The best of the best

The second-most-famous saying associated with rugby — after the one about gentlemen and hooligans — is that it is a game for players of all shapes and sizes.

While that saying may still hold true in the 15-a-side version of the sport, in seven-a-side rugby, or Sevens, players from certain positions need not bother applying. For ­instance, because Sevens is a game that requires great speed and athleticism, those playing as forwards in 15s — especially the props, hookers and locks — will find themselves left out, no matter how good their hands may be, or how strong they are.

There are some rare exceptions, of course, but in general, do not ­expect to see the likes of Billy V­unipola, Bismarck Du Plessis, ­Brodie Rettalick or Alun Wyn Jones — great forwards all — popping up on the Sevens field any time soon. Their roles as ball winners, in the absence of good flankers, will instead usually be fulfilled by 15s centres and wingers with a bit of size and power.

Even supreme fitness and indefatigability in 15s bring no guarantees of a spot in the team. This is because besides requiring speed and athleticism, there is an extra X-Factor needed in terms of having good hands and a certain vision for playing Sevens. I suspect even the great Richie McCaw — commando-fit, tough and without peer in some of the forward arts — would not cut it as a Sevens player.

So what makes an ideal Sevens player?

As mentioned, two musts are speed and athleticism. Other prized attributes are good handling skills and ­secure defending. They also must ­understand how to make space and create openings. There is also reaction speed: Not just straight-out sprinting pace, but doing things quickly.

But while all the players over the next two days will display most of these qualities, and are roughly ­divided, as in 15s, into those who win the ball and those who use it, here are three further subdivisions of players found in the best Sevens teams, and some of the best current practitioners of each type:

The Bruisers

All-time greats: Wayne Shelford (New Zealand), Mesake Rasari (Fiji), Viliame Satala (Fiji)

Make no mistake: These guys can all play and have all the skills, but they would just as soon run over and through their opponents as make their way around them. And when these men hit you with a tackle, you tend to stay hit.

The best player of this type over the past few years has arguably been New Zealand’s DJ Forbes, who is ­uncompromisingly tough but is also a skilful re-setter and organiser of the All Blacks’ playing patterns.

However, Forbes, who has been captain for most of the past few seasons, is resting back in New Zealand during the Singapore Sevens, and his ­replacement, both in the captaincy and in the type of game Forbes plays, will be flanker Liam Messam.

Messam, too, is tough as teak, with a fiery streak, and captained the 7s team in his younger days, ­before ­becoming a 15s All Black and ­being part of the Rugby World Cup-winning Kiwi team last year.

Other tough men to watch this weekend include the United States’ Danny Barrett, who seems to ­delight in physical collisions more than most; South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, slightly smaller than the first two but more mobile and with more tricks in his arsenal; England’s James Rodwell and Samoa’s Falemiga Selesele, both of whom are also exceptionally tough in the aerial contests; and France’s Virimi Vakatawa, who stands out from this list for the fact he is a winger, who was good enough to be picked for France’s 15s team at the recent Six Nations tournament. He is big, fast and very hard to stop.

The speed merchants

All-time greats: David Campese (Australia), Andrew Harriman (England), Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Nothing quite excites the crowd as much as sheer unadulterated speed: When the fast men take off, spectators stand up, everyone gets excited and opponents despair.

Aside from at the athletics track, you are unlikely to see as many fast men together at once — and they run fast with the added danger, and fear, of being caught and tackled while at maximum speed. But when they outstrip their opponents, there is no other sight quite like these wingers in the game.

Rugby’s fastest man over the past few years has been the US’ Carlin Isles, but his exciting fellow speedster, Perry Baker, is probably the better all-round package: He is almost as fast as Isles but also possesses Muhammad Ali-like dancing feet and slightly more rugby nous.

Veterans Dan Norton (England) and Collins Injera (Kenya) are still doing the quick business, but Australia’s Cameron Clark, South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla and any number of flying Fijians will be the other main strike weapons this weekend.

The playmakers

All-time greats: Mark Ella (Australia), Waisale Serevi (Fiji), Ben Gollings (England)

This is the area where the smaller men dominate — they of the twinkling feet, brilliant hands, stunning acceleration and outstanding creative vision.

There are a few top-drawer playmakers on view this weekend, ­including Fiji’s captain, Osea Kolinisau (one of Waisale Serevi’s current heirs ­apparent, along with the rested Jerry Tuwai), South Africa’s Cecil Afrika, New Zealand’s Gillies Kaka, US captain Madison Hughes and the ­up-and-coming Phoenix Hunapo-­Nofoa of Samoa.

These men are the brains, spark and livewire of every great Sevens team, but sadly, few of these great playmakers — aside from Ella, one of Australia’s greatest players — seem to make it in the 15-a-side game.

It is as if, more than for anyone, the abbreviated form of rugby was created specially for this type of player. You will see plenty of hard men and speedsters in 15s rugby, but you will see the playmakers’ kind of flair only in Sevens. Catch them if you can — for not many will.