Army Sevens Match Reports
Summer 2010

Middlesex Sevens - 14 Aug 10

Army Goes Down Guns Blazing Against A Superior Force

Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson

The British Army were soundly beaten 29pts to nil in the semi final of the Middlesex 7s at Twickenham on 14 August. That in many ways says it all but in others it tells only part of the tale.

The Middlesex is rightly regarded as the Premier sevens event in the UK -- even one of the most challenging in the World. That the British Army won the event in 2001 and 2004 was tremendous but the World has moved on, the UK has caught up and national Sevens rugby is now a competitive and well rewarded game in its own right.

The question on Saturday morning was 'How would the British Army squad 2010 stack up in the changed era ?'. The conclusion is 'bang on target'.

In the opening game the Reds saw off a stronger than usual challenge from Gilbert Pups 19pts-5 with Jack Prasad, Gus Qasevakatini, Malakai Magnus and Yamyamo touching down.

Round 2 against Kenya was a completely different kettle of fish. In recent times on the IRB circuit the Kenyans have beaten the All Blacks and England.

Kenya fielded strong lean warriors who are built for sevens with great ball skills and a nose for open spaces. They opened at pace and for a protracted period denied the Reds the ball but the defence was structured, combative and watertight. Defence on the front foot was turned into attack and Jack Prasad ran in for a fine touchdown from the halfway line. Qasevakatini (2), Magnus and Apo Satala topped up the score to seal a significant win against an international team that contained specialist sevens players.

The semi final against the Samurai International 7 was just that--hard-nosed pros with an international 7s pedigree hand picked from every corner of the globe.

That the Army was beaten 29pts-nil was harsh but that is the reality of playing against the best money can buy. Everyone stood their ground, none more so than Apo Satala who had four Samurai dripping from his shoulders as he made progress down the left touchline ! Samurai went on to defeat London Irish 15pts-12 in the final.

Make no mistake, there are no sour grapes. Samurai was a well drilled class outfit and a pleasure to watch. They were there to do a job, they did it professionally and deserved to get their names on the Cup.

In context, and as a benchmark for the Reds, Wales was eliminated in Round 1. England and Kenya in Round 2 and for the Army to feature in the semis was a great achievement. Whether we would have beaten the Irish or Wasps, the other semi finalists, is an open question but it is perfectly clear that we were up there with the better teams fielded by Premiership clubs.

I repeat--the UK and the global sevens scene has moved on and the professional game will surely move again. The challenge for manager John Voss and coach Alfred Vakacokovanua will be to shake out the internal niggles encountered in 2010, build on what has been a very successful season incorporating new players into the squad and devise a cunning plan for 2011.

The public enjoy watching the British Army play sevens but we all know that is not quite enough----we need more than applause so watch this space.

Equally Jack Prasad playing inside Wessels found a new touch and top speed. He jinked with the best and has now developed a top gas to take on the rest. Gus Qasevakatini, Maggie Magnus and Bunny Burenilevu were full of running and points

This sounds all very flamboyant but at Newquay there were two facets that showed this was a different Army team determined once more to scale the heights. Each game was structured, tackling was crisp and hard and frequently led to overturn. Secondly in the quarter final against Kamikaze the Reds' aggressive hunting down of the ball in defence showed that vital hunger that had been missing earlier in the season. They meant business.

Gerhard Wessels was fittingly named as Player of the Overall Tournament for his leadership and contribution on the park.

Full marks to all the players and management. As always there are now things to work on before the MIDDLESEX 7s at Twickenham on 14th August-an entirely different kettle of fish. Here the Reds could come up against England, Wales and Scotland preparing for the Commonwealth Games in October but………

These REDS know their way to the Presidents Box ! Mouth watering-be there !

