The HS All American 7s team set for the Rosslyn Park 7s, which kids off March 26, looks a little different from the squad that lost in the final of the Las Vegas Invitational in February.

The changes are as much about use of resources than anything else, as seven players from Vegas return for Rosslyn Park, and five are new. IN the forwards, 6-6 Granite Bay standout Chase Bixby is back, while Malon Al-Jiboori, who was hampered by a hamstring injury in Vegas, also returns, but with more of a spring in his step. Al-Jiboori, 6-3, 225, can bring a physical presence to the team. He is joined by Devin Lim, who at 6-2, 200 and fast is an ideal center in 15s and prop ins 7s. 

Those two will replace Leki Fotu, who is being saved for the U17 trip to France, and Brian Nault, now with the USA U20s in Canada.

Thompson has looked for players who can be versatile. Travis Heer is strong enough to play prop and hooker in 7s, but fast enough to be a wing for Granite Bay. Christian Dyer out of Jesuit is much the game - he can play almost anywhere. Greenwich’s Luke Bienstrock brings even more pace to the team, and Thompson hopes he can handle bring a forward in 7s. 

Overall, the team has more pace and a little less height than the Las Vegas version, and against the British school teams in Rosslyn Park, that’s a smart move as the Americans will likely be one of the bigger squads.

Thompson said he wants his team to work together, and to know their roles.

“We don’t want to force the attack,” he said. “We want to move the ball to runners in space and stretch the defense. If we make the defenses work then the opportunities will come. In defense, it’s efficiency in our tackles, discipline, and work rate in building and redialing our line.”

The HS All Americans learned a few things from their loss to BC in Las Vegas. The importance of securing and maintaining possession is one of them. They should have been good on the restarts, but weren’t, and that cost them dearly. They were stretched on defense, which is why, in part, Thompson injected more speed into this Rosslyn Park team.

“We got impatient and tried to force things in attack and defense,” said Thompson. “The players defaulted to trying to make things happen on their own rather than trust and work as a team. The Rosslyn Park teams play together all season. They have figured out how to work best as teams and know each other’s nuances, strengths, and weaknesses. While we have Vegas under our belt, we’re still getting to know how to get the best out of us as a team.”

The HS All Americans kick off the Rosslyn Park 7s Thursday, March 26 at 12:20pm UK time against Nottingham High School. 

Then at 1:20pm they play Cowbridge Compregensive, followed by Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade out of Wales at 2:20pm. Their final game is at 3:20pm against Hurstpierpoint College.

It’s a tough schedule - four games in the space of three hours and twenty minutes, but it’s the same for everyone. Check back with Goff Rugby Report for scores and details.