Crucial weekend for Olympic ambitions

The WSWS is crucial for teams with hopes for Olympic gold in 2016.

Not only will the top four teams from this season’s World Series qualify automatically for the Olympics, but, as Netherlands coach Chris Lane admitted after they were relegated after the 2012/13 series, the opportunity the tournament provides for regular competition against the best teams in the world is vital for team development.

The leading teams who are not currently in the World Series – based on recent continental championships – take part. Three European and three Asian teams are joined by two from Africa, South America, plus one each from the Pacific and North America.

The structure of the tournament is the same as used in the World Series, with three pools of four leading to what will be the vital quarter-final games, with a place in the World Series open for each winner.

Pool A,which  features  France, China, South Africa and Mexico, looks on paper to be the toughest of the pools as it includes the runner-up in this year’s European Championship, the African champions, the team currently leading the Asian championship, and the leading team in in Central America.

Despite this,Franceshould qualify with some ease – indeed it is hard to see them failing to take one of the four places. Although the French have taken longer than most to prioritise 7s, the development of the shorter game was a key aim for the domestic reorganisation that began last season. This has allowed much more time for players to be released, with several leading stars – such as Caroline Ladagnous, Shannon Izar and Christelle Le Duff - almost exclusively playing 7s at international level during the season.

The result was a significant improvement in the quality and above all consistency of the 7s team, leading to their finishing runners-up in last year’s European championship – ahead of WSWS teams Spain and England.

Chinahave had a good start to the 2014/15 season, winning the first round of the Asian championship last month on the same ground where this tournament will be played, and they should also make the quarter-finals – though progress beyond that to the WSWS is by no means certain. The Chinese have suffered in the past from a rapid turnover of players, which has meant that they have never really been able to build on the experience they have gained as a guest team in World Series rounds. They can be very unpredictable, sometimes beating teams like the Netherlands in one event before finishing last only a few weeks later.

Their major challenge will be the equally unpredictableSouthAfricateam, who can also put in great performances in some games but struggle to be consistent. However, unlike China, South Africa has had no recent 7s play. Even if they lose to China are still likely to make the quarters as a best third place team, but may struggle to go beyond that.

Mexicohave developed incredibly quickly, having only started playing international 7s in 2009. With a growing and enthusiastic player base they have now moved ahead of their Caribbean rivals and are now only behind Canada and the USA in their region.

However they are a long, long way behind these two teams and get very few opportunities to play – indeed they have played no significant international rugby since the 2013 NACRA last November. This tournament is by far the biggest event they have ever taken part in, and the first time they have played outside the region. They will gain a lot from the experience, but are unlikely to be competing for a WSWS place

Pool Bis dominated by the only team at the tournament who can claim to have beaten the World Champions and current WSWS title holders, New Zealand.Fijiachieved this at the Oceania championships last October when they defeated the Black Ferns 17-0 in the semi-finals, before losing to Australia in the final.

Hailed by many as the team for watch in the future, Fiji seem almost certain to not only win this pool and take a WSWS place, but also perhaps win the tournament. However, identifying the team (or teams) likely to join Fiji in the quarter-finals is very tricky.

Japanwere Asian champions in 2013, having made great strides in recent years, and on paper should make the last eight, but they surprisingly failed to reach the final of the opening round of the 2014 Asian championship after a disappointing weekend.  They have guested at a number of WSWS events without making a significant impact. This weekend they should reach the final eight but – based on current form – will probably not go further.

Argentinaare in the welcome position of being almost certain of qualifying for the Olympics, as they are the leading team in South America apart from Brazil. That said, they are quite a long way behind Brazil and have more playing opportunities than any of their pool rivals, though this tournament is somewhat “out of season” for them. As a result Argentina are unlikely to make the top four – indeed a quarter-final place would be a significant achievement.

Kenyaare seeded fourth in pool B, but have the potential to surprise. They achieved a place in Hong Kong ahead of both Tunisia and Uganda in what can be the very competitive world of African 7s. However, like many teams, they get very few chances to play and this will be a whole new experience for them.

Pool Cis the traditional “group of death” with four teams who will all have ambitions for a place in the last eight, and have the potential to make the top four.

Brazilhave little to worry about when it comes to qualifying for the Olympics as they will be in the tournament as hosts. However they will be wanting to make an impact in front of their home spectators, and so a place in the WSWS will be important to them - they are so far ahead of other South American teams and regular opportunities to play leading teams is essential.

Netherlandswere the first team in the world to go professional, and should – on paper – regain their WSWS place in Hong Kong, but the loss of Kelly van Harskamp (who has temporarily withdrawn from international rugby) will have been a blow, and Dutch do have a habit of stumbling at vital stages of a tournament – their loss to Brazil in the Amsterdam Sevens in May when they had a quarter-final place in their grasp being a case in point.

Portugalwere the surprise team of the European championships, finishing fourth in the first leg with a win over France, and showing that this was no fluke they also reached the quarter-finals in the second leg. Whether they can do this again is Hong Kong remains to be seen – but certainly they are not a team to be underestimated.

The same can also be said for hostsHong Kongwho have made rapid progress since becoming professional and appointing Anna Richards as coach. Their performance in last month’s Asian championship first leg showed both sides of the team – on Day One they showed remarkably naivety as they lost to Thailand and  nearly failed to make the semi-finals, but 24-hours later looked a totally different team as they beat Asian champions Japan.

Although Netherlands and Brazil stand out, any of these four teams could make the quarter finals – and once there all have the potential to win a place in the WSWS as well.