How Samoa amazing depth keeps growing

When Samoa secured the 7th place in the IRB Rankings last November to book their place in the second band for the World Cup draw, many saw an opportunist and lucky move. Right, it was, at least, a bit lucky, but Samoa really confirmed its new elite status in the tournament played in South Africa during June. So, what really changed for Samoa since a few years ?
First, you can't underestimate the power of Samoa victory against Australia in 2010. That's clearly the kind of wins which leave its mark for a generation of players.
Second, Samoan players found a way to send a message to world rugby like Argentina did it before. They used their unfair treatment during 2011 RWC as a genious communication plan. It put all world rugby in a certain atmosphere about Samoa. It's important to have a clear message which means something to the players concerned by Samoa.
Third, and not the least, Samoa really improved its training standards. With the help of the IRB, coaching, nutrition, conditioning, mental approach, physicality (yes, they still can), everything. Samoa is really the first nation to benefit from an IRB plan. They built different facilities in Apia, improved their youth academies, played more useful games with the Pacific Rugby Cup.
And finally, Samoa put a definitive end to the "All Blacks attraction", many Samoa-born players were convinced Manu Samoa will give them a better aspiration than some meaningless caps with New Zealand. It's really about meaning and my second point is not out of consideration about that. The commitment of the Williams brothers (Paul was decisive in the Sydney historic win) nearly reversed the phenom. Since, more and more NZ-born players are committing themseleves to Manu Samoa.
Let's have a look on the brand new depth. For exemple, Samoa have an amazing pool of players at front row. It's not even sure Census Jonhston (Toulouse key player) is still the best Samoan front rower, Logovi'i Mulipola is now a monster player for the Premiership champions Leicester, but he have to fight for the job at loosehead with James Johnston (Saracens) and Zak Taulafo (Stade Français). And Naama Leleimalefaga (25, Montpellier) is rising fast. Anthony Perenise, former key player of the Manu is not even called in the last squad because Stephen Betham prefers to grow younger Viliamu Afatia (Agen). Half of these players are born in New Zealand (the Johnstons and Perenise). In every position, Samoa uses the diversity of players' origin as a force to advance.
Current Samoa biggest problem comes from his goal-kicking abilities. Only James So'oialo is a world-class goal kicker. His recent problem with Connacht ruled him out of the squad for November tour with the disappointed result we know. Even if Samoa names are impressive, a lot have be done on the field.

National teams collapse in Las Vegas (LVI Elite 7's complete scores and rankings)

Pool A :
Spain 31 v Chicago Lions 5
Bermuda 13 v Peru 31
Spain 46 v Peru 0
Bermuda 0 v Chicago Lions 31

Spain 45 v Berumuda 0
Chicago Lions 38 v Peru 0

Ranking :
1. Spain 6 pts
2. Chicago Lions 4"
3. Peru 2"
4. Bermuda 0"

Pool B :
Chile 21 v Tiger Rugby 21
Philippine Pacific 31 v Alaska Golden Bears 5
Chile 24 v Alaska Golden Bears 12
Philippine Pacific 12 v Tiger Rugby 20

Chile 47 v Philippine Pacific 5
Tiger Rugby 45 v Alaska Golden Bears 5

Ranking :
1. Chile 5 pts
2. Tiger Rugby 5"
3. Philippine Pacific 2"
4. Alaska Golden Bears 0"

Pool C :
Guyana 12 v Force XV Froggies 19
Mexico 0 v Social Vibe Pups 31
Guyana 14 v Social Vibe Pups 36
Mexico 12 v Force XV Froggies 19

Social Vibe Pups 35 v Force XV Froggies 0
Guyana 19 v Mexico 14


Ranking :
1. Social Vibe Pups 6 pts
2. Force XV Froggies 4"
3. Guyana 2"
4. Mexico 0"

Pool D :
Romania 14 v Denver Barbarians 14
Dog River Howlers 17 v Columbus 12
Romania 30 v Columbus 7
Dog River Howlers 21 v Denver Barbarians 21

Romania 10 v Dog River Howlers 19
Denver Barbarians 0 v Columbus 1

Ranking :
1. Dog River Howlers 5 pts
2. Romania 3"
3. Denver Barbarians 2"
4. Columbus 2"

Bowl quarter-finals :
Peru 26 v Alaska 14
Denver 14 v Mexico 5
Guyana 17 v Columbus 12
Philippines Pacific 38 v Bermuda 0

Bowl semi-final :
Peru 7 v Denver 28
Guyana v Philippines Pacific

Bowl final :
Denver v Guyana or PP

Cup quarter-finals :
Social Vibe Pups 36 v Romania 7
Chile 26 v Chicago Lions 0
Force XV Froggies 26 v Dog River Howlers 14
Spain 12 v Tiger Rugby 14

Cup semi-final :
Social Vibe Pups 7 v Chile 0
Force XV Froggies 14 v Tiger Rugby 19

