Rugby World Cup 7: Ben Ryan players to watch in San Francisco



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New Zealand won both men's and women's tournaments in Moscow in 2013

A football summer ended but a World Cup ends, another begins.

The Rugby World Cup at 7 Francisco, this weekend (20-22 July) and should play the same role as the football version in Russia.

This is a knockout format, with the men's and women's tournaments played side by side, and in show will be the "best rugby player in the world" by Portia Woodman

The Sevens Guru Ben Ryan who coached Fiji to their first Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016, tells his seven players at BBC Sport. who are his pickers to bring the trophies home.

1. Portia Woodman – New Zealand

Woodman was the top female scorer in the Sevens series in 2018 with 43 tries

The women's tournament is simple – it's a two-horse race between Australia and New Zealand. And it's two players: Australian Charlotte Caslick and New Zealander Portia Woodman.

Woodman, 27, is the best player – men or women, seven or XV – in the world. She came from netball and was about to place an order for Silver Ferns before changing sports when New Zealand Rugby launched a program in search of female athletes to play seven in Rio.

She is sublime. She is powerful, has a footwork, is an incredible defender and a brilliant thinker of the game. Any team that owns Woodman is destined to win the title. On both sides of the ball, attack and defense, you do not want to be near Woodman if you find yourself facing her.

It will be New Zealand for me, with Australia for runner-up.

2. Charlotte Caslick – Australia

Caslick won gold with Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and silver at the Commonwealth Games in April

Charlotte Caslick is the daughter of in Australia, she won the Olympic gold in 2016. The 23-year-old has been the world's player of the year in 2016, has become the face of the game and is now being spied on to move to the rugby league.

She is a very balanced footballer, who can do both hands and she moves away from both feet. Whenever the ball goes to it, things happen, it can create the outdoor break and may well end. When she is fit as the team of Australia ticks. If Charlotte plays well, Australia will go deep into the World Cup.

3. Deborah Fleming – England

Fleming, who played rugby in Saracens, won a Commonwealth bronze medal with England in April

. The English have not done very well this year but Deborah Fleming has always been there and one of their most consistent players all season. She was England's best scorer at the 2018 World Rugby Sevens Series. She can play both forward and on offense.

She is powerful, a good product of the system and at 27 years old. I think if she can get the ball in the space, she will get good wins in San Francisco and she could definitely reach the semifinals.

4. Semi Kunatani – Fiji

Kunatani signed for the Top 14 Toulouse for the 2015-16 season

In the men's tournament, you can name the 12 Fijians and six or seven who have not even been selected as players to watch. Fiji looks untouchable.

In Josua Tuisova, 24, Leone Nakarawa, 30, and Semi Radradra, 26, they have not only three of the best 7-man rugby players in the world, but they are the best players in 15 on the planet as well. .

Add to that six other Olympic gold medalists in their team and guys like Semi Kunatani, 27, and it's up to them to lose.

Kunatani, or "The Beast" as they call it, comes from a very small, poor village. His mother died when he was a baby and he was raised by village elders – his five surrogate mothers.

He took control of the Olympic final alone in 2016, but he is so relaxed, he does it whenever he wants. He is almost untouchable in an untouchable team. If he's fit, he will stand out from everyone else.

5. Werner Kok – South Africa

Kok, who plays center or wing, helped South Africa to win two consecutive world titles

For South Africa, Werner Kok embodies his application to 100%. It covers the ground like an advanced eruption and it is difficult to play against.

He has flowing gold curls, works hard and fights hard. It's the heartbeat of the Blitzbokke, who won the world title of the playoffs last month, and if the 25-year-old plays well, South Africa will go far.

The World Cup may be behind Olympic glory The title of the world series in the order of seven, but a South African team full of confidence will certainly want to add this one to its list.

6. Luke Morgan and Alex Davis – Wales and England

Luke Morgan (left) is back to play at 15 against Ospreys next season

For host nations, my choices would be two players who missed the selection for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics as a result of an injury.

Wales has a real flyer in winger Luke Morgan. He's not the biggest player of 5 feet 8 inches (1.76 m), but he has a nice outdoor break and he's just great to watch. The 26-year-old is Wales' all-time leading scorer and will return to XVs rugby with the Ospreys next season – so he will want to come out with a shot.

The Englishman Alex Davis is another player who would have played for Great Britain, but was injured in the week before the Olympics. He has had a series of bad injuries over the years, but suddenly he is fit and available.

Davis, 25, is not one of your big names with Tom Mitchell and Dan Norton, but he is the glue of England and you can see in the field how much the world respects him and wants him to do it well. I am really happy for him and I think he could stand out for England.

7. Perry Baker – United States

Baker was named World Player of the Year in 2017 after dominating the Test Table with 57

Finally, I'm going with the American Perry Baker, who was the 2017 world player at seven of the year. "Speedstick" is his nickname because he's tall and thin but absolutely fast. He scores tests from anywhere and he is the best tester in the world

If America gets at least 40% possession and the 32 year old player can get his hands on the balloon a Half a dozen times during the games, so we could see America push everyone and get their hands on the trophy at home on Sunday.

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