Campo wants 'fantasy rugby'
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:44
Wallaby great David Campese, assistant Australian coach at the Hong Kong Sevens, made an impassioned plea for more "fantasy rugby" to boost the game.
Campese was speaking on Day Two of the Hong Kong tournament, Round Five in the IRB Sevens World Series, and felt that the 15-man version of the game needs an injection of the Sevens flair to spice it up.
The legendary former Wallaby winger, who scored 64 tries in 101 Tests for the Wallabies, said he watched the Six Nations and the World Cup and was unimpressed with what was on view.
"We need guys who can do steps and different things," he said, adding that Sevens was ideal for developing skills that could be used in the longer version of the game.
"Sevens is a unique game and it's really skill against skill and when you have a look at a lot of the players who play 15s, when they come to Sevens they've still got the 15s skills.
"Sevens is like fantasy rugby. You've got to think of the best way you want to play rugby and off you go and play it."
Campese said the 15-a-side game needed players such as All Black legends Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu, who can keep the opposition guessing.
"The most important thing is having the confidence to go up to a guy and step around him and score," he said.
Campese, whose coaching commitments in South Africa have included a role as skills coach to the Sharks Super 14 outfit, said it was difficult to spot future stars at the Sevens.
"It's a breeding ground. You don't know now but maybe in a year or two. You've got the young guys, that's the whole idea."
The Aussie legend, attempting to help his team improve on their current position of ninth in the IRB Sevens World Series, said it was great to be involved in the Hong Kong Sevens, which finishes Sunday.
Campese, who will also be involved with the Australian team at next month's Sevens tournament in Adelaide said: "It's a great feeling to be back. It's good to hear the boos and to see that nothing's changed."
