Sevens returns in Sao Paulo

Pool A:Australia, Canada, Fiji, IrelandPool B:Russia, New Zealand, Spain, United StatesPool C:England, France, Japan, Brazil

Pool A

Australia

Deserved winners in first round, Australia were the only team not to put a foot wrong in Dubai. Skipper Sharni Williams (knee), Chloe Dalton (arm), Tiana Penitani (knee) and Brooke Walker (leg) are all unavailable due to injury in Sao Paulo but Australia’s astonishing successful young development machine is still in full steam allowing Tim Walsh to add two more rising stars - winger Taleena Simon and the powerful Mahalia Murphy - both products of Australia’s Indigenous Rugby program, the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team..

“Taleena [Simon] and Mahalia [Murphy] have great potential and both offer the squad points of difference”, Walsh said.” This is a real opportunity for them to test themselves against some of the world’s elite athletes on a global stage.

“Dubai was an excellent start to the season and an important contribution to our seeding as we look ahead to the Rio Olympics. The challenge for us is to continually improve our performance while also building depth in the program. As a group, we are always looking for challenges that put us out of our comfort zone and there’s no doubt Sao Paulo will provide a huge challenge for everyone.”

Shannon Parry will captain the team, who have been preparing with participation in a top-level tournament in Fiji, as well as a three game series against Ireland in front of packed crowds at the Sydney Sevens. “We have been working incredibly hard since our return from Dubai on maintaining our high standards”, says Parry. “The three-match series against Ireland last weekend was the perfect opportunity to keep us nice and sharp and was a good test for us.”

Perhaps due to injury they have selected a slightly younger side than normal but Australia are bristling with confidence, and will be the team to beat in Sao Paulo. If they are not in the mix at the end it will be a big surprise.

1. Shannon Parry. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD; 2. Taleena Simon. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW; 3. Nicole Beck. Place of Birth: Bulli, NSW; 4. Gemma Etheridge. Place of Birth: Tamworth, NSW. Hometown: Toowoomba, QLD; 5. Emma Tonegato. Place of Birth: Wollongong, NSW; 6. Evania Pelite. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD; 7. Charlotte Caslick. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD; 8. Mahalia Murphy. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW; 9. Amy Turner. Place of Birth: Tokoroa, NZ; 10. Alicia Quirk. Place of Birth: Wagga Wagga, NSW; 11. Emilee Cherry. Place of Birth: Roma, QLD. Hometown: Toowoomba, QLD; 12. Ellia Green. Place of Birth: Suva, Fiji. Hometown: Melbourne, VIC ;

Canada

With ambitions for gold in Rio, Canada will have been bitterly disappointed by their sixth place in Dubai, the outcome of which is also a tough pool draw alongside Australia and Fiji in this round.

Hannah Darling, Bianca Farella, Sara Kaljuvee and Ghislaine Landry all make welcome returns, while Breanne Nicholas makes her debut. However while some players return injury has claimed others, including Ashley Steacy, Elissa Alarie, Natasha Watcham-Roy and Magali Harvey.

“We’re excited to get back into competition mode,” coach John Tait said. “It’s been a good couple of weeks of preparation since we returned from San Diego. We moved our setup down there for two weeks for the better weather, as the conditions are similar to what we see in the series. We’ve also had a chance to train with the USA at their home base and scrimmage with them allowing us to try out some different tactics against someone other than ourselves.”

Jen Kish will once again captain the team while Britt Benn, Megan Lukan, Mandy Marchak, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin and Kelly Russell keep their spots.

Newcomer Nicholas has is a product of Canada’s youth programme and last year was named Rugby Canada’s Young Player of the Year. No stranger to international rugby she has appeared was the second string Maple Leafs to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Central Coast and Las Vegas within the last year.

“I’m really excited to be making my series debut for Canada next weekend,” Nicholas said. “I’m looking forward to travelling with the team for my first World Series tour. The Maple Leafs tournaments have definitely helped quite a bit as it has got me involved in sevens and in playing different countries and travelling around the world.”

