Hawkins Brings a Changed Team to Dubai

The USA Men's 7s team is in Dubai ready to play in a tournament that usually does them few favors.

As the Eagles have to figure out a 12-hour time difference, as well as the blistering dryness of the Arabian desert, they also have to figure out how to play with a changed lineup.

Pono Haitsuka comes in for his first 7s cap. Similarly, Zac Mizell makes his debut. That means that the team in Dubai has four players with one or no tournaments to their credit.

And don't make assumptions about the so-called experienced players. Brett Thompson has played in eight tournaments; Carlin Isles in ten. In fact, only Nick Edwards and Zack Test have appeared in more than 20 tournaments, and those two total 58 events. The remaining ten combine for more than 58, but not by much.

So, what's the method to Matt Hawkins's madness?

"We are slowly piecing things together and I definitely believe the guys have made some great forward progress," Hawkins told RUGBYMag.com. "Dubai and South Africa are the next step in that, so we’re all looking forward to the opportunity. We are not heavy. We have a good distribution of players in the forwards and the backs, [and] we are just starting to mold people in to additional positions that may not have been their primary positions."

So those are words of a coach thinking long-term. It's an issue USA coaches have had to deal with repeatedly. You have to pick your team to win now, and yet also make sure you have players with experience for tomorrow, and next year, and when your current players leave for a 15s pro contract.

So long-term includes blooding new players. The two new ones for this weekend are elusive Oregon State speedster Pono Haitsuka, and lanky Arkansas State star (who was USA Rugby College 7s Championships MVP in 2012) Zac Mizell.

"Pono has grown in his time with us and been able to manage the increased pressure and intensity of the OTC with a change in position and role really well," said Hawkins. "We hope to see him make positive strides over the next two weeks and get some game time at the highest level."

Meanwhile Mizell brings a variety of skills as he can play center or even first receiver, but has the size and strength to perhaps play in the forwards as well.

"Zac has been very impressive in his comfort with the system we are running," said Hawkins. "He has slotted in really well with the guys and this his next challenge."

Some changes have been forced on the team. Tai Enosa was injured and Shalom Suniula out of form leaves Hawkins with few options ... or does it?

"I have multiple halfbacks and multiple players that can play many roles," said Hawkins. "On this trip we have Folau, Stephen, Zac and Pono all as halfbacks, so we actually have an abundance of halfbacks at this point."

Carlin Isles? Some say he should get more touches, and maybe halfback gets him there, but Hawkins said Isles has more to work on as a defender - having a "great presence" - and in becoming more of a team contributor. He is making progress, said Hawkins, but still has a ways to go.

Translation - Isles scores tries, but does he create tries, and does he prevent tries?

The other big change is, of course, the fact that Hawkins benched himself. He had said he always wanted to, and the return of Andrew Durutalo and Nu'u Punimata means he can just coach. This in itself is a look to the future and not the past, and is probably, says almost everybody, a good move.

Now, about handling those time zones ...