Cup 3rd/4th final :
Chile 14 v Force XV Froggies 0

Cup final :
Social Vibe Pups 19 v Tiger Rugby 0

Complete Las Vegas Invitational Elite schedule

Eight national teams are playing in the Las Vegas Invitational Elite Sevens.
The pools are :
Pool A : Spain, Bermuda, Peru, Chicago Lions
Pool B : Chile, Philippine Pacific, Tiger Rugby, Alaska Golden Bears
Pool C : Guyana, Mexico, Force XV Froggies, Social Vibe Pups
Pool D : Romania, Denver Barbarians, Dog River Howlers, Columbus

Thursday February 9th :
8.00 Chile v Tiger Rugby
8.20 Philippine Pacific v Alaska Golden Bears
8.40 Guyana v Force XV Froggies
9.00 Mexico v Social Vibe Pups
9.20 Spain v Chicago Lions
9.40 Bermuda v Peru
10.00 Romania v Denver Barbarians
10.20 Dog River Howlers v Columbus
10.40 Chile v Alaska Golden Bears
11.00 Philippine Pacific v Tiger Rugby
11.20 Guyana v Social Vibe Pups
11.40 Mexico v Force XV Froggies
12.00 Spain v Peru
12.20 Bermuda v Chicago Lions
12.40 Romania v Columbus
13.00 Dog River Howlers v Denver Barbos

Friday February 10th :
8.00 Chile v Philippine Pacific
8.20 Tiger Rugby v Alaska Golden Bears
8.40 Guyana v Mexico
9.00 Force XV Froggies v Social Vibe Pups
9.20 Spain v Bermuda
9.40 Chicago Lions v Peru
10.00 Romania v Dog River Howlers
10.20 Denver Barbarians v Columbus
11.20 #25 QF Bowl 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B
11.40 #26 QF Bowl 3rd Pool D v 4th PoolC
12.00 #27 QF Bowl 3rd Pool C v 4th Pool D
12.20 #28 QF Bowl 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A
12.40 #29 Cup QF 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B
1.00pm #30 Cup QF 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C
1.20 #31 Cup QF 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D
1.40 #32 Cup QF 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A
2.00 #33 SF Shield Loser #25 v Loser #26
2.20 #34 SF Shield Loser #27 v Loser #28
2.40 #35 SF Bowl Winner #25 v Winner #26
3.00 #36 SF Bowl Winner #27 v Winner #28
3.20 #37 SF Plate Loser #29 v Loser #30
3.40 #38 SF Plate Loser #31 v Loser #32

Japan breakout year ?

Japan has always been a enigma for world rugby. Winning the Pacific Nations Cup for the first time, Japan revealed to the world all his progress two months before the World Cup.

Even if few know this, Japan is a traditional nation at rugby. British sailors bring rugby in Japan in 1874. Because of racial barriers and isolation, Japan played his first international game in 1932 against Canada. Rugby always had big numbers in the country. Japan is still ranked 6th in the world in terms of registered players ahead of Australia, Argentina, Wales and Scotland. Rugby in Japan always had a big financial support thank to company teams domination. But Japan always suffered from his isolation and inability to attract tall and strong players because of competition from judo, baseball and other martial arts. It's still a major issue. A late conversion to profesionnalism didn't help also. So Japan finally won only one game in World Cup history that was over Zimbabwe in 1991.

This could change radically at the next World Cup, thank to the development of professional Top League since 2003, thank to foreign contribution both at domestic and national level, Japan seems to be on the brink of revealing all his long-waited potential. Just two months before the World Cup, Japan beat two Pacific Island nations at full roster. Japan had already did this in 2010 but agaisnt weakened teams in 2010. This time, they beat the same kind of teams that usually elimanate Wales at the World Cup. But more than results the level of play of the Brave Blossoms is impressive, they made huge progress at rucks, defense and scrummaging. Ryan Nicholas bring world class skills to the backline. His breakline style remind me O'Driscoll's one. Japan back row radically improved in every ways. Usually made of captain Takashi Kikutani, young gun Michael Leitch, and number 8 Ryu Holani, they demonstrate toughness, resistance, endurance and, above all, fighting spirit.
One of the most impressive thing with this team is his depth. John Kirwan built this team for the World Cup, he wanted Japan to be able to play every four days, so he instated a huge competition among national team players, and no one has been saved. Even foreign-born players were affected, it lead the team to the current level of play. Even now, Shaun Webb is still in competition with Go Aruga at full-back, but he's also at fly-half with newcomer Murray Williams and historic leader James Arlidge. The same is right for Justin Ives and Luke Thompson compete by Toshizumi Kitagawa and Itoshi Ono at lock. Finally, two very different teams beat Tonga and Fiji in July.
One more impressive thing is the margin of improvement available. Against Tonga, James Arlidge mistakes lead to two zero pass try from Tonga ! In the same game, Japan missed two try opportunities with only one pass to do in front of the last defender ! Japan still lack simple try scoring skills, if they learned it, it could be terrible for their next opponent, Italy, because, above all, Japan love the ball, they keep it and keep it like Munster can do. They had an average possession of 70% at the PNC, 90% of the tries conceded by Japan came from a quick counterattack.
The chances for Japan to beat for the second time a Six Nations' team have never been so high. A win can definitely put them as a contender for the quarter-finals. Never forget what usually happened to France in his opening match at the World Cup...