Canada have beaten in four of the eleven previous World Series meetings, but with teams using this year’s series almost as extended preparation for Rio this will be really unpredictable. Canada have beaten Australia in four out of eleven previous meetings, and their pool game will be close – though both should make the quarters without problem, and it would be a big surprise is Canada were not to significantly improve on their position in Dubai.

Britt Benn – (Guelph Redcoats) Napanee, ON; Hannah Darling – (Peterborough Pagans) Warsaw, ON; Bianca Farella – (Town of Mont Royal RFC) Montreal, QC; Sara Kaljuvee – (Toronto Scottish) Ajax, ON; Jen Kish – (Edmonton Rockers) Edmonton, AB; Ghislaine Landry – (Toronto Scottish) Toronto, ON ; Megan Lukan – (Unattached) Barrie, ON; Mandy Marchak – (Capilano RFC) Winnipeg, MB ; Kayla Moleschi - (Williams Lake Rustlers) Williams Lake, BC; Breanne Nicholas - (London St. Georges) Blenheim, ON ; Karen Paquin - (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC; Kelly Russell - (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON

Fiji

Perhaps no new coach in the World Series has had such an electrifying effect on as Chris Cracknell has had with the Fijiana. The exploded on the consciousness of world rugby in Dubai when they opened the tournament with a 24-10 win over Canada. They followed that with Day One wins over the USA and Ireland, topping their group and showing everyone that Fiji at last looked like turning potential into results.

Fijiana eventually finished seventh, after defeats to France and New Zealand before a win over Spain in the play-off. It would, perhaps, have been an acceptable result before the start, but after their great opening day it was a disappointing end.

“Unfortunately, after beating Canada and USA, the day two mentality crept in,” remembers Cracknell. “Because of the need to qualify for the Olympics the girls hadn’t had much time to recover and the bodies were sore.”

Playing ‘heads up’ rugby is in the DNA of Fiji’s players regardless of gender and turning that natural ability into tangible reward is the goal of the Fiji team, who have a realistic target of a podium finish in Rio.

But getting his team to compete at the same level for two consecutive days has been the biggest area of focus for Cracknell and his backroom staff in the intervening two months.

“I think Dubai gave us a bit of a wake-up call in the sense of where we are really at,” he said. “The positive we got out of it was it showed the girls just how far they had come in their development and that they could compete with these teams. They have learnt that their ability is far greater than they first envisaged and that no games are foregone conclusions.”

The fact that his team are already in Rio gives Cracknell a chance to experiment and build slowly towards the summer, including the opportunity to give new players a run.

Two new faces - and no Rebecca Tavo - are the highlights of the squad. The new caps are Miriama Marawa and Miriama Naiobasali, both 18 years old, who forced their way in after impressing the coaching staff at training.

"Marawa was part my team at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa where we claimed the bronze medal," Cracknell said. "She can play a dual role in the half back and at playmaker. Naiobasali is a former Fiji soccer rep, who plays utility in the forward and has speed to burn." Ana Maria Roqica retains the captaincy

Cracknell said Fiji would better its performance from Dubai where the team won the Plate and finished unbeaten in pool play.The Olympics is in our mind, but at the back,” he says. “We've a tough pool [in Sao Paulo] and two new caps. Each tournament for us is an opportunity to see where we are at on the world stage and make sure we move forward from the last outing. We want to be hitting semi-finals as a minimum and if we do that then we have moved a step forward from last time out. We’re hoping to put right those wrongs in Sao Paulo.”

