7th and 8th Day in Nanjing

And so the Rugby 7s at the these 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games simply raced over another two days to its conclusion today. No time for me to write a diary yesterday but here goes, back in the hotel now that the whole thing is over.

And my predictions of two days ago proved to be exactly (but only) 50% correct! Bloody typical I can hear you saying!

The women's final went to the Australian team with a thunderous 38-10 win over Canada. I had kinda thought that would happen. But the men's result was much more of a surprise. Argentina had been looking the best of good things on the way through the first three days but after leading 10-0 in the grand final they crashed out 43-22 to a boisterous and slick French team. The coach of France was that crafty old, lovable dog Thierry Janecek; he of many years on the road with the full French 7s team. Thierry was, by his standards, very quiet through the first three days but today he turned in a classic French coaching display of full Gallic expression and drama. Did it inspire his team to come back so strongly? Maybe... But they did and proved worthy winners.

A couple of very interesting things from this new tournament. One is the quality of the two losing finalists and what they should lead to; the Canadian women were tough and aggressive and so were the Argentinian men. That hints to me that this cannot be just a 'one off' event that happens every four years in the Olympic cycle. There was enough depth shown here in Nanjing that a Youth sevens tournament on a more regular basis is a must. Why not even have a couple of tournaments a year or a World Cup in the two year gap between the Summer Youth Olympics? As it stands now there won't be another event like this one which everyone has really enjoyed, right through until 2018 in Buenos Aires. That's where the 3rd Youth Summer Olympic Games will be held. The gap will be too wide I reckon.

In terms of FIFA and its looking after of young football players; they have World Cups at various age levels on the way through the teenage years. By the example set here rugby sevens youngsters now have to do be offered the same. Already the IRB has its Junior World Cup and Junior World Trophy events for 15 aside teams, but on the basis of the excellence of what was shown in Nanjing it ought now to move to having a regular event for sevens youth as well. Remember the success of Nanjing was achieved without the presence of any teams from South Africa, New Zealand, Samoa or Great Britain etc. Actually that sounds snooty and lofty as I reckon it would have taken a really team team to have knocked over those winners we did see here.

Another really nice thing was how the locals got in behind the rugby show. I say that even though I know a crowd of 2000 in a city of 8 million is but a teeny percentage of attendance. BUT the interest was there- and the displays that local school kids rugby put on between games - showed that the coaching is producing Nanjing youngsters who can catch and pass like kids from any country. And the Chinese women's team was good and strong too and hinted they'll be a force in the future.

As for the Aussies - well, they were great. I called all seven of their games and they averaged 31-3 in their scoring. They have a serious women's 7s development programme going over the ditch and with this win and their players seen here - and the 'full' Olympics in Rio so close now - and - New Zealand has shown no Youth 7s initiative that I know of then this business of New Zealand 'automatically' winning a Gold medal in Rio is just so much tosh. Come on Tewey get weaving or the disappointment of Glasgow will be carried on in Rio. And it will be Tiana Panitani and Brooke Anderson and a couple of others from this team - like the eight-try wonder - the Toowoomba Runaway Train - the Pig-tail Princess herself - Dom du Toit was her name who will be the talk of the sevens in Rio and not any of our kids of the same age.

So my commentary mate Mark Tompkins and I sadly said good bye to our new Chinese friends at the rugby - with a special thanks to Wang Feifei - our 20 year old helper from the local admin staff - and to the IRB gang who came in to run the show for the IOC (and yes, Paddy O'Brien and myself were in place, endlessly debating politics and rugby laws!).

The bigwigs were looking closely at this event; Mr Thomas Bach, President of the IOC was here on a couple of days, as well as Jacques Rogge the former IOC boss, and Bernard Lapasset too from the IRB. They were all peering in at its possibilites.

I hope they were all impressed. I reckon they could not but help be taken by it and what it could be for the future for Youth Rugby Sevens; both for the full Olympic movement in Rio and beyond - and also by the excellence and example the young kids of all countries showed their IRB masters.

Sevens Youth rugby is well worth expanding. 

I'll talk to you soon with another Nanjing Diary report - tomorrow I join Glen Larmer of Auckland for a day of tennis commentary. Should be fun. (that's if I can get a word in edgeways. Hee hee Glen!)