Written by Alex Goff    Tuesday, 31 January 2012 23:44    PDF Print Write e-mail
Early Game for USA in NZ 7s
Sevens - USA Sevens Men

Shalom Suniula. Ian Muir photo.The USA 7s team opens the New Zealand 7s with the first match of the tournament, taking on South Africa.

For captain Shalom Suniula, there’s no time to ease into the atmosphere.

“It's very important we start well,” said Suniula. But, he added, there’s always time to rescue a rough start. “More importantly we need to finish well; it gives us the confidence we need.”

It’s a new mix of players for the USA once again, as injury and illness have pulled some players out, and recovery has seen others come back. The captain told RUGBYMag.com that the camp was crucial in getting this group to play tofether.

“The guys are very focused,” Suniula said. “We’ve learned some new stuff the last few weeks, so hopefully we can string it together this week with the mix of guys we have.”

The USA takes on South Africa, England and Cook Islands on what is Friday in New Zealand, and will be, for most USA fans, Thursday here Stateside.

2012 Wellington 7s Pool Play
Match Local Time Feb 3 PT Feb 2 ET Feb 2



1 13:00 16:00 19:00 SOUTH AFRICA v UNITED STATES Pool B
2 13:22 16:22 19:22 ENGLAND v COOK ISLANDS Pool B
3 13:44 16:44 19:44 FIJI v ARGENTINA Pool C
4 14:06 17:06 20:06 WALES v TONGA Pool C
5 14:28 17:28 20:28 FRANCE v CANADA Pool D
6 14:50 17:50 20:50 AUSTRALIA v KENYA Pool D
7 15:12 18:12 21:12 NEW ZEALAND v SCOTLAND Pool A
8 15:34 18:34 21:34 SAMOA v JAPAN Pool A
9 15:56 18:56 21:56 SOUTH AFRICA v COOK ISLANDS Pool B
10 16:18 19:18 22:18 ENGLAND v UNITED STATES Pool B
11 16:40 19:40 22:40 FIJI v TONGA Pool C
12 17:02 20:02 23:02 WALES v ARGENTINA Pool C
13 17:24 20:24 23:24 FRANCE v KENYA Pool D
14 17:46 20:46 23:46 AUSTRALIA v CANADA Pool D



3-Feb



15 18:08 21:08 0:08 NEW ZEALAND v JAPAN Pool A
16 18:30 21:30 0:30 SAMOA v SCOTLAND Pool A
17 18:52 21:52 0:52 UNITED STATES v COOK ISLANDS Pool B
18 19:14 22:14 1:14 ARGENTINA v TONGA Pool C
19 19:36 22:36 1:36 CANADA v KENYA Pool D
20 20:28 23:28 2:28 SCOTLAND v JAPAN Pool A
21 20:50 23:50 2:50 SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND Pool B


3-Feb




22 21:12 0:12 3:12 FIJI v WALES Pool C
23 21:34 0:34 3:34 FRANCE v AUSTRALIA Pool D
24 21:56 0:56 3:56 NEW ZEALAND v SAMOA Pool A