Squad:Ana Maria Roqica, Rusila Nagasau, Miriama Marawa, Miriama Naiobasali, Litia Naiqato, Timaima Ravisa, Viniana Riwai, Jiowana Sauto, Lavenia Tinai, Luisa Tisolo, Talica Vodo, Timaima Tamoi. Management: Chris Cracknell, Iliesa Tanivula, Jennifer Khalik and Mathew Dooley

Ireland

Ireland have been busy since finishing bottom in Dubai, where they suffered losses to Brazil, USA, Fiji and Canada. They have spent the past two weeks training with Australian Women's in Sydney and played three games against their Aussie counterparts as part of an exhibition series at the Sydney 7s.The Australian side were victorious in all three games, but Anthony Eddy, Director of Sevens Rugby was pleased with the experience: "The two week camp in Sydney was a valuable experience for the group. They got to train and play against a team that has been assembled and professional for a few years as well as having a lot of World Series experience. Our girls learned a great deal and played three tough games in front of over 30,000 spectators"The squad to take part in the Sao Paulo 7s features eleven of the fifteen players that travelled to Sydney.Jeamie Deacon, Kim Flood, Jenny Murphy and Hannah Tyrrell have returned to Ireland and will continue training at their base in Dublin, while Audrey O'Flynn, who missed out on the Australia trip though injury has recovered and has joined the squad in Sao Paulo.With a disappointing return in Dubai, Eddy is hopeful of an improved finish in Sao Paulo: "A lot of the girls would have experienced the intensity of the World Series for the first time in Dubai and since then we have been building steadily towards Sao Paulo.They now know what is required of them at this level and while we are again drawn in a challenging pool, we will be aiming for a better performance".

This looks an incredibly difficult pool for Ireland though they now have something to prove against every team within it given they've lost to all of them in recent months. The absence of Jen Murphy and Hannah Tyrell is a blow though this young Irish side have one aim and that is building for the Rio qualifiers later this summerIreland:Ashleigh Baxter - Belfast Harlequins / Ulster, Eimear Considine - Talent ID Programme, Katie Fitzhenry - Blackrock College RFC / Leinster, Stacey Flood - Railway Union / Leinster, Louise Galvin - UL Bohemians / Munster, Shannon Houston - Blackrock College RFC / Leinster, Claire Keohane - UL Bohs / Munster, Alison Miller - Portlaoise / Connacht, Lucy Mulhall - Rathdrum / Leinster Captain, Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe - St.Mary's College RFC / Munster, Audrey O'Flynn - Talent ID Programme, Megan Williams - St.Mary's College RFC

Pool B

Russia

Russia impressed in Dubai, reaching their second tournament fina and they were genuinely disappointed not to win the title after thrashing New Zealand in the pools and knocking out England in the semi-finals. As a result, they have a top three seeding for Sao Paulo, despite not yet wrapping up their Olympic qualification.

That is clearly the priority for Pavel Baronowski who – along with several other teams – is using this round to try out a number of fringe squad players, including three new caps - Elena Zdrokova, Daria Bobkova, and Julia Ledovskaya (though Bobkova has played test rugby in the European Championship). The rest of the squad is: Zhanna Matveeva, Daria Fefelova, Daria Lushina, Marina Kukina, Catheine Bankerova,  Arina Bystrova,  Anna Gavrilyuk, Maria Shemchuk and Ekaterina Kazakova.

The full squad has been in Spain for a fortnight of (relative to Russia) warm weather training, so they will be well prepared for Brazil, but how well such an untried squad will fare will be very interesting to see. It will certainly be tough for them to begin to repeat the success of Dubai, and maybe making quarter-finals will be their most realistic aim this time.

New Zealand

After the disappointment of finishing only fifth in Dubai, the current World Series champions will be determined to bounce back and put the loses in Dubai behind them. However coach Sean Horan is still positive about his team’s performance in the opening round: “I think it was a good tournament for us. In the past we’ve made every final there and won a few, so there was a bit of learning there that you can’t take anything for granted. I think we got caught out against Russia, they really showed us where the game is evolving to so for us a team and as a squad, it was a key learning that It doesn’t matter who you are playing or where you are playing them, if you’re not on your A-game you get put to the sword.

