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The Eagles 7s team is busy hard at work preparing for Dubai and Port Elizabeth. Those are big tournaments for the team. If they have any hope of finishing in the top four they are going to need massive tournaments with top four finishes. Still, even if that doesn't happen the team mostly played well in the Gold Coast and they will need to continue to build on that momentum. At this point the race is realistically against Canada and if the Gold Coast is a barometer the Eagles have to feel good.
With that in mind, the question is who exactly is going to be on the team? Given how they played in Australia and the selections currently in camp the odds of massive changes are slight. Zack Test, Folau Niua, Andrew Durutalo, Madison Hughes, and Darrett Barrett are once again going to be at the heart of the team. All but Hughes saw time with the Eagles 15s team at the ARC and/or on the November tour with each playing well at times. It's doubtful that fatigue will factor into their selection but it might impact their play, especially in South Africa.
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In addition to that core group of players you have the likes of Garrett Bender, Nick Edwards, and Carlin Isles who were all solid contributors in Australia. Perry Baker was they breakout player for the Eagles and will almost certainly return. Maka Unufe also played well and should get another look. If all of those players are healthy and ready to go that leaves only two spots up for grabs. In the Gold Coast those spots went to Peter Tiberio and Pat Blair. Tiberio isn't consideration this go around but Blair is.
Once again there will be tough competition for those last two spots, which is exactly what you want. Aladdin Schirmer, Pila Taufa, and Mike Teo were non traveling reserves last go around. With Tiberio missing the team could use another playmaker which bodes well for Teo. However, you also have players like Will Holder and Martin Iosefo that can fill that role. Holder did well at the World Cup 7s and is also a big body that loves to tackle. Iosefo might be the most underrated 7s player in the country given that he comes from Montana and doesn't get a lot of attention.
It's also possible that a player like Zack Pangelinan, Max DeAchaval, or Garrett Brewer grab a spot on the team. Pangelinan was fantastic for OMBAC last year while DeAchaval proved himself at the Club 7s Nationals once again.
A big factor in who makes the team may be who has been playing of recent. Aside from the four players with the Eagles and Madison Hughes, who has been a regular with Dartmouth, not many players on the team have been playing a lot of intense rugby, let alone 7s, since the Gold Coast. Leatigaga, Iosefo, Pangelinan, Taufa, and Teo all saw time with Tiger Rugby at the Central Coast 7s which should given them a leg up. A couple of the other players saw time with the college 7s team but for some of the other players coming in they will face the challenge of having to adjust quickly.
One of the things that has been consistently stressed by Mike Friday and his staff is fitness. Another factor is who makes the final roster is going to be who can show the most fitness. Even if a player hasn't been playing a lot in the fall, if he is in shape and ready to go he may have the edge.
Overall, even though the bulk of the team is fairly predictable there is enough competition to keep every player on their toes. It wouldn't be a shock to us to see one of the core dropped based on fitness just to keep everyone fresh. Competition is exactly what the 7s program needs at the moment and they are getting it. Now, all that needs to happen is for results to follow.
OTC: Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Garrett Bender, Andrew Durutalo, Nic Edwards, Carlin Isles, Folau Niua, Pila Tuafa, Mike Te'o, Zack Test, Steve Tomasin, Chris Turori, Maka Unufe, Mike Ziegler
WCAP: Ben Leatigaga, Will Holder, Andrew Locke, Nu'u Punimata
College: Madison Hughes, Martin Iosefo, Aladdin Schirmer, Kingsley McGowan
Other: Sean Rafferty, Derek Lipscomb (both Northeast ODA), Pat Blair (Seattle), Jack Tracy, Zack Pangelinan (both Tiger Rugby), Max DeAchaval (Denver), Garrett Brewer (at-large)