Moore talks up Olympic rugby
Australia captain Stephen Moore believes the success of Sevens at the Rio Olympics could be beneficial to rugby as a whole.
Last year's Games marked the first time the seven-a-side version of rugby was included at the Olympics, with union having last featured in 1924.
Moore, a veteran of 117 Tests with the Wallabies, said the global stage provided an opportunity to showcase the sport to a greater audience.
"I think it's a very different game, no doubt," Moore told Omnisport from the HSBC Sydney Sevens event on Saturday.
"I'm really impressed by the physical capabilities of the players, the size of them, the way they can move around the field at their size.
"Some of these guys are 110-115kg and they just don't stop. I think it's really impressive.
"The fact Sevens is now in the Olympics, it gives the rest of the world a good example of how the athletes involved in Sevens are just as impressive as some of the other sports in the Olympics which I think is great for our sport."
Sevens was lauded a success in Rio, as Fiji claimed a fairytale gold medal in the men's competition and Australia took out the women's.
Sydney is the fourth stop in the 2016-17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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