“Dubai proved you can’t be off your game at any point. The series is getting increasingly competitive so we’ll be looking for quality and consistency in all aspects of our game. Players are far more physically fit than they were even a year ago, in terms of size, speed, strength and power. I think that is great for the game. I think the big thing for us is around the skill set and the decision-making, the girls are getting better and better as genuine sevens rugby players.”

There is no doubt what the target is this year for Horan and his team: “This year is about creating a really competitive squad and focusing probably more so on Rio than on the world series. Even though we wear a black jersey and you want to go to every tournament and win every tournament, as you know in sevens it is pretty impossible to achieve that so really our big goal for us is creating an environment that they believe in themselves and they work bloody hard for something in August.

As for Sao Paulo: “Preparations have been good. We got a few long-term injuries at the end of last year so we still have four or five out. What we are trying to do is build some quality depth for Rio and expand the existing core group of good players. We believe that every single one of our 22 players has a uniqueness or a super power that will be able to take us to Rio.”

By co-incidence all three of the teams in the pool have beaten New Zealand in recent tournament: “For us last year we lost our winning streak, against Spain in the last second and it was because we had a couple of young players who really had to learn what it meant to be in the black jersey and how hard you have to work, so that was a good reminder. Then USA did the same to us in Amsterdam last year and Russia did the same to do in Dubai so for us there might be a little bit of redemption out of there, there might be a touch of eagerness to try and rectify what has happened in the last six months, so we are looking forward to it.”

“Not taking anything away from Russia and USA when they put some heavy scores on us, we just didn’t show them enough respect and they put us to the sword and I think that is great for us and great for the game. And then also when we lost to Spain again it was through probably our lacklustre performance.

“We’re up against some good teams. Aussie really understand how we play and they are great competitors. It’s the same with the likes of England and Fiji. You can’t take anything away from Canada, either; they have been in the top three for the last three years. They played us in the final of the World Cup, so I think if you look across the board the competitive nature of the World Series now it is pretty fierce.”

Carla Hohepa, Lesley Ketu, Shiray Tane and Jordon Webber are all out with injury, while Honey Hireme (Waikato) and Stacey Waaka (Waikato) will travel with the team but only as reserves. Despite that the 12 selected is full of big names and should be more than capable of winning the pool on Day One, and in all probability competing for the title on Day Two.

Michaela Blyde (Taranaki); Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty); Gayle Broughton (Taranaki) ; Sarah Goss (captain) (Manawatu); Kayla McAlister (Auckland); Huriana Manuel (Auckland); Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland); Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau); Ruby Tui (Canterbury); Kat Whata-Simpkins (Wellington); Niall Williams (Auckland); Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau).

Spain

Only one win and eighth place was the disappointing outcome for Spain in Dubai, though they did make the quarter-finals which was better than was achieved in much of the 14/15 season.

There are two changes from the first round, Amaia Erbina and Lourdes Alameda coming into the squad in place of Marina Bravo and Alex Castillo, and this would appear to be the strongest possible squad.

Spain have joined France and England/Grand Britain in a number of joint training sessions, the latest being in Soustons earlier this month. Although such training events are not the best guide to team strength, in those results that have been released Spain have generally finished third of the three.

As a result this would appear to be a tough draw, but with a highly experimental Russian team and a United States team that faired badly in Dubai this settled and experienced squad would seem to have a good chance of taking the runners-up spot in what is a very competitive pool.

Squad:Lourdes Alameda (XV Sanse Scrum); Iera Echebarria (Olímpico Pozuelo); Patricia García Rodríguez (Olímpico Pozuelo); Irene Schiavon (Olímpico Pozuelo); Amaia Erbina (Inef Barcelona); Elizabet Martinez (G.E.i.E.G.); Ana Vanesa Rial López (Crat); Paula Medín López (Crat); Teresa Bueso Gómez (Cau Valencia); María Casado (Blagnac Saint-Orens); Berta García Alonso (FER); Ángela Del Pan Moruno (FER)

United States

For a team with realistic podium ambitions, Dubai was a horror show, not least for the new coach Jules McCoy. 11thplace for such a talented and ambitious squad was unexpected, though also perhaps a sign of how competitive this season’s series is. The Eagles won just one match from five, failing to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals. The one bright spot was the form of Kristen Thomas who led the way with six of the team's 11 tries.

