Rugby
Rugby Sevens: last chance to make a big impact
We’ve certainly seen some great things on the sevens pitch this series. Now South Pacific powerhouse Fiji are nearing the end of their quest for title defense. Southern Hemisphere rivals South Africa and New Zealand continue to chase the championship crown, with both teams winning in style on home soil this year. And we obviously can’t forget Kenya, who rocked the Rugby world with their first-ever Cup win in Singapore.
With only eight points separating Fiji and South Africa, the sensational 2015-16 series is setting the stage for a spectacular finish.
Many players have helped drive their teams to greatness this year, but none so versatile as the seven men topping the DHL Performance Tracker and chasing the inaugural DHL Impact Player Award.
Fiji on fire
It should come as no surprise to see three Fijians in the top four spots on the tracker. The team is packed with performance players. While Osea Kolinisau, Jasa Veremalua and Savenaca Rawaca rank 1st, 2nd and 4th on the overall table, three Fiji players have scored top stats in the last four rounds, claiming half of the DHL Impact Player tournament awards this series. It’s been nothing short of remarkable to watch.
The four-round run started with Jasa Veremalua, who shone brightly in the Las Vegas sunshine on both sides of the ball, with 21 carries and 18 tackles. One week later Fiji’s rising star Kitione Taliga carried 26 times and made 9 breaks to earn the DHL Impact Player Award in Vancouver.
The trip across the Pacific to Hong Kong must have felt like a near homecoming for Fiji as another flying Fijian star – Semi Kunatani – fired off some impressive stats to win the award and help drive his team to Cup victory in Hong Kong. In Singapore, it was Taliga again who chalked up 40 points to split the Impact Player Award with Kenya’s Oscar Ayodi.
A tight race
It’s a close call any way you slice it. Only eight points separate Fiji and South Africa in the World Series standings, with always dangerous New Zealand hot on their heels at four points back.
Who will make the greatest impact on the 2015-16 World Series is an even tougher call, but the odds are very good that player will hail from Fiji. Veremalua trails teammate Kolinisau by only one point, though we shouldn’t forget that he is dead even with South Africa’s Senatla.
Will one of these men break away from the rest this weekend in Paris? Will carries or tackles make the difference? Will we witness the offload of the century? We’ll just have to wait and see.
We hope you enjoy all the action at the 2016 HSBC Paris Sevens and be sure to follow the buzz on the Twittersphere at #DHLImpactPlayer.
Wait, there’s more! Head over to World Rugby’s Impact Player page or check out the Rugby stream right here on DHL InMotion. Or get your rugby fix on social at @DHLRugby or on Facebook.
Five things you need to know about the DHL Impact Player Award
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