It doesn’t get any easier for Wales on the IRB Sevens Series circuit as they prepare to face both of last weekend’s finalists in pool play in the second round of action in George, South Africa, tomorrow.
Paul John’s side drew current champions South Africa in last weekend’s opening round in Dubai along with the improving Australian side and were unable to reach the knockout stages as a result. But they bounced back to beat Zimbabwe to claim the Bowl.
Last week’s victorious side, New Zealand and beaten finalists Samoa are grouped with Wales along with USA.
Coach Paul John is confident his team can learn from last weekends experience and do well at Outeniqua Park.
“I was very proud of the boys last week. The first three minutes against South Africa the boys were maybe in awe of them but after that they did tremendously well. We pushed them really hard. Then we played Australia who seem to be our bogey team at the moment and they deservedly won 14-7.
“But the attidute since then has been absolutely brilliant. By winning the Bowl we got what we deserved. They are a young squad and played some cracking stuff so that bodes well for the future.”
New Zealand should be favourites to win their pool but coach Gordon Tietjens is fully aware his side face a tough task to repeat last weekend’s title success.
“It was obviously important to us to get our series off to a winning start last weekend in Dubai,” he said. “I was really pleased how the experienced players played along with the younger members of the squad and to win the final against Samoa was great.
“Saying that, there are no easy games these days and the draw this weekend is quite unbelievable. We kick off against Samoa, the two finalists in Dubai. But we’ve got to handle that. Then we’ve got USA and Wales. So it is a very tough pool so we are going to have to be up for it.”
Pools:
Pool A: South Africa, Kenya, France, Zimbabwe
Pool B: Fiji, Australia, Portugal, Russia
Pool C: New Zealand, Wales, Samoa, United States
Pool D: Scotland, England, Argentina, Tunisia
Day one fixtures:
1. Scotland v Argentina (Pool D)
2. England v Tunisia (Pool D)
3. New Zealand v Samoa (Pool C)
4. Wales v United States (Pool C)
5. Fiji v Portugal (Pool B)
6. Australia v Russia (Pool B)
7. South Africa v France (Pool A)
8. Kenya v Zimbabwe (Pool A)
9. Scotland v Tunisia (Pool D)
10. England v Argentina (Pool D)
11. New Zealand v United States (Pool C)
12. Wales v Samoa (Pool C)
13. Fiji v Russia (Pool B)
14. Australia v Portugal (Pool B)
15. South Africa v Zimbabwe (Pool A)
16. Kenya v France (Pool A)
17. Argentina v Tunisia (Pool D)
18. Samoa v United States (Pool C)
19. Portugal v Russia (Pool B)
20. France v Zimbabwe (Pool A)
21. Scotland v England (Pool D)
22. New Zealand v Wales (Pool C)
23. Fiji v Australia (Pool B)
24. South Africa v Kenya (Pool A)
