Tom Mitchell doesn't often reach for comparisons. But watching USA's Tucker Tricky glide through the series, the former Great Britain Sevens captain turned broadcaster said the young Eagle reminded him of the man who now coaches him.
"There's something about Tucker Tricky, you know, it reminds me of a younger Zack test," Mitchell said, referring to USA head coach Zack Test, himself a legend of the American sevens programme. "I'm not saying that's why Zach's picked him. And neither of them might like that comparison, but there's a kind of balance on feet, that kind of similar build of the ranginess, the speed, the way he even does that kind of goosey goosey step."
It was the kind of fine-grained observation that Mitchell has become known for. And he wasn't shy about USA's prospects heading into the next major flashpoint — the Hong Kong Sevens.
"I was actually speaking to a former teammate in mind this morning, Alex Davis, and we were talking about, you know, which of the teams are going to do what the kind of stuff we like to talk about, us guys who have hung the boots up now," Mitchell said. "And we're saying that this USA side, in fact, both these two teams could really offer something in Hong Kong, lots of these USA players have been there and done it at that level previously."
Mitchell spent a portion of his commentary stint warning against reading too much into a flat-looking performance on day two. He said the Eagles were managing a specific situation — back-to-back events, and a qualification goal already achieved.
"Well, I think two things. The uh you're looking at a team that's fatigued. It's back-to-back events and to all intents and purposes. They've achieved their goal of qualifying for the World Championship. I know they want to win every game playing the national shirt, but…"
He then pointed to what game management in sevens actually looks like.
"If you're smart, you got to manage these games. And don't get me wrong, it's always going to be tiring. There's no easy ride, but moments like this, you can see how slowly they're walking to the line out. It's exactly the right way to do it. Bit of self-preservation."
The exception, according to Mitchell, is Stevie Thomas — who never drops effort regardless of circumstance.
"Well, it was a hell of a breakout and just as you were saying, you know, the job done. I tell you, if there's one guy who won't stop competing, it's Stevie Thomasine. He just goes a million miles an hour every time he gets out there making the most of it."
Mitchell closed a long broadcast with a broader thought on why he loves covering sevens — the players are rounded human beings, and their secondary pursuits deserve as much airtime as their tries.
"Yeah, it was a lovely moment of celebration, recognition as well. These players mentioned a couple of the Kenyon boys Kevin Mesa one of them who do things outside of their rugby playing lives and we see them out there on the field doing their thing but sometimes it's worth remembering that they are rounded human beings with other stuff going on in life and that's why I love that content so much."
With qualification banked and fresh legs returning, USA arrive in Hong Kong as one of the quiet menaces of the draw — and Mitchell is convinced they have the experience to make it count.
