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By Alex Goff (Ian Muir photo)
The USA 7s team completed another day of training Monday. The sessions have been intense and Tuesday promises to be as well. Leading into two three-day tournaments in Adelaide and Hong Kong, the staff has the players going hard three days and then one day off.
The fourth day is a key recovery day, and with players handling some small injuries already, it’s even more important.
The players have been working hard, but the cold, wet weather in the San Diego area hasn’t helped things at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.
“It’s just cold,” said head coach Al Caravelli. “Colder than we’re used to here. Still the wet weather has made us concentrate on our ball-handling, which is good.”
Overall the players are performing to expectations. The returning athletes have slotted in as Caravelli knew they would. All of them are learning to work together, and Wednesday’s morning a team-building session at the local Navy SEAL base will help with that.
Player notes: Players new to camp have all made an impact. Brian Barnard, back in camp for the first time in four years, “has a greater understanding of the game and is a lot more prepared,” said Caravelli.
Tony Temple is not in camp – he had to pull out at the last minute. Tommy Saunders is in camp. The former Mizzou football star has been outstanding. He logged the best beep test score of the camp – the first time a football crossover player has done that. “He has an amazing engine,” said Caravelli . “And he’s a class act.”
Malakai Vaka was in a bit of culture shock, but has rallied and is working enormously hard. The team’s defensive systems force players to talk constantly, which has helped Vaka connect with the team.
Dimitri Efthimiou isn’t in his first camp, but he’s still a relatively new player. In the team’s scrimmage against Belmont Shore, Caravelli asked Shore to put in their impact sub Pate Uiaguleilei against Efthimiou just to see what the Mystic River youngster would do. Efthimiou got the ball, fended of Uiaguleilei and blew his doors off running in a try. Efthimiou is the fastest player in camp and is improving on his defense.
Mile Pulu is not in camp. Caravelli wanted him but he had to stay in San Francisco due to pressure from work and his club.
Also back for another look is Zach Pangelinan, who is playing extremely well after the sting of not being invited to camps earlier this season.
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