Is it: “Lucky, they made mistakes”?

It is always interesting how we frame a loss. Like in “We just lost the final, but it was close”, but how do “just” and “close” translate to what is needed to win next time?

HSBC Sevens Toulouse Men’s Final

This was an exciting final with Argentina leading the classy New Zealand outfit. But Argentina made some handling errors and allowed New Zealand to catch-up and finally lost. (I think there was also a tactical mistake with how the ARG scrumhalf was positioned with NZ scrums). Looking at this super exciting match I felt ARG gave it away and lost it rather than NZLD win it.

Watch the game here:

“Just” and “Close”

The Argentinian perspective:

• If only we would not have made those handling errors;
• We lost in sudden death, that shows how close it was;
• If only we would have been ready at kick-off and Regan Ware would not have scored that 30sec try;
• The Bench: how can we compete in that last part if our opponent can bring in Mikkelson and Curry, to close out the game;

The New Zealand perspective:

• Sam Dickson was interviewed after the game and he had a totally different perspective on what happened: “We kept the pressure in defence and forced the mistakes”. In his view all went according to plan and certainly not as if they had “just” won the final and were “lucky” to have escaped narrow defeat;

How to close the gap?

What should the Argentinians do then:

• In general: do what NZLD is doing;
• Working on handling skills, but under pressure & fatigue?
• Mentally deal with the pressure of a Sudden Death scenario? Not sure how, tbh…;
• Be ready at kick-off;
• Keeping building the team, do like Clark Laidlaw is creating this exciting mix of young fresh talent and seasoned campaigners;

Built the trainingsplan

Now we identified the gaps we can plan accordingly:

• I really loved to read that the NZLD Women’s 7s where invited to Marcoussis and train with the FFR team! Do we know what Clark and co. are working on in New Zealand?
• We can schedule handling sessions, invite specialist coaches for that;
• Be ready: for me this is just building the numbers and create the experience (finals played, tournaments played, matches played against NZLD, …). Do mental training, create awareness on what happened and how to control it. I would need some serious advice and help here myself;
• Get consistency in selection and work the pipeline. Like Clark reacting to Roderick when he asked “Can I join the NZLD 7s program?”;
• How to translate “Keep the pressure on” to a trainingsplan? That is an interesting question! Work with 7v6 or even 7v5 games? (I actually saw Gordon Tietjes do this in 2016 when I was invited to watch the preparations for Wellington and Sydney Sevens);

What are your thoughts, what did you see? How would you plan? Would love to hear!

Too funny: Mikkelson comments on beating France in Cup Quarter

“I think we were a bit lucky but I’ll take it”. Just a week later in London. After scoring a last minute try, the French just needed to convert it to make it to Sudden Death. The kicker waited for the New Zealand players to leave the 22 meter area, the referee judged he ran out off time and it was game over. Happy to learn there is still some luck involved for the New Zealand team!

Related material

• The link to the HSBC match statistics;
• HSBC new page: AB 7s celebrate winning series in style;

Picture Sam Dickson: NZ Herald