The Sevens World Series continues its brief jaunt around Asia this weekend with the next stop o the tour being Singapore.
The World Sevens Series heads for Singapore this week and the tiny South-East Asian country is set for two days of pulsating and crucial sevens action. There are only three rounds remaining in this year’s series and things are extremely tight at the top of the standings with only seven points separating current log toppers, the United States, and the second-placed Fijians, who bagged their fifth successive Hong Kong title last weekend.
Singapore Sevens
National Stadium
Saturday 13 April – Sunday 14 April
Pools
Pool A: Fiji, South Africa, Scotland, and Canada
Pool B: France, Argentina, Australia, and Hong Kong
Pool C: USA, England, Kenya, and Wales
Pool D: Samoa, New Zealand, Japan, Spain
To Win Tournament Outright
Fiji
United States
New Zealand
South Africa
England
Australia
Argentina
Contenders
Fiji
Singapore 2018 Finish: Champions
The Fijians were in scintillating form last weekend topping a group that featured New Zealand, Australia and Kenya before beating Argentina, the United States and then finally France to claim their fifth successive Hong Kong title.
While don’t boast as successful a record in Singapore as they Hong Kong, they still are the joint most successful team at the event having won two of the seven events held in the country. The most recent of these victories came last year where they beat Australia 28-22 in the final.
United States
Singapore Finish 2018: Ninth
The’States have been on something of a lean streak since their home tournament victory finishing fourth in Vancouver and following that up with a fifth-place finish at last week’s Hong Kong Sevens. While these aren’t the worst of finishes, the problem for the USA is that the Fijians have won the last two events and are now breathing down their necks on the Series log.
Singapore hasn’t been kind to the Americans over the years and they are yet to win a tournament in the country. They did manage to finish the 2017 edition of the tournament as runners-up, however, and another runners-up result would put them in a handy position headed into the final two rounds, especially if the Fijians finish below them in Singapore.
New ZealandSingapore 2018 Finish: Fifth
The New Zealander’s are the joint most successful side in Singapore having won two tournaments here just like their Fijian counterparts. They did struggle at the event last season though and only managed a fifth-place finish.
They currently lie third on the Series standings and will need to win at least two more tournaments if they are to challenge the Americans and Fijians for the Series title.
Like the United States, New Zealand have struggled for form since departing Las Vegas with the men from the ‘land of the long white cloud’ finishing sixth in Vancouver and seventh in Hong Kong. They do have the talent to bounce back in Singapore, however.
Dark Horse
France
2018 Singapore Finish: 15th
While the French have a rather poor recent record in Singapore, this tournament does provide shock winners on a regular basis with Canada and Kenya winning two of the last three events staged in the country.
Le Blue have been in fine form of late as well, finishing the previous two legs of this season’s circuit in second-place.
With a huge price tag on their heads for a tournament win, it may well be worth investing a very small stake in this French outfit.
Verdict: Fiji
A win here could well see the Islanders move above the USA on the series standings with only two legs of the 2018/19 season remaining. This is the only motivating factor Gareth Barber’s men will need this weekend.
