Olympic Rugby: Mike Friday hails the 'Kings of Sevens' in day one ...

With day one of the Olympic Rugby Sevens now upon us, USA Rugby Head Coach Mike Friday previews the action highlighting his players to watch and makes his predictions.

It’s to be an epic start to the Olympic Rugby Sevens as USA take on hosts France and holders Fiji in a mouth-watering first day with over 80,000 filling a packed Stade de France.

The hosts include the great Antoine Dupont in their team, whilst holders Fiji are also in action, playing Friday’s USA team later this evening in what promises to be a wonderful day of short-form rugby.

Here’s Friday’s big five games to watch today.

“This game is second up today and features the pre-tournament favourites Argentina against a highly physical and perhaps underrated Kenyan team,” Friday says.

“Kenya are a big and powerful side who relish a bit of physicality and won’t shy away from clattering another big team in Los Pumas. They also have a free hit here with nothing to lose and they’ll fancy themselves to pull off an upset.

“Argentina are a very organised and well run team, with Marcos Moneta at the centre of everything, a true Sevens genius, who possesses a classical all-court game with pace and footballing skills making him the complete package. This match won’t lack power or commitment and it’s all about if Kenya can create enough possession to get points on the board.”

Players to Watch: “Marcos ‘Money’ Moneta goes without saying and his influence, as I stated above is key. For Kenya, Patrick Odongo is a real flyer with gas to burn.

Prediction: “Argentina should win this but with Kenya, anything might happen and they have the physicality to really get under the skin of Los Pumas.

“It’s a bit rude to pick my own fixtures and I know I’m doing it twice, but our clash v France is a belter and is one the crowds will embrace.

“For us, it’s about that restart and trying to compete with the aerialists and pinpoint kicking of the French team. France are excellent at the breakdown – controlled yet physical – and they will move the point of both breakdown and restart around.

“And of course, we have to mention the great Antoine Dupont; I’ll be interested to see if France start him or use him as impact. He’s the one guy who has vast experience of playing in front of 80k at Stade de France in blue and, of course, he’s got that amazing big match temperament to add experience to the French effort.

“France will know all about our power and speed and I’m sure they’ll see USA as a real challenge for them and it’s one I and the lads are absolutely relishing.”

Players to Watch: “No question – Jordan Sepho for France and his magical aerialism combined with his breakdown work. And of course, that man Dupont! For us, it’s Lucas Lacamp, a guy who has a French dad and speaks the language fluently. Lucas is all about breathtaking acceleration and at 23 he’s already played over 100 matches for us.”

Prediction: “It’s a tight game and it has the chance to go either way – that’s all I’m saying as I’ve got skin in this one!”

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“Well, we know from XVs that there’s no love lost between these two nations and they’ll be busting a gut to take pieces out of each other!

“SA are flying high after the Repechage and are a very unpredictable and pacy side. Ireland in contrast are all about organisation, structure and suffocating their opponents. They’re a side that likes phases to create one-on-ones and they are one of the more patient sides, willing to move a D around to pull it out of shape to open gaps.

“SA are about movement and pace; smaller in stature than Ireland but very comfortable with the ball in hand and working on the counter, using pace and agility to take on the defence with fast feet and fast passing.

Players to Watch: “Ireland’s Terry Kennedy is one of the very best and his kicking game is key to the men in green. For SA, their creation often comes from Selvyn Davids, a really intelligent footballer with all the gifts.”

Prediction: “Another close one but I just fancy Ireland’s ability to maintain shape and structure to see off the more intuitive gameplan of the Blitzboks.”

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“You never know what to expect from the Flying Fijians and this is another unpredictable match. I’ll be watching their match with Uruguay with interest to see how they’re going to play, but for them, as always, I am sure it’ll be based around their peerless offloading.

“They are the Kings of Sevens, but they play their way; they slap from KO as opposed to trying to clean catch and everything is about support and offloading to create numerical mismatches.

“For USA, it’s key we don’t get drawn into bad defensive shapes and holding your structure against a wave of offloading means that first tackle is absolutely key to execute. We have power and pace if we gain possession, but unusually in Sevens, this game is really about how USA defend and counter those offloads.

Players to Watch: “I’ve mentioned my players earlier, but for Fiji everything revolves around that man Jerry Tuwai, a sevens legend. He’s looking for his third gold and any side facing Fiji need to be well aware of his all-court threat.

Prediction: “If we can disrupt possession through aggressive defence, then we have every chance, but it’s a huge task. However, I genuinely think anything could happen and I’m backing ourselves for an upset here!”

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