A magnificent seven: The flyers

(IRB.COM) Thursday 5 March 2009
 
 A magnificent seven: The flyers
Viliame Waqaseduadua is the flyer in New Zealand's Sevens team


We pick seven of the men's speedsters set to light up the Rugby World Cup Sevens and score a hatful of tries.

Santiago Gomez Cora, Argentina (Number 7)

The statistics speak for themselves: nobody has scored more tries in the history of the IRB Sevens World Series. Gomez Cora, who lines up next to his brother Pablo, has scored 213 times for the Puma Sevens team, 40 more than nearest rival Fabian Juries of South Africa.

 

Deceptively quick and with wiry strength, he also possesses the astute footballing skills you'd expect of a South American and often uses it to good effect in spotting an alternative route to the try line.

Also has an ideal foil in burly back Martin Rodrigues and is grooming Gonzalo Camacho to take over from him when he hangs up his boots. The captain of the Puma effort.

Gio Aplon, South Africa (Number 12)

After a brief stint playing Super 14 rugby, Aplon was deemed too small by many for the rigours of top 15-a-side rugby and signed up willingly to Paul Treu's full-time Sevens set-up at Stellenbosch.

A beautifully balanced runner who seems to glide effortlessly when at his best, Aplon combines with Ryno Benjamin, Renfred Dazel and Robert Ebersohn to give South Africa a potent attacking threat.

Tom Varndell, England (Number 6)

Once described by New Zealand's peerless coach Gordon Tietjens as the 'quickest thing he'd seen on a Sevens pitch', Varndell burst onto the scene in Dubai two years ago, scoring 10 tries and scooping the Player of the Tournament accolade en route to Cup success with England.

Roommate Tom Biggs has done a fine job out wide for England so far this season but coach Ben Ryan now has a two-pronged attack to call upon, on top of captain Ollie Phillips and other speedy backs in Ben Gollings and youngster Charlie Simpson-Daniel. Varndell is doubtless the 'star' name in the team, though, and could be the man to ignite England's World Cup campaign.
 
Viliame Waqaseduadua, New Zealand (Number 11)

First picked by Gordon Tietjens for the Wellington event in February, Waqaseduadua is one of three Fijian players in the New Zealand team alongside playmakers Tomasi Cama and Lote Raikabula.

After a slow start in Sevens he looked very sharp in San Diego, where he was top scorer with eight tries. Now that Sosene Anesi and Nafi Tuitavake are both missing through injury, expect 'Vili' to get through plenty of work in Dubai and if the opposition gives him an inch of space he's likely to find his way to the line.

Collins Injera, Kenya (Number 9)

A key part of Kenya's rise to sixth in the current IRB Sevens World Series table, Injera is a natural born finisher and nobody has scored more than his 20 tries this season.

Quick and a good reader of the game, he was top try scorer at the Dubai Sevens in November, so he'll also feel at home in the surroundings.

Vilimoni Delasau, Fiji (Number 9)

After his performances against Wales and South Africa at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, Delasau needs no introduction and is a proven finisher at every level of the game. One of seven players in the squad to have competed for Ilivasi Tabua at that World Cup, he was also part of Waisale Serevi's all-star cast that romped to victory in Hong Kong four years ago.

Fiji have perhaps lacked their customary pace so far this season but with Delasau returning to dovetail with two more France-based wings in Napolioni Nalaga and Neumi Nanuku, expect plenty of tries. Delasau also holds the distinction of having scored the most tries ever in a single World Series match - six against China in 2000.

Luke Morahan, Australia (Number 6)

Alongside Collins Injera, Morahan is the season's top try-scorer with 20. The 19-year-old is part of Michael O'Connor's newlook Sevens squad this season.

Expect plenty of support from the jinxing Willie Bishop, league convert Shaun Foley and the Series top point-scorer Richard Kingi, but Morahan's uncomplicated running style and eye for a gap make him the key threat for Australia.

Takudzwa Ngwenya, USA (Number 10)

Impossible to leave out of any 'speedster' list. Ngwenya was spotted playing park rugby by Sevens coach Al Caravelli, who immediately set about making him a better player. A year later he scored the 'Try of the World Cup', scorching around Bryan Habana during the Eagles' pool match against South Africa.

Chris Wyles may be the better all-round rugby player in the USA line up, but nobody in the tournament will be quicker than the Zimbabwean-born wing they call 'Zee'. Currently plying his trade for glitzy Biarritz in the French Top 14.

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