Canada and Japan have recently joined them the US for a joint training session at Olympic Training Center, with the US drawing a two game series with the Canadians as they gained valuable match experience prior to Sao Paulo.

Injury has also had an effect with Lauren Doyle and Richelle Stephens unavailable, however Bui Baravilala returns along with Joanne Fa'avesi and Ryan Carlyle. In addition three more players - Rachel Griendling, Ashley Perry and Naya Tapper will make their debuts in Brazil. In addition also returns to the squad.

"We are trying to build depth in our pool by adding some new caps," McCoy says. "We are moving players around some to assess their versatility under pressure in case of future injury, preparing for the best and the worst situations going forward. A healthy Bui gives us experience in the midfield. She is a talented, passionate player, and she is excited to get back on the circuit. Joanne is a physical player and quite versatile – she has been working very hard to get back into the starting 12 and is getting her reward.

"We have made progress but won't be satisfied until our outcomes improve. The players are more comfortable in the new systems, but now they look to personalize the approach by making the new schemes their own. Our team identity, in the end, will be created by the players themselves. I'm excited to see what they come up with."

The inevitable effect of a poor opening round is a tough draw in round two. However, with Russia in effect sending their development team the second qualification spot from this pool is wide open, so if the US can play to their potential this weekend they can expect a far better result this time around.

Squad: Bui Baravilala;  Megan Bonny;  Ryan Carlyle;  Joanne Fa'avesi;  Rachel Griendling;  Kelly Griffin;  Jessica Javelet;  Alev Kelter;  Ashley Perry ;  Jillion Potter;  Naya Tapper;  Kristen Thomas

Pool C

EnglandEngland finished third in Dubai and will be hopeful of another strong showing having gone so well in the opening round. Simon Middleton has to concentrate not just on preparing England for the World Series, he is also working with extra players as part of a Team GB effort, though in reality this constitutes just a handful of extra players at the team's training ground in Surrey.

Middleton is convinced that Sao Paulo will be a crucial test on the road to Rio and he’s named Emily Scarratt as captain for this leg. England beat France in a dramatic extra-time play-off in their final game of the weekend in Dubai and this time around they will face France again in their pool.

Middleton said: "The girls made a good start in Dubai and since then they have been training and working hard to improve their performance. The depth of our squad means that we have 12 players all capable of making an impact, which puts us in a strong position heading into the competition. This tournament will really help our preparations as we build with the ultimate aim of being in the best possible shape come August."

Certainly the form of players like Amy Wilson-Hardy and Claire Allan will have pleased him in Dubai and he's brought back in the muscle of Marlie Packer to help England in the tighter exchanges. If they can come through the clash with France, England will be confident of topping the pool.

England: Claire Allan, Natasha Brennan, Heather Fisher, Vicky Fleetwood, Natasha Hunt, Sarah Mckenna, Katy Mclean, Marlie Packer, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt (C), Jo Watmore, Amy Wilson-Hardy.

France

France have taken a very bold approach to Sao Paulo. Their 12-player squad for this weekend’s tournaments are, in essence, the “Possibles” for Rio and they have been set the task of competing amongst themselves to win one of the three vacant spots in the “Probables” squad that goes to the USA and Canada. Whatever happens in the tournament almost secondary to that.

The almost trial nature of the squad selected has not had any effect on the preparations French for this weekend. As well as training tournaments with Spain and England/Great Britain, the squad arrived in Sao Paulo over a week in advance in order to acclimatise from European winter to the southern hemisphere summer.

"We came early because we suffered with the change in climate last year " recalled the coach David Courteix.

