Strong Performance in the Atlanta Sevens Gives US Rugby Hope

Guest Post by Dan Smyth.

Image source: K.M. Klemencic 

Two of the biggest events on the male side of the rugby world, the Six Nations and the Hong Kong Sevens, recently came to conclusion and when the trying was over it was Ireland and Fiji that were left celebrating. After a tense final day of action that could have seen a number of teams clinch the RBS Six Nations title, it was Ireland that managed to lift the prestigious trophy after England could not accrue a large enough winning margin against France in the final game.

In contrast to Wales, Fiji were able to embrace pre-tournament hype and convert it into a victory in the Hong Kong Sevens. After skipping through the tournament with relative ease, the team from Fiji eventually put in a masterful display against New Zealand in the finale to take the match (33-19) and the country’s 15th Hong Kong Sevens title.

Rugby More Popular than Ever

The coverage of those two events around the world has shown once again that rugby is a major sport and many women will be hoping this popularity translates into viewers for the forthcoming Rio Olympics. In 2016, sports fans across the world will turn their attention towards Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and that means female rugby sevens will have a chance to shine.

Hotly tipped to enjoy the same explosion of popularity that women’s soccer did a few years ago, the US will certainly have a strong chance of winning a medal when the action begins. Although still described as a minority sport in the US, the country’s finest players were able to make it through to the final of the Atlanta Sevens in March 2015 and test their skills against New Zealand.

Like their male counterparts, New Zealand’s female team are among the top outfits in the world and on the day they proved too strong for a brave US side. However, the stars and stripes certainly did not disgrace themselves as they put in a strong performance to give them hope ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games. In fact, Kathryn Johnson and Victoria Folayan were named in the official “dream team” for the tournament which just goes to show that women’s rugby is on the up in the US.

The @WorldRugby7s Dream Team for #Atlanta7s: pic.twitter.com/QgV716ZXAp

— Atlanta Sevens (@Atlanta7s) March 16, 2015

Odds on Favourites for the Rio Olympics

However, what does that mean for the country’s chances in Rio? As with all major tournaments, the pre-game favourites are often the team with the most amount of trophies behind them. This means New Zealand will likely lead the betting as the competition approaches.

Online bookmakers, such as 32Red, William Hill and Ladbrokes, will be posting their predictions for the tournament and it is likely the US will be somewhere in the middle of the pack. Despite making it to the final of the Atlanta Sevens, there will still be issues of consistency with the side and the threat of New Zealand will always be there.

However, if you were thinking about trying to choose a winner, the best way is to play the bookmaker yourself. Trying to set your own betting lines is not only a test of how good your knowledge of the game is, but it can be a great way to make some cash on the side as it will boost your ability to spot value in the market.

To accurately set your own betting lines, you need to do your research and learn as much as you can about the teams competing. For example, let’s assume you are setting a line for the US vs. England. Before you start conjuring up odds, you should read the latest team news, look at previous results and study current form to get a sense of which team will be the favourite and which will be the underdog.

After this, you should take things a step further and try to predict the result of each game and then compare your data to the prices offered by the industry’s leading online sportsbooks. Doing this will allow you to see how well you understand the market and how deep your knowledge of rugby is.

Team USA Could Upset the Formbook

Of course, the Olympics will be entertaining enough without any money riding on it, but the added excitement a little financial interest can bring is undeniable. However, you do not want to ante-up and put your money at risk without doing your own research. The odds makers at places such as William Hill and 32Red are certainly experts in their fields and know how to set odds, but they are not always right. So if you can spot some value, you should take it.

A lot can happen between now and the summer Olympics of 2016, but if the US team can find its way onto the field and play to its full potential then a bronze medal at the very least is possible. In fact, if things go well then there is every reason the US could upset the odds and take home the gold.