Simon Amor urged to pick Joe Simpson for Olympic showpiece 

Charles Piutau reckons Wasps teammate Joe Simpson is more than capable of making the transition to Sevens rugby for the Rio Olympics.
Livewire scrum-half Simpson was one of only six 15-a-side players named in Team GB‘s wider 25-man squad by head coach Simon Amor last week.
He will have just four events to prove himself in this summer’s European Series before Amor finalises his 12-man squad in late July. But Piutau, who represented New Zealand Sevens in 2011-12, is backing 27-year-old Simpson to succeed.
He told The Rugby Paper: “From what I’ve seen of Joe on the training pitch, he’ll go really well for GB 7s. His fitness, speed and tactical awareness of space around him is superb and you can see he’s got that natural talent to do well.
“I played Sevens in a World Series and know what it takes. It tests your lungs  but I’d back Joe to make that adjustment quickly.
“There’s quite a lot to get used to in the way you train and play, but he’s played Sevens before and he’s got that natural fitness. I can only see him doing well back in Sevens and, for his sake, I hope he achieves his dream of making it to Rio.”
Former All Black centre Piutau heads for Ulster at the end of this season after a successful campaign with Wasps that saw him nominated alongside flanker George Smith for the Premiership‘s player of the season award.
He said: “Just to be named alongside a legend of the game like George was humbling and it’s been a massive year for my career.
“Missing the World Cup with New Zealand was a huge disappointment but I’ve used it as motivation and Wasps have been magnificent. We’ve played exciting rugby and being here has brought me a whole new level of joy.”
Seventy-one tries in 22 regular season league games is testament to Wasps’ firepower and Piutau believes attack coach Lee Blackett, who arrived from Championship outfit Rotherham last summer, is destined for greater things.
He said: “You would never have realised Lee came from a lower league club with the way he’s coached us. I only found out halfway through the season and was surprised because the things he brings to the table are awesome.
“Lee’s got a big future in the game and 71 tries is pretty good going by us. It’s Super Rugby standard and that helped in my transition.”
Despite a stellar season at Wasps, Piutau insists he never considered backing out of his Ulster move, adding: “It was set in stone before I came and as much as I’ve loved it here, I gave my word to Ulster and will follow it through.
“I’ve only heard good stuff about the club, so I’ve got two years there which I’m looking forward to. After that we’ll see, but I’d like to think I could go back to New Zealand and fight for an All Blacks spot for the 2019 World Cup.”
NEALE HARVEY