"We did well last year [France finished fourth], but it was very hard physically," says the captain, Fanny Horta. "It is very different to Paris. Here it is very hot and at times it can get very, very heavy. If you are not acclimatised it can affect concentration.

"It's great that we came earlier. We have had a small friendly tournament with the Brazilians which allowed us to experience these temperatures without being surprised when the next tournament comes round this weekend.".The pressure that will come from having to fight for a place in the “senior” squad makes the performance of France even more unpredictable than usual. However, preparation has been meticulous and this is not a squad lacking in talent. With that extra challenge to inspire them a quarter-final spot seems almost certain.

Squad:Pauline Biscarat; Lénaïg Corson; Lina Guerin; Clémence Gueucier; Fanny Horta; Shannon Izar; Caroline Ladagnous; Jade Le Pesq; Marjorie Mayans; Amélie Mugnier; Rose Thomas; Jessy Tremouliere

Brazil

This will almst certainly be Brazil's final appearence in the World Series before Rio. As a guest team their place is not assured, and World Rugby will also want to give Colombia and Kenya a chance to play at the top level before Rio. The hosts therefore have to make the most of this weekend.

With the countdown to the Games continuing, Brazilian rugby is experiencing record growth with more than 11,000 registered players and 105,000 children engaging in the game through World Rugby's Get Into Rugby programme in the past 12 months and its women's team will be hoping to foster some more good spirit with a good showing at their home tournament.

Brazil finished 10th in Dubai, with the highlight beating Ireland on day two before going on to lose to Japan in the Bowl Final. Their focus will be in the second half of the competition though they showed in defeating Ireland in Dubai that when they put it all together, their pace and flair can really make them tough to beat.

Paula Ishibashi and Edna Santini remain key players.Squad.Maira BEHRENDT,  Luiza CAMPOS, Paula Harumi ISHIBASHI,  Raquel KOCHHANN,  Beatriz FUTURO MUHLBAUER,  Mariana RAMALHO,  Edna SANTINI,  Julia SARDA,  Haline SCRATUT,  Amanda ARAUJO,  Bianca DOS SANTOS SILVA,  Juliana ESTEVES SANTOS

Japan

The World Series is a huge learning experience for Japan, who will be Asia’s representative in Rio. Their first day in the WSWS was a tough, losing all of their games, but they regrouped to win both of their Day Two games against the United States and Brazil, and take home the Bowl. That ninth place finish in Dubai was no bad return for the Japanese and a win over Brazil this time around would set them up to compete well in the second half of the competition on day two.

The World Series is a big step up for the Japanese from the Asian tournaments they are more used to and the investment in their game is starting to bear fruit. The second day performance is probably a more realistic vision of the Japanese team that won the qualifier tournament in Ireland last summer. Certainly Japan are far stronger than previous 12thranked World Series teams.

As with all other coaches, however, Keiko Asami also has an eye on Rio, and the need to give all of her squad tournameny experience. As a result there will be four players making their World Series debut this weekend - Yoki Sue, Raichieru Bativakalolo, Maki Takano and Mio Yamanaka.

Squad: Yuka Kanematsu; Aya Takeuchi; Keiko Kato; Ano Kuwai; Marie Yamaguchi; Makiko Tomita; Chisato Yoko; Yoki Sue; Raichieru Miyo Bativakalolo; Maki Takano; Mio Yamanaka; Mifuyu Koide

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Our picks for the quarter-finals:

Australia, Canada, New ZealandandEngland -with near full-strenth squads should make the final eight, and despite their experimental feelFranceshould join them as runners-up in Pool C. Runner-up spot in Pool B will be very close, but in the end it is most likely to go to theUnited States.Choosing the two third placed qualifiers is even trickier, but on balanceFijiare likely to be the leading third placed team. For the final spot we go forRussia.

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All the action from Brazil will be streamed live from Arena Barueri on Saturday, when England and Japan get round two of the series underway at 11.00 (GMT -2). Clickhereto find out where you can watch the action from Sao Paulo.