England Sevens head coach Simon Amor may be building towards the World Sevens Series but Tom Bowen insists victory in the Manchester leg of the European Rugby Sevens Grand Prix will prove to be the perfect preparation.
A comfortable 35-0 win over Germany in the quarter-final was backed up with a 26-5 defeat of Russia in the last four to set up a clash with France in the final of the Cup competition.
And although they didn’t have it all their own way, twice having to come from behind, England lifted the trophy with a 28-21 victory – Bowen himself touching down in the final.
The win on home soil was England’s second in as many legs of the European Rugby Sevens Grand Prix, putting them in poll position ahead of next weekend’s final leg in Bucharest.
And with the World Sevens Series on the horizon, Bowen believes things are starting to fall perfectly into place for England.
“We came here to win the tournament,” said Bowen, who scored four tries in total across the weekend.
“There’s not many of us, so when you spend so much time together, especially on these tours, you become really good friends and it makes you perform better.
“I’m happy with my own personal performance. There are a few things I’ve got to work on but pleased with what I did in the final and what I did all tournament really.
“I managed to get a few tries so happy enough with that.
“Everyone knows the system, knows how we play, and what to do in each situation. The team is gelling together really well. We’re a really tight unit.
“We’ve got a week to recover and then it’s all guns blazing for Bucharest. Everyone is raring fit. We came with a few niggles here and there but nothing major hopefully.”
© Sportsbeat 2014