Preview - IRB Sevens, Los Angeles

Ryder eyes the cup

Round Four of the 2005/06 IRB Sevens series kicks off on Saturday in California with the flying Fijians threatening to leave the chasing pack far behind.

Fiji raced into a 16-point lead on the overall standings by winning last week's leg in New Zealand by beating South Africa with an sudden-death golden to move to 56 points on the standings, followed by England and South Africa both on 40.

The undisputed star of Wellington was Fiji sensation William Ryder who put the boot into the South Africans with a splendid hat-trick of tries in the final.

Reigning champs New Zealand could only look on as the Waisale Serevi's protégé came of age in front of 34,500 spellbound fans at the Westpac Stadium.

Ryder will be centre of attention at the Home Depot Center in Carson this weekend and is relishing the prospect of helping Fiji to a third consecutive tournament win.

"When I get on the pitch I feel happy and really want to fight, like a lion that wants to eat something," said Ryder.

"As soon as I hold the ball I want to take it to the try line because I know that I can make it.

"I believe that because I pray to my God, that he is going to make me make those tries."

If last week's form is anything to go by, the South Africans are the only ones capable of taming the lion within Ryder and his fellow Fijians.

South Africa coach Paul Treu conceded that his troops - and those of the other 14 nations in attendance - will have their work cut out.

"If you take other teams they're very structured in their approach, but Fiji are very unpredictable in their attack," said Treu.

"They can step, offload from tackles, play an expansive game, play a physical game, so it's very difficult with Serevi still there and Ryder now making his mark. They'll be tough to beat all season.

"Ryder is very cool, calm and collected and I think that, in a sense, if any team wants to beat Fiji one thing they will need to do is to figure out a way how to curb him and stop him initiating his attacks.

"He can move sideways without losing any speed, he can step off both feet, and reads the game well.

"I played against Serevi and he was the master of the game, the Sevens player, if people talked about Sevens they talked about Serevi. And in the same breath people are starting to talk about Ryder as the new kid on the block, and I think in a sense that that was something lacking for the last two years; there was never really one outstanding player on the circuit and I think Ryder is slowly but surely starting to establish himself as that kind of player."

The leading teams have all pointed to Carson as the event that could be decisive in determining who takes the overall title.

The Kiwis, having failed for to reach the Wellington Final, now virtually have no chance of catching the Fijians.

But for England and South Africa, who both still have a realistic chance of overhauling the islanders on the standings, LA is going to be crucial.

England coach Phil Greening admitted that his team can't afford another slip-up like they had in Wellington, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by France.

"Yes, it is very disappointing - but there is still a chance in the series and we must pick up as many points as we can," Greening said in Wellington.

"We were really bad against France [in the quarters], but it is how you react to these setbacks.

"Next week [in LA] is huge. We can't let Fiji get away from us, so next week is going to be vital for us."

Treu also pointed to LA as the key to his team's chances of winning the IRB Sevens series.

"I said to the guys that after these two tournaments [Wellington and LA] we're going to be either in the top two or in fifth/sixth place," he said.

"At the moment it is looking good for us. Hopefully we can do well next week and get a bit closer to Fiji."

In Los Angeles, England top Pool A and face France, Kenya and hosts USA.

Pool B pits Scotland and Uruguay against Fiji and Argentina, who will battle out a repeat of the George Final, won by Serevi's side.

Pool C sees newcomers West Indies square up to a trio of Oceania heavyweights - New Zealand and Australia will resume their rivalry, and Tonga are never to be counted out in the Sevens game.

Pool D is again topped by South Africa, who face Samoa - so impressive in the first two events of the season - as well as Canada and last year's LA darlings, Mexico.

LOS ANGELES POOLS:

Pool A: England, France, Kenya, USA
Pool B: Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, Uruguay
Pool C: New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, West Indies
Pool D: South Africa, Samoa, Canada, Mexico

LOS ANGELES SCHEDULE:
(Kick-off times local - GMT -8)

DAY ONE

M1: Pool D - 10.00 - South Africa v Canada 
M2: Pool D - 10.22 - Samoa  v Mexico 
M3: Pool C - 10.44 - New Zealand v Tonga 
M4: Pool C - 11.06 - Australia v West Indies 
M5: Pool B - 11.28 - Fiji v Scotland 
M6: Pool B - 11.50 - Argentina v Uruguay 
M7: Pool A - 12.12 - England v Kenya 
M8: Pool A - 12.34 - France v USA 
M9: Pool D - 13.06 - South Africa v Mexico 
M10: Pool D - 13.28 - Samoa  v Canada 
M11: Pool C - 13.50 - New Zealand v West Indies 
M12: Pool C - 14.12 - Australia v Tonga 
M13: Pool B - 14.34 - Fiji v Uruguay 
M14: Pool B - 14.56 - Argentina v Scotland 
M15: Pool A - 15.18 - England v USA 
M16: Pool A - 15.40 - France v Kenya 
M17: Pool D - 16.12 - Canada v Mexico 
M18: Pool C - 16.34 - Tonga v West Indies 
M19: Pool B - 16.56 - Scotland v Uruguay 
M20: Pool A - 17.18 - Kenya v USA 
M21: Pool D - 17.40 - South Africa v Samoa  
M22: Pool C - 18.02 - New Zealand v Australia 
M23: Pool B - 18.24 - Fiji v Argentina 
M24: Pool A - 18.46 - England v France

DAY TWO:

M25: Quarter-finals, Bowl - 10:00 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B 
M26: Quarter-finals, Bowl - 10:22 3rd Pool D v 4th Pool C 
M27: Quarter-finals, Bowl - 10:44 3rd Pool C v 4th Pool D 
M28: Quarter-finals, Bowl - 11:06 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A 
M29: Quarter-finals, Cup - 11:28 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B 
M30: Quarter-finals, Cup - 11:50 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C 
M31: Quarter-finals, Cup - 12:12 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D 
M32: Quarter-finals, Cup - 12:34 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A 
M33: Semi-finals, Shield - 13:06 Loser M25 v Loser M26 
M34: Semi-finals, Shield - 13:28 Loser M27 v Loser M28 
M35: Semi-finals, Bowl - 13:50 Winner M25 v Winner M26 
M36: Semi-finals, Bowl - 14:12 Winner M27 v Winner M28 
M37: Semi-finals, Plate - 14:34 Loser M28 v Loser M30 
M38: Semi-finals, Plate - 14:56 Loser M31 v Loser M32 
M39: Semi-finals, Cup - 15:38 Winner M29 v Winner M30 
M40: Semi-finals, Cup - 16:00 Winner M31 v Winner M32 
M41: Shield Final - 16:25 Winner M33 v Winner M34 
M42: Bowl Final - 16:50 Winner M35 v Winner M36 
M43: Plate Final - 17:15 Winner M37 v Winner M38 
M44: Cup Final - 17:45 Winner M39 v Winner M40