Stags trio bolsters sevens chances
Southland sevens coach Dan Cavanagh has left no stone unturned in assembling a team to take on the national provincial sevens tournament this weekend.
Southland will head into the national tournament in Tauranga with arguably its most powerful team on paper in many years – if not ever.
Lewis Ormond and Isaac Te Tamaki were part of the New Zealand sevens squad in 2015 and 2016 and will add plenty of experience to Southland’s setup.
Josh Moorby and Tauasosi Tuimavave have previously been part of the national sevens development programme and will also play for Southland this weekend.
Ormond, Te Tamaki and Moorby were all missing when Southland finished fourth at the South Island tournament a
fortnight ago but are in the team for Tauranga.
Te Tamaki initially planned to head to the nationals with the Southland women’s team as an assistant coach. However, when the Southland women’s team missed qualification Te Tamaki made himself available to play.
Ormond has been working in Taranaki but also made himself available to play for Southland.
Moorby ran the water at the South Island tournament as he rested a knee injury but has now been declared fit for nationals.
Naturally, Cavanagh was delighted with the group that has been assembled. ‘‘You could say this is the best team we’ve ever taken up there, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves with that.’’
With the introduction of Ormond, Te Tamaki, and Moorby into the mix, Cavanagh had to make some tough calls.
It included omitting Charles Alaimalo and Toka Sopoaga from the team that attended the South Island tournament in Timaru.
Rory van Vugt has also been left out with an Achilles injury. Van Vugt will soon head to the US to play professionally for
Atlanta and Cavanagh said they were keen to make sure he was injury-free for that.
Leigh Bristowe was another player in the Southland setup with plenty of sevens experience. He will captain the team this weekend.
Brad Kooman was expected to be another key figure for Southland as he continues to impress in his development.
Southland finished in the top eight at last year’s nationals and the quest this year was to have a shot at top four, Cavanagh said.
He was not put off by their one win from five games record at the South Island tournament given the quality of players who have since been added and the extra preparation time.
‘‘It’s the same as last year – we brought in five players for nationals, I think. We did the job and qualified and then the guns came out to play and we got a good result last year.
‘‘The prep has gone in so hopefully we get up there and do it again this year.’’
Southland has drawn Hawke’s Bay, Waikato, and Thames Valley in its pool.
Its first up game will be against Hawke’s Bay at 11.45am on Saturday, followed by Waikato at 1.45pm, before wrapping up Saturday’s pool play at 4.55pm.
Sunday’s draw was yet to be confirmed and will be based on pool results.