Carol Spencer’s son scores first All Blacks try
The 18-year-old son of All Blacks great Carlos Spencer, Payton, has opened his try scoring account for New Zealand, representing the All Blacks Sevens at the Sydney Sevens.
A week after New Zealand lost to Argentina in the final of the Hamilton leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Payton started against Uruguay in their opening match of the Sydney leg, bagging his first try for the team on three minutes and adding another in the second half.
He showed some impressive pace to score the try, although it was not necessarily a vintage Spencer try in as much as it did not involve any through the legs passes, banana kicks or general Spenceresque shenanigans.
This is what All Blacks Sevens Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said about the teenager going into the tournament: “Payton’s selection this weekend has been credit to his work ethic and ability to adapt quickly to the sevens game. He has prepared really well this week, all we want him to focus on is doing his job, expressing himself and enjoy the opportunity to play sevens on the international stage.”
New Zealand are set to take on Kenya and South Africa tomorrow in Pool B of the tournament.
Take a look at the try:
Like father, like son 💫
Payton Spencer grabs his first try for @nz_sevens! 👊
The son of former All Black Carlos Spencer #Sydney7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/lkWXvu1kYU
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) January 27, 2023
All Blacks Sevens team is:
2 Brady Rush
4 Akuila Rokolisoa
5 Dylan Collier
6 Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
7 Sam Dickson (Captain)
9 Amanaki Nicole
11 Joe Webber
12 Leroy Carter
21 Che Clark
23 Lewis Ormond
27 Sione Molia
44 Roderick Solo
74 Payton Spencer
Unavailable for selection: Andrew Knewstubb, Kitiona Vai, Moses Leo, Regan Ware, Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson, Tone Ng Shiu (injury).
Black Ferns Sevens team is:
3 Stacey Fluhler
4 Niall Guthrie
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
13 Jazmin Felix-Hotham
22 Shiray Kaka
26 Tysha Ikenasio
34 Sarah Hirini (Captain)
77 Risi Pouri-Lane
83 Jorja Miller
99 Tenika Willison
Unavailable for selection: Alena Saili, Kelly Brazier, Mahina Paul (injury).
