J.P. Morgan Asset Management Sevens Series
The ultimate Sevens team?
Ben Kay
July 9, 2012

Live on ESPN

New Zealand's Jonah Lomu races away to score, Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, March 25, 1995
New Zealand's Jonah Lomu injects some pace into an attack during the 1995 Hong Kong 7s © Getty Images
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With the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series getting underway on Friday, ESPN's Ben Kay selects his ultimate rugby Sevens team.

1. Jonah Lomu - This guy changed the game of Sevens and XVs and had unbelievable gas. Sevens is all about pace and quick play and he can shrug off any player who grabs him, a great player to have on the pitch. I played against him once when he wasn't at his best, but he still scored.

2. Schalk Brits - Schalk has got great balance, pace and power and is also a superb playmaker. He has exceptional feet and can play around the field. You know he'll do the defensive work and will be the first man over the ball in a turnover

3. Tom Croft - Crofty can be a single lift with someone like Lomu, this way you can match the defensive line and make more of an impact from this position. You can have him floating on the wing to finish off any attacks because of his speed.

4. Austin Healey - He was the hardest person to put down on here, but he was a great player and as much as I hate to say it, a great analytical brain. The only problem is, well not a problem, but is he a 9, 10 or wing? This would be pretty useful in sevens.

5. Waisale Serevi - Well this guy needs no introduction; he's one of the greatest Sevens players ever. A great story involving Serevi is from when he was playing for Leicester Tigers and was playing against, I think, Milan. He beat the fullback, waited for him to catch up, beat him again - he did this once more before scoring. He has great feet and lightening acceleration.

Fiji's legendary Sevens playmaker Waisale Serevi reaches for the line during the Cup semi-final against England, Fiji v England, World Cup Sevens, Hong Kong Stadium, March 20 2005.
Fiji's Waisale Serevi stretches for the line © Getty Images
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6. Jason Robinson - Jason is probably the best player I've played with or against. I don't think he's necessarily the quickest, but he can always beat a defender and with the space in Sevens and the availability of Lomu or Croft to offload to, he'd be a deadly weapon.

7. Martin Offiah - Back in his Wigan days there wasn't a better pure speed finisher. Wigan ruled the world at that time beating Brisbane Broncos in one of the first Rugby Club Challenges, Offiah really lit it up over there.

What do you think of Ben's team? Why not submit yours to @espnscrum using #jpm7s. The ESPNscrum team will select their favourite and the winner will get two tickets to the final.

Ben Kay is a rugby analyst for ESPN, live and exclusive broadcaster of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series. Live coverage includes: Pool A matches, Friday July 13, 7.15pm. Pool B matches, Friday July 20, 7.15pm. Pool C matches, Thursday July 26, 7.15 and the Final on Friday August 3. Click here for tickets.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Ben Kay is a co-commentator for ESPN

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