For Immediate Release

December 4, 2008

 

U.S. Names Team for South Africa Sevens Tournament

 

GEORGE, South Africa – The U.S. Men’s National Sevens Coach, Al Caravelli, has named the team set to play in the second stop of the IRB Sevens World Series in George, South Africa, on December 5-6.

 

Although the U.S. Team clinched the Shield in the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens Tournament last weekend, the general consensus among the team was that they expected more from themselves.

 

“We made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes in Dubai,” Caravelli said. “We missed some key tackles that we shouldn’t have. We need to play a lot more aggressive on defense and eliminate those mental mistakes. We spent a lot of time reviewing the match video and those mistakes were easy to identify.”

 

In the upcoming Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens, which kicks off tomorrow at 11:37 a.m. South Africa Standard Time, the U.S. finds itself in Pool B and facing stiff opposition from South Africa, Australia and Georgia.

 

“South Africa came out of gate in Dubai playing great rugby and there’s no doubt that they want to win this tournament in front of their home crowd. Australia and George are also tough teams, but I believe we can hang with anybody,” Caravelli added. “We just have to play to our potential, maintain possession, and eliminate our mistakes.”

There has been just one change to the U.S. lineup since last weekend, as Anwar Salaam had to leave the tour with a broken foot and Dallen ‘Paki’ Stanford will take his place.

 

USA Men’s Sevens Team
1.   Todd Clever (Xerox Lions)

2.       James Gillenwater (Belmont Shore)

3.       Mark  Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians)

4.       Tui Osborne (OMBAC)

5.       Justin Boyd (Dallas Harlequins)

6.       Chris Wyles (Saracens)

7.       Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore)

8.       Matt Hawkins (OMBAC)

9.       Kevin Swiryn (St. Mary’s College)

10.   Dallen Stanford (Belmont Shore)

11.   Shalom Suinula (Bribane Magpies)

12.   Don Younger (Indianapolis RFC)

Team Staff

Head Coach Al Caravelli

Manager Kevin Battle

Physio Kristen Douhan

Strength & Conditioning Craig Hartley

Video Analyst Emilio Signes

 

For more information on the USA Sevens Team or to read the daily blogs from their tours abroad, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/mens_sevens. For more information on the IRB Sevens World Series, please visit www.irbsevens.com.

 

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