Newquay Surf Sevens Knockouts

Cup QF - British Army (31) v Kamikaze (12)
Cup SF - British Army (24) v Wailers (7)
Cup Final - British Army (29) v White Hart Marauders (7)

See the UR7s report

National Sevens Series Standings (after 4 events)

1.Samurai International 68 (pts) - Champions via points difference
2.British Army 68
=3.HFW Wailers 48
=3.White Hart Marauders 48
5.Gilbert Pups 42
6.Akuma Smurfs 40
=7.Apache 32
=7.Olorun ID 32
9.Raging Bull Ronin 20

Posted: 19 Jul 10

Manchester Sevens - 4 Jul 10

Manchester United - The Real Reds!
'Army Beat the Best' at the home of Sale Sharks

Reporter/Photographer: Roger Thompson

The Army took the third leg of the UR7s nationwide competition by storm at Manchester on Sunday 4th July. Beating Samurai International in the final by 26pts-15 moved the men in Red one place higher in the National competition after the narrow defeat suffered in the Final at the West Country 7s, Bath the previous week.

The return of the talismanic Fiji international Apo Satala lifted the team but there was a noticeable all-round improvement in the speed and general level of fitness when the going got tough. The Reds were to a man able to hunt the ball down when not in possession, particularly Joe Kava who was back near his awesome best. Joe made a mighty contribution in open play and, as always, was unmovable in the tight.

Maybe the most significant play came from skipper Gerhard Wessels who unusually ended up on the score sheet. Normally the team plotter / try maker, Wessels has found a yard of pace and a bit more space in the tank. He is an accomplished 7s player and, attack or defence, the team have a pivot that guarantees shape and balance.

Exciting stuff to see Bunny Burenivalu return to speed. He scored the longest range try at the Middlesex 7s in 2009 when he skinned the London Irish from behind his own goal. He scored seven tries at Manchester and there are growing signs of more to come from an athletic instinctive player who is designed for high level Sevens and remains a fearless competitor. Gus Qasevakatini, as always, finished high on the list of scorers.

Above all success at Manchester was a team achievement. The Skipper Gerhard Wessels said "our composure and ability quickly to establish a platform in attack and defence, borne on better fitness levels,were the keys to a great and sustained performance"

Q/F - Army 26 v Smurfs 12
Semi - Army 38 v Gilbert Pups 7
Final - Army 26 v Samurai International 15

Read the UR7s report

The final leg of the National Sevens takes place at Newquay on Saturday 17th July.

Posted: 5 Jul 10

West Country Sevens - 20 Jun 10
Bath

Army lose to Samurai International 33-36 in finals - see UR7s report

Q/F - British Army 10 v Apache 7
Semi - British Army 17 v HFW Wailers 12
Final -Samurai 36 v British Army 33

Putting everything in to perspective this was always going to be a tough one. The standard was genuinely high. Twelve invitation teams are difficult analyse and sufficiently to nail down a game plan. Some of the better heeled, like Samurai International (literally) can import players of any pedigree, have real depth on the bench to ring the changes and meet the challenge. Importantly they can afford to make their players efforts financially rewarding and as we all know quality has a particular quantity of its own.

That's not sour grapes, simply an indication of the level of rugby 7s that is challenging the Army. It's next stop Bath for the Reds at the West Country 7s (19-20 June).

Red Leader milks the crowd

See more at Rugby Rocks

Posted: 13 Jun 10

Whilst Gus Qasevakatini and Malakai Magnus were as always excellent value, newcomer Sam Speight (12 Regt RA) was ’birthed’ at the deep end and showed he has the guile and raw speed to meet the highest demands. He gave notice that he is in the mix for the top games this summer.

In the quarter finals the Army beat the French National 7 by 14pts-7—no mean feat against a team that had trained and performed on the IRB circuit for the past five months.

The Army now moves on to the ‘Rugby Rocks’ 7s at Richmond on Sat 12th June in the first leg of the National Sevens Series. Play starts at 1000 hrs.

See more at Roma Sevens

Posted: 8 Jun 10