Ricoh Arena Singha 7s Preview

The penultimate qualifying round of the Singha 7s sees the competition move north from Gloucester to Coventry, as the Ricoh Arena welcomes Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Saracens and hometown team Wasps.

On paper, the Ricoh leg, which takes place on Friday evening, offers an unparalleled array of talent, with all teams involved naming strong squads incorporating blends of young talent and experience.

Wasps

Coach: Matt Davies

Squad: Alex Lozowski, Alex Rieder, Brendan Macken, Christian Wade, Conor Dolan, Dan Robson, Elliot Daly, Guy Thompson, Jamie Stevenson, Josh Bassett, Owain James, Sam Jones, Thomas Young, Will Rowlands.

Of all the squads named in this year’s Singha 7s, none may be as exciting as the one put together by Wasps. Electric talents Wade and Daly, both of whom can consider themselves unlucky not to be involved in England’s Rugby World Cup campaign, headline the group. The duo’s ability to make chances out of nothing in the 15-a-side format should see them revel in the open pastures of 7s rugby.

There is plenty of Premiership experience elsewhere in the squad with Robson, Thompson, Bassett, Jones and Young having all featured heavily at the highest domestic level. Fleet-footed forwards Jones and Young should also enjoy the open spaces on the offer Friday and will provide contrasting tests to opposition defences than those offered by Wasps’ fliers.

One to watch – Alex Lozowski

Wade or Daly would be more obvious choices, but unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, their talents are well-known. Lozowski provided Wasps with an ambitious and expansive option at fly-half in his debut campaign last season, and this year’s Premiership 7s should give him an early opportunity to show that he can be the yin to Jimmy Gopperth’s yang.

The 22-year-old challenges teams on the gain line in the 15-a-side format, capable of unlocking defences with his feet or his distribution and those are two skills he will need to bring to the 7s arena on Friday night. Look for Lozowski, along with scrum-half Robson, to spark the talents of Wade, Daly and Bassett.

Harlequins

Coach: Howard Graham

Squad: Henry Cheeseman, Archie White, Sam Aspland-Robinson, Calum Waters, Kieran Treadwell, Gabriel Ibitoye, Robbie Nairn, Dino Lamb-Cona, Joe Marchant (c), Luke White, Alosio Yamoyamo, Sentiki Nayalo.

Aspland-Robinson and Ibitoye make Harlequins’ squad after impressing during England U18’s recent tour to South Africa and join two standouts from the England U20 side of the last 12 months, Marchant and Treadwell. Nairn, a new signing from Edinburgh, shone at the World Rugby U20 Championship where he played on the wing for Scotland, and his combination of pace and power should serve him well in 7s.

Experience and expertise comes in the form of Fijians Nayalo, who serves with the 7^th Parachute Regt Royal House Artillery, and Yamoyamo, a member of international 7s team White Hart Marauders, both of whom have previously represented Quins in this event.

One to watch – Joe Marchant

Arguably the player of the U20 Six Nations this year, Marchant was unlucky to have his season curtailed thanks to an injury he picked up in senior debut for Quins, but the centre will be keen to kick on this season, starting Friday evening at the Ricoh.

Marchant’s pace speaks for itself, but it’s his balance and agility which allow him to cut open defences with such proficiency. The former fly-half has a very bright future in the game, something which is reflected by the fact Quins have entrusted him with the team’s captaincy.

Northampton Saints

Coach: Mark Hopley

Squad: Alex Moon, Matthew Watson, Jake Carter, Tim Cardall, Alex Rayment, Tom Emery, Will Allman, Oliver Burgess, Alex Mitchell, Sam Olver (c), Rory Hutchinson, James Grayson.

Northampton have seemingly committed fully to using the tournament as a developmental tool with the East Midlands side sacrificing experience for youth throughout their squad. Moon and Cardall are two of the more prominent academy members selected and they are joined in the squad by Allman, a fellow forward and budding openside flanker.

There should be no shortage of playmakers at Saints’ disposal with four half-backs, Mitchell, Olver, Hutchinson and Grayson, selected, but whether or not they have the elusive running threats of the other teams on show at the Ricoh remains to be seen.

One to watch – Will Allman

Allman has yet to make his senior debut – or even represent England at U20 level – but he is already a player with a burgeoning reputation. A skilled operator at the breakdown and dangerous in the loose, Allman fits the mould of the archetypal openside perfectly.

The 18-year-old may not head to the tournament with a reputation as a prolific try-scoring threat, unlike the likes of Wade and Marchant, but if he can use his breakdown expertise in the 15-a-side format to get his hands on the ball, he could help an inexperienced Saints side upset the odds.

Saracens

Coach: Don Barrell

Squad: Nils Mordt (c), Tom Whiteley, Dom Morris, Matt Gallagher, Nathan Earle, Max Wilkins, Liam Perkins, Matt Hankin, Ben Earl, Leo Fielding, Kevin Barrett, James Tirrell.

Mordt, a former captain of the England 7s team, takes on the role of elder statesman in a very young, but very exciting Saracens team. Mordt is joined by Hankin, another member of Saracens’ senior squad, and the experience that both players bring will be key if the North London club is to progress to the final at the Twickenham Stoop.

The rest of the squad is selected from Saracens’ academy, with Whiteley and Morris two of the more highly-touted prospects, whilst the likes of Earl and Wilkins are products of the recent successes of Saracens in the Premiership academy league.

One to watch – Nathan Earle

To put it simply, Earle is a superstar-in-waiting. The winger-cum-full-back has every physical trait required to not only excel at Premiership level, but also to succeed at international level and if he can gain the senior Premiership experience this season, don’t be surprised to see him fast-tracked into the England set-up as soon as 2016.

With David Strettle jetting off to the Auvergne this offseason, a void in Saracens’ first XV needs to be filled and if Earle can light up the Ricoh with his remarkable ability, then he should be in the mix for a starter’s spot come the beginning of the Premiership season.

Heading into the tournament, Wade is undoubtedly the marquee player involved, but don’t be surprised if Earle is the player everyone is talking about come the competition’s conclusion.