USA rugby Dream team ?

Moeakiola(Bobigny)/MacDonald(Leeds) - ? - Pittman(London Welsh)/W.Johnson(London Irish)
LaValla(Dublin University)/Smith(Saracens) - Manoa(Northampton)
Clever(Suntory)/Stanfill(Mogliano) - N.Johnson(L'Aquila) - Basauri(L'Aquila)
Shaw(Bristol)/Usasz(Nottingham) - ?
Sifa(Nottingham)/Welch(Aix) - Tuilevuka(Montpellier) - Dirkson(Ospreys) - Ngwenya(Biarritz)/Swyrin(Agen)
Wyles(Saracens)

Here is what Eddy O'Sullivan can put on the paper for USA with overseas based players only. Impressive, isn't it ? Number of players in Top league clubs is pretty remarquable. It increases each year.
Since the 90's, USA rugby used to export big guys ready for hard battles in England or Wales, Dan Lyle, Kort Schubert, Luke Gross were one of them. Since Peter Thorburn nomination in 2006, something changed in the minds. He clearly proved that USA can play an attractive and complete rugby with fast backs, powerful centers and skillful players. 2007 RWC finished to convert the last skeptics. Than Taku Ngwenya went to Biarritz. Thas was a really ambitious move, no US backs played for a perenial Heineken Cup contender before. But after few months of adjustment, he had a huge impact in the team, in the french league and finally in all Europe. Taku waked up scouts sending them a powerful message : “Hey guys, see what can happen if you give a chance to the hungry American guys !” Scouts well heard the message and suddenly watched the 80,000+ USA players base, more than Scotland and Wales united.
USA quickly adapted thank to its great profesionnal sports experience, creating networks thru Europe, giving informations to clubs, putting promising players in front. Export of USA players is only starting, deceiving players are rare.
Next step for USA is to convince European clubs to sign key position players. As you see up, a hoocker and a fly-half are missing. But consider this, Tai Enosa name won’t wait too long to be in the headlines.

Rugby now first show in Paris

History happened few weeks ago in Paris. When Racing Metro hosted Toulouse in front of 74,000 spectators on March 23, the Racingmen not only beat Toulouse by the biggest margin of the season, but allow Rugby to officialy became the first sport in Paris metropolitan area. With a combined attendance of 34,000, Stade Français Paris et Racing Metro surpass the average attendance of football club Paris Saint-Germain. Racing-Metro was already in Top 14 last season but didn't host any games in the Stade de France. Reading these figures, it's easy to undestand why both rugby clubs from Paris are building two new stadiums, Stade Français'one is an exclusive rugby stadium with a 20,000 seats capacity, Racing-Metro's one is a multi-purpose arena of 32,000 seats in rugby use. And both clubs want to sold out the stadium for every games !
Paris is knowing a real transition. Rugby demonstrates how to go to the stadium with his children without hearing constant insults you can hear in a football stadium, escpecially in Paris. Aware of rugby popular rising in the city and after the death of a fan nearby the stadium in hooligans fight, Paris Saint Germain decided to clean his stadium. But after several months tryng to catch women and children that went to rugby, they failed to attract a new public. The 47,000 seats Parc des Princes is half empty, attendance rate is 59%...
This figure is in constant fall since three years. Football won't never take the lead again. Football reputation has never been so low in France. Capital figures are just the reflect of a change in sport show in France. Toulouse figures was already in favor of rugby, Paris figures show how rugby growing capacity is great in France. It's just the beginning of something rugby never know before, a NFLization.

Is Martin Heredia the next Diego Dominguez ?

Spain finally found a fly-half who came from nowhere to lead the Leones. He's born in Argentina, he improved lately and chose to play for an emerging nation. Is that remember you someone else ? Yes, you find him ? Diego Dominguez, Italian legend.

Heredia was discovered in 2010 by former Spain coach, Ged Glynn. It seems really incredible that a player like Heredia didn't attract scouts from France and England. He's a very skilled player, big man (1,84m, 90kg), versatile back. Each time he had the opportunity to start at fly-half, he was efficient. He's a productive defender, maybe the best among all the Spanish. Martin Heredia had a professional experience of several months in the inaugural SuperIberica in 2009, but, since 2010, he's playing in a regional amateur club, Costa del Sol. Martin Heredia is a regular member of the Spain Sevens national team. He played in the Hong Kong Sevens. Once again, he proved all his talent. http://www.youtube.com/irb#p/u/2/GZjw-N4zM0g Well, Martin Heredia really is the number 6 on the first try...

As Diego Dominguez changed the history of Italian rugby, Heredia have the power the capacity to carry Spain to another level. A level where Spain belong. Like in Italy, Spanish rugby has always been affected by French rugby. Recent matches organized by French clubs in San Sebastien and Barcelona focused the attention on rugby in Spain. In 2009, Spanish TV star commentator Michael Robinson even convinced Canal Plus to launch the first professional competition of rugby in Spain, SuperIbérica de Rugby. The 2010 edition of the 3 months competition was canceled, the 2011 edition could start in late April. This could be another opportunity for Martin Heredia to show all his abilities...