Epic Failure

But wasn't part of the IRB's desire to see 7s in the Olympics at least partially to give it a 'marquee' event? I could be completely wrong here but I strongly suspect more people will watch the Olympic tournaments than watch the world series or the world cup. That's central to my argument really - I don't have the same problems with men's football where the Olympics clearly aren't the peak. I have more of an issue on the women's side where it still somewhat is, although in recent years it's becoming less of an issue with the strong growth of the women's game.

Women's football is another sport where I have similar views to this.

There's another round of the challenger before Madrid isn't there? So the teams aren't yet decided for Madrid, if I'm remembering correctly.

I mean a 20 team tournament would literally be 4 groups of 5. Top 2 in each get to the QFs. Not that hideous a format. I'd have no problem with a 24 team tournament either. Obviously neither is going to happen with the IOC being what it is.

So according to the Beeb, the synchro pairs have been confirmed - https://www.bbc.com/sport/diving/articles/c6pylyyl13go - although there doesn't seem to be a press release from British Swimming/Aquatics GB/Water UK (delete as applicable) to confirm as much. Men 3m synchro - Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding 10m synchro - Tom Daley/Noah Williams Women 3m synchro - Yasmin Harper/Scarlett Mew-Jensen 10m synchro - Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix/Lois Toulson No great surprises I guess. Individual spots after the GB Champs at the end of the month.

Isn't the French state technically secular? I'm sure I was reading something recently that the state has a tendency to block out any religious symbology on official documentation. Maybe this is an example of that.

I mean, my position is that all of the top 10 deserve a spot. Because I'd expand the tournament to 20 teams, to mirror the 15 a side WC. Give the first 12 spots to the top 12 in the rankings, then you open it to 8 regional qualifiers from there. I think there's easily enough competitive teams to do that.

No. I didn't say that. I can see how you thought I was. But I wasn't. I was saying that RSA and GBR are generally better than Uruguay and Japan. And, most importantly, I'm saying that the route that Uruguay and Japan had was easier than the route RSA and GBR had. I was literally saying that Kenya, Ireland and Spain are much tougher challenges than anything that Uruguay or Japan faced in their qualifiers. Obviously Ireland are much tougher - they've consistently been better than GBR for the last couple of years (although we should have won on Sunday. But I digress). And of course on their day, anyone can beat anyone. I said above that 7s closes the gap greatly compared to the 15 a side game. But the gap is still there. Spain beat Fiji in LA, for example. But is anyone really arguing that Fiji are not the better side overall?

Seider (insurance) and Larkin (injury) both out.

Like, this is guesswork on my part but I'm willing to bet that when World Rugby was drawing up this system they didn't expect Argentina to be as strong as they have become in 7s. I suspect they probably would have preferred them to be slightly weaker and to take the SA spot instead. But I agree that 12 teams is too small. If you are going to have team sports like these at the Games and want them to grow, you need to stop penny pinching the number of qualifiers.

It entirely depends on what your aim is in terms of qualifying. If it is to ensure geographic spread - this is good. If it is to ensure the best teams - less so.

Okay, I'll adjust the GBR expected win rate against Uruguay to 98 out of 100 then. This is no intended disrespect to Uruguay or Japan. Both are improving nations, in both 7s and the 15 a side game. But more than anything, it shows how lax both GBR and RSA have been in 7s in the last couple of years. But it's an undeniable fact that the path for Japan and Uruguay to qualify this time around was much easier than it is for GBR especially but even RSA. Kenya are basically the same level as Uruguay. RSA should have beaten them but it isn't a huge shock they didn't. Same with GBR and Ireland/Spain. But nobody else in Asia or South America is close to that level right now. Even in 7s, which is a more even sport than the 15 a side game. Basically, the path to the Olympics was made much easier for certain countries with the teams already qualified through the rankings. Hell, even Samoa got an easier ride this time around. It is what it is. It happened to France in Tokyo and it will happen to one of GBR or RSA this time.

Commonwealth silver medalist and former African record holder as well. Her mum also ran the 4x4 at the Athens games as well. That's not bad role models to have at home as a young athlete! If she sticks with the sport - and with GBR rather than Nigeria - that's a potential top tier talent right there.

The women's middle distance events in Doha are stacked. The 800m has got 4 of the finalists from the world indoors just a couple of months ago, and then you add Moraa on top? And the 1500m has the triple Ethiopian attack of Hailu, Haylom and Welteji. Should be some great races. The men's 1500m isn't half bad either. Couple of entries for our friends across the Irish Sea as well, in Sarah Lavin and Sarah Healy.

Not to be *that* person, but it was a 3hr gap between those 2 races (mixed heat started 19:16, men's heat started 22:22). So still a short gap but not quite as short as an hour! I think, in retrospect, India were *very* unlucky in the men's 4x4 on day 1. Not because of the injury to Ramesh as such but the draw. You ended up in a heat which had the only sub 3 min runs of the day. Obviously with your pedigree in the event in recent years you would have stood a chance to match those times if your guys were on form but it would have been a very tough race in any scenario.

Poor Mark Stone battled back for nothing.

Today's 4x4 splits. Young - 46.19 Laviai - 51.06 Dobson - 44.54 Yeargin - 51.20 VO - 51.77 Lina - 51.11 Emily - 52.33 Hannah - 50.63 MHS - 40.50 AHW - 49.99 Brier - 46.75 Davey - 45.38 I'd question the splits given to MHS and AHW though. It works out to 45.25 and 45.24 though, which is solid for 2 legs, especially as one of them is the opener from blocks. All in all, a professional job done. If my brain is working correctly, I think only us and the US qualified 5/5 this weekend.

That's why I said it is partially their fault. But the qualifying system also has given us a place for Japan (who are about 6th on the Challenger circuit) and Uruguay (who are at least winning the Challenger circuit at the moment). Both RSA and GBR would expect to beat those two sides 99 times out of 100. It is what it is. It's just an example of increased continental representation ahead of the best ranked teams. It's not the only sport which has made that choice. In some sports where there are much bigger quotas it is less noticeable but when you have only 12 teams in total it's more obvious.

No rest for Gabby Thomas then!

She was 9.92 on the anchor leg yesterday. I'm always a bit skeptical about the accuracy sprint relay splits. But there's no doubt that she's looked good.

Nevermind, replay looked okay. Just. Hunt's backstraight looked good.

Hmm, I'd like to see the final British changeover there. Looked close.

Zambia have a 2:59.12 showing from earlier this year. Netherlands are just outside 3 mins at the moment but were 2:57 in Tokyo. I'd still want to be in France's shoes but it's not a complete given yet.

Adeleke and Mawdsley both looked great. Mawdsley keeping on pace with Bol is impressive.

It *should* be. You'd obviously make them the strong favourites for that spot. But it would be risky to chance it by not taking a team to ensure it.