OT: who would you pick for your uofm rugby sevens dream team?

Submitted by taistreetsmyhero on

Been really enjoying the rugby sevens in the olympics. I'm just imagining denard out there and how absurdly good he would be at it.

I don't know that much about crafting the perfect team, but it seems you need a good balance of speed and size. So, (based on potential) who would you put on your uofm rugby sevens team?

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ClarkstonBlue

August 11th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^

Peppers would be my first choice given his speed and toughness. Linebackers and DB's types are good at sevens. For those of you that do not know Michigan has a club rugby that plays 15's in the fall and 7's in the spring. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.mrugby.com/

I happen to be a proud dad of one of the players.It is an absolute blast to watch

Joined: 11/08/2014

MGoPoints: 544

Jayvandy23

August 11th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^

In their prime, Tyrone Wheatley, Mark Messner, Mike Hart, Chris Perry, Denard Robinson, Mike Martin, Greg Skrepenak and because he was a great athlete, Mike Gillette. 

Joined: 11/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10953

superstringer

August 11th, 2016 at 6:17 PM ^

I don't know the ideal makeup of a 7's team.  What makes the best player -- combination of speed and power, like a linebacker, safety, or tight end/running back?  Do you want one or two super-speedy guys?  I don't know the sport well enough.

So not having a clue, I put on my team:

(1) Peppers on the team cuz obv.

(2) Dhani Jones -- we'd out-interview the opposition.

(3) Denard -- he is on every "all-____" team. ERMERGERD DEHNERD.

(4) Woodson -- best at whatever he does

(5) A-Train ... seems like a rugby player out to be pretty good at rugby with the word "train" in his nickname

(6) Harbaugh.  We will play rugby with EUTM.

(7) Michael Phelps.  Just in case it rains really really badly during the game and the players are basically swimming on the field (pitch?).

 

Joined: 02/04/2009

MGoPoints: 18006

quixotehan

August 12th, 2016 at 10:33 AM ^

As a rugby coach, I would answer that 7's main requirements are:

1) speed

2) rugby skill

3) endurance

4) tackling

The substitution rules are like soccer in that it is very limited.  A half of 7s rugby is basically a 10 minute sprint with an Oklahoma drill every 45 seconds.  Given that you have to do that for two halves and typically play more than one game a day, it doesn't really fit your defensive lineman body types.  Safeties, linebackers, tight ends, and a few pure speed guys (Denard would remind me of Carlin Isles, the 'fastest man in rugby')

People underestimate the importance of rugby knowledge in 7s.  There have been many attempts by great athletes to transition to rugby that have failed because their lack of experience makes them a liability on the international stage.  Interesting counterpoints are Carlin Isles who was a D3 track and football player but then dedicated himself to rugby (and is still considered weak in rugby skills) and Nate Ebner, who plays a reserve linebacker role for the Patriots and was a walk-on at Ohio State.  However, he was a high school rugby star before he even decided to try football at Ohio State.

Joined: 07/18/2010

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Gr1mlock

August 11th, 2016 at 6:38 PM ^

Wheatley - probably the best speed power combination we've ever had

Peppers - fantastic all around athlete, fast as hell on the edge for tries 

Woodson - multi facted use, strong enough to be good in scrums and defending, fast enough for carrying the ball

A-Train - big and strong, could level people

Woodley - big strong rush and push up the middle

Harmon - i'm assuming fast forward to modern training, and his level of overall athleticism would be huge, pretty sure he could kick too

Anthony Carter - great at high pointing the ball, especially useful in throw ins

 

Maybe a little too speed focused than power focused, but I think this would make a very solid team.

Joined: 12/24/2013

MGoPoints: 6241

Mgodiscgolfer

August 11th, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^

1) Chesson

2)David Long

3)Jabrill Peppers

4)Chris Evans

5)Kahliki Hudson ....sorry if misspelled, but I am sure u know who I mean

6) Crawford..... Rather than butcher another first name

7) Harbaugh......... as the goalie

 

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 5322

I'm Batman

August 11th, 2016 at 8:00 PM ^

So i have a little background and insight. For 7's id run with Jabrill Peppers David Harris Jake Ryan Charles Woodson Ernest Shazor Steve Breaston Dhani Jones I want fast guys who can tackle. In full squad you can add the beef.

Joined: 08/18/2014

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Kevbot

August 11th, 2016 at 10:21 PM ^

For those who enjoyed watching the 7s events in Rio, the USA Club 7s National Championship tournaments are this weekend in Colorado. This is the highest level of rugby 7s in the US - men's and women's clubs that generally have a mix of college-aged players for the summer combined with the men and women that are normally with the clubs. The midwest clubs represented are the Chicago Lions and 1823 out of Columbus. There should be a former Michigan 7s player (Sequoyah Burke-Combs) on the roster for the Seattle Saracens, who are one of the favorites to win it all. They haven't released their roster yet, but he has represented them at a couple tournaments this summer. There are men's and women's tournaments this weekend, and they'll be streamed here: http://www.therugbychannel.tv/articles/3esIKSPEQ04wcWqOGGW0ku/2016-usa-…!

Additionally, each year NBC/NBC Sports Network air the HSBC Sevens World Series. This is a series of ten two-day rugby 7s tournaments with international teams that happen basically November - May, with the same format as this Olympic tournament. The teams earn points based on finish at each tournament and the overall series champion is crowned based on point total at the end. 

Lastly, as a few mentioned, each year NBC airs the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s event in Philadelphia the first weekend of June. Michigan (and other Big Ten schools) compete in league-based tournaments during the spring in order to qualify for this tournament. 

Just figured I'd share some opportunities to watch rugby with people that are interested. Apart from Michigan football, rugby is my biggest passion. 

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