KeithQuinnRugby
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You are here: Home » All Blacks year by year » 2014 » 2014 All Black tour Diary » 7th and 8th Day in Nanjing
20 August 2014
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!)
Comments 0
Australia played a superb game in the RWCup semi-final to beat Gary Whetton's NZ team by 16-6 in Dublin.
FARR-JONES, NICK
New South Wales and Australia
63 internationals for Australia 1984–93
As captain of the superb Wallaby World Cup-winning team of 1991, Nick Farr-Jones became one of the best-known men of modern rugby. His authority as a player and captain was crowned when he received the cup at Twickenham from Queen Elizabeth II and held it high for the rugby world to see. For Farr-Jones the 12–6 win over England was a culmination of a long pursuit of success for him and Australian rugby. Looking back, it can be seen that his career was regularly signposted with success, and not just in 1991.
Two significant records tumbled for him in 1990. First, in his seventh season as the Wallaby halfback, he took over from the great John Hipwell as Australia’s most-capped player in that vital position. He also became Australia’s most-capped captain, the World Cup final being his 31st appearance as team leader. And he and his partner Michael Lynagh cruised past John Rutherford and Roy Laidlaw’s old record for most tests together for any country as a scrumhalf–flyhalf combination.
Nick Farr-Jones made his first tour to Fiji in 1984 and played his first test on Twickenham against England. He was an immediate success, and in combination with Mark Ella played a vital role in the Wallaby team that went on to win a Grand Slam over British countries. Two years later he helped Australia win the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand.
The elegant yet aggressive style of Farr-Jones marked him as one of the world’s most significant modern players. He was possessed of a slick pass (in the Australian scrumhalf tradition of men who had gonr before him; Cyril Burke, Des Connor, Ken Catchpole and John Hipwell), he was a fast and explosive runner, and had a wide tactical knowledge of the game (including the best ways to exploit the blindside). His strength and fitness, enthusiasm and popularity among his fellow players, not to mention his from-the-front style of captaincy made him one of Australia’s best of all time. Many critics also considered him, in his time, the world’s best halfback. Injury around Rugby World Cup time in 1987 restricted his appearances and performances in that series.
Farr-Jones took over the captaincy of Australia in 1988 and although Wallaby teams under his leadership lost a number of series and games, his own form did not diminish. He could count numerous successes as captain, including the World Cup final of course, plus beating England in Australia in two tests in 1988, and beating Scotland, France and New Zealand at least once on their home soil in a little over 18 months.
Nick Farr-Jones also made a tremendous contribution to Australian rugby by his personal example. He has always been a learned rugby thinker and an eloquent speaker. In the face of the enormous popularity of rugby league in Australia he has always represented his game with true style.
After his career as a player was over he also made a significant contribution as a TV commentator and in local politics and business.
When Ireland played Australia in Dublin in 1958 what coloured jerseys did each team wear?
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