international rugby arena, both in sevens and also in rugby union. The big made lads thrive on open play and can create a gap at any given time with the minimal effort. Grouped with Asian giants Japan, Samoa will have to use their immense size and strength to bulldoze their way to the top. Kenya Shujaa
Shujaa which means Warrior in Swahili and that it epitomizes the Kenyan team. Roaring to the top of World Sevens ranks, Kenya will look to use their army of sprinters with lightening pace and quick-stepping dexterity to flummox the opposition. Coming from a country that naturally produces the fastest and fittest of Athletes, the Kenya Shujaa has no shortage of complete sevens- caliber men.Featuring many national players, these panther-like men, having beaten the much esteemed all-blacks thrice in the last few years, have become the toast of sevens rugby in the world. According to the experienced Carlton Sevens Tournament Director George Simpkin, the Kenyan Shujaa is tipped to steal the very expensive trophy.
Digicel Fiji Barbarians
Last year’s Carlton cup winners Fiji will have some known names in the sevens arena in their lineup. The scrum half position will be taken up by nippy Vucaqa and the center position will be played by Osea Kolonisau who was devastating last year with his power runs and aggressive defence. Sadly, Last year’s highest try scorer William Ryder is one of the missing names in the squad. Ryder turned on the heat at the Sugathadasa Stadium last year scoring 15 tries and 4 conversions giving him a full tally of 83 points. 
No comments:
Post a Comment