Olympic Rugby Sevens: Mike Friday previews the semi-finals : Planet Rugby
As the Olympic Sevens reaches its final day in a rain-soaked Paris, Mike Friday joins James While to discuss the last four in the competition.
Weather
“For those of you who watched the wonderfully eccentric Opening Ceremony yesterday, you will have seen Paris had a biblical downpour last night and this morning, and I know that the pitch in Stade de France took on a lot of water,” Friday told Planet Rugby.
“With the semis slated to be played between 2pm and 3pm (both BST), we can’t ignore just how slippy the stadium is likely to be and how that, in turn, will affect the strategy of the teams.
“The Sevens boys generally didn’t attend the ceremony as focus is needed for the games today, but I will comment that whilst it was a lengthy affair, the light show was simply astonishing off the Eiffel Tower and I think all the performers produced miracles delivering a show in those torrential conditions where every small event was a health and safety nightmare!”
France v South Africa
“Returning to the matches and the weather – I do think that this plays into the South African hands a little bit. They possess a brilliant kick and chase/pass game via Selvyn Davids and with a slippery ball, the Bok superpowers of transition attack and kicking pass skill will really come to the fore.
“Discipline will also be a key factor; we know SA like to tackle a little higher and try to wrap and they’ll have to keep within the laws when executing those hold-up hits. Both teams will play right on the edge of physicality – SA embrace it fully, it’s in their DNA – but France like a bit of contact too and they won’t be intimidated by the likes of Ryan Oosthuizen and his big shots.
“France have changed their planning greatly since match one against us. In that one, we saw a predominantly offload-based game down the middle, which didn’t really work so well. Since then, they’ve changed up the side with Stephen Parez and Varian Pasquet playing key roles in controlling the game, with the likes of Aaron Grandidier adding real gas in width.
“Antoine Dupont’s role is also key; as an opponent seeing him come on to an almighty roar is quite the psychological blow and France also have Jordan Sepho to come on and to lift their efforts, a world-class aerialist and carrier.
“France need to beat the Blitzbok scramble and the way you do that is by patience in phases and moving the ball to the edge as they run out of numbers. But the key point there is the need to hit the phases and get men on the ground to create the numerical mismatch outside.
“It’s set up to be a corker and although the Boks have that incredible South African ability to hold out under knockout pressure, I still believe France have enough, are on an upward form trajectory and will win this and go on to take gold in the final.”
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Australia v Fiji
“Another rumbling and simmering battle; the Aussie abrasion against relentless Fiji aerial pressure is going to be the headline of the game. We can’t ignore the day off in between, unusual for Sevens, so all the teams come into Saturday having a break and needing to hit their straps as soon as possible. Fiji are slow starters generally, and I just wonder if they have the ability to start hot?”
“Aussies need a fully fit Deitrich Roache at the centre of their team. He’s the orchestrator, the man with the plan and his impact has been the reason the Wallabies have done so well up until now.
“Australia are supremely organised and wonderfully brutal in breakdown and defence. They are masters of finding a way to win as they’ve shown a number of times already in their unbeaten run in this tournament. But outside of that they also have some real wide gas and their strategy is to hold in defence, transition and strike with surprise and pace down the channels.
“But their biggest challenge is dealing with the hangtime of the incredible Fiji restart. We’ve seen a number of two-touch tries from the Pacific Islanders already and their ability to retain momentum after a score is quite remarkable, as we, the USA, found to our cost on Thursday in those four minutes of madness!
“Catching errors cost us in that game but if Australia, a side who have played a lot of AFL as kids, can control that aerial battle, there’s a feeling in my body that says they’re going to nick this one, much against the bookies odds, so I am going to call this to the Aussies.”
Last Dance
“Lastly, we, the USA, play Ireland in our last game for rankings. It’s a tough one for any of the sides to play again after being knocked out and I am sure Terry Kennedy and the Irish lads will be hurting as much as anyone. They’ve been great in this tournament and no player has given more for the jersey than the incredible Zac Ward, a human bowling ball who gets through a remarkable workload.
“My message to the boys has been simple – embrace this and take the chance. Bounce back and leave with your heads held high. It will be emotional with the likes of Perry Baker not likely to play again at this competition, but we’re determined to go out with pride and passion, whatever the outcome.”
READ MORE: Olympic Rugby Sevens: Mike Friday lauds ‘amazing’ South Africa and ‘genius’ Antoine Dupont as France become ‘new favourites’ for Gold