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Ben Ryan keeps starting 7 a secret

Ben Ryan keeps starting 7 a secret

National sevens rugby coach Ben Ryan will not reveal his starting lineup to play Scotland in the first USA 7s pool match this afternoon.

Replying to questions through email, Ryan said he will not tell the media his starting seven and how he is going to use the replacement players.

Ryan added that giving out the information to the media will help their opponents.

Ryan earlier said that he may change his starting seven after the first game today and he can even use former skipper Lepani Botia at rover or wing.

Some players that are expected to be sure starters for the first game include, Osea Kolinisau, Donasio Ratubuli, Emosi Mulevoro, Semi Kunatani and Benito Masilevu.

Meanwhile, National 7s rugby winger and France bound speedster Samisoni Viriviri is one of the seven players expected to make the USA 7s Dream Team.

The Dratabu, Nadi, flyer has scored 45 tries in his 10 tournaments with 17 of those tries being scored this season which makes him the joint top scorer with speedy hooker Benito Masilevu.

According to IRB.com, a narrower pitch may well see fewer chances created out wide but Viriviri has power to match and will be able to use his unquestionable speed when gaps are there. 

Viriviri will join French club Montpellier after the series.

In every World Series tournament, the fans vote for the best 7 players who will make up the dream team.

Other players that are expected to make the dream team include Kenya’s Humphrey Kayange, young Ambrose Curtis of New Zealand, Frankie Horne of South Africa and veteran USA forward Zack Test.

Meanwhile, defending USA 7s champion South Africa can become the first team to win back to back titles in a season after winning their own tournament last month.

Captain Kyle Brown said they don’t want to fall out of the table as they are just two points away from series leaders New Zealand.

Fiji is expected to meet Samoa, England or Portugal in the quarterfinals.
 
If Fiji makes it into the semifinals, then they are expected to play either South Africa, Kenya, Wales, Argentina or France.

The USA 7s will kick off today at 12pm and Fiji will play Scotland at 1:06pm before meeting Australia at 4:02pm.

The final pool game is against New Zealand at 9:50am on tomorrow and the quarterfinals will start at 1:52pm tomorrow.
 
The semifinals will kick off at 7:32am on Monday while the final will be held at 10:25am on Monday.


Story by: Akuila Cama
Source: irb.com

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