#SA7s Pool A squads: FJI, SCO, AUS, FRA
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After their Cup-winning performance at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens, Fiji have named an unchanged squad of 12 for the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay SA Sevens, round three of the HSBC Sevens World Series.
Samisoni Viriviri was named Dubai’s player of the tournament, while fans also voted Semi Kunatani as the #Sevensrookie of the tournament through interacting with the IRB’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
One to watch: Giant forward Pio Tuwai has some of the best handling skills in rugby.
Scotland – Series ranking: 9th (Cup quarter-finalists in Dubai)
Scotland have called up 20-year-old back Mark Bennett, who was involved in the recent November internationals. He is an injury replacement for James Johnstone and is joined in Stephen Gemmell’s squad by Fijian-born Joseva Nayacavou, who earned his first cap at the first round of the Series on Australia’s Gold Coast and now replaces the injured forward Chris Dean.
Of the players currently still playing the sport, captain Colin Gregor is the second-highest point scorer all-time in Sevens with 974. He sits ninth in the all-time list and needs 26 points in PE to become the eighth man to reach 1,000 points.
One to watch: Lee Jones has pace and watch for Scott Riddell’s workrate in the forward pack.
Australia – Series ranking: 5th (Bowl winners in Dubai)m
On paper coach Michael O’Connor had one of his strongest squads in Dubai but the Australians struggled for consistency. They let a strong lead slip in their opening match against Scotland and failed to reach the Cup quarter finals. They recovered well on day two, going unbeaten on the second day en route to the Bowl.
An injury to Lewis Holland has forced O’Connor to make one change, Sam Myers coming in for his debut.
One to watch: Wallaby Luke Morahan has obvious x-factor, as does Shannon Walker, but O’Connor will be asking for a big shift up front from Sean McMahon, Jesse Parahi and Ed Jenkins.
France – Series ranking: 12th (Shield winners in Dubai)
Frederic Pomarel’s experienced side suffered a disappointing weekend in Dubai, where they lost their first four matches before winning their last two to finish on a high as Shield winners.
Last year they reached the Cup final in Port Elizabeth, so will be looking for far more this weekend.
They make two changes to the Dubai squad, Vincent Inigo and Vincent Martin replaced by Stephen Parez and Steeve Barry, who were involved in the invitational tournament in Dubai. Inigo had been due to miss the tournament, but is a late replacement for Julien Saubade.
One to watch: Still no Terry Bourahoua but Julien Candelon continues to defy his age with timeless performances and Paul Albaladejo is a playmaker out of the top drawer.
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