Wallaby Seven want more in Wellington
Australia win London Sevens (Photo: irb.com)
Buoyed by the return of three experienced Sevens campaigners, Australian skipper Bernard Foley says the time is right for his young squad to show the benefit of their time together and put in a solid performance at the NZI Sevens in Wellington this weekend when the HSBC Sevens World Series resumes.
Far from content with his side’s sixth place after the opening two rounds in Dubai and South Africa, Foley is confident the return of fellow London Sevens-winning teammates Jacob Taylor and Henry Vanderglas, plus the inclusion of key figure Brian Sefanaia, will give his side the competitive edge they require to reach the play-offs at a sold-out Westpac Stadium.
“We’ve taken a lot from our first two hit-outs in the World Series and will be looking to put that into action in Wellington this weekend,” Foley said.
“The newer guys have now had the taste of what it’s like to play Sevens at the next level and are only going to get better with each match they play.
“While we’ve lost (Qantas Wallabies Spring Tourist) Nick Phipps from the side, the return of Vanderglas, Taylor and Sefanaia will more than make up that void in experience.”
The return of Taylor (shoulder) and Vanderglas (shoulder) takes the number of players to five who were successful in ending Australia’s eight-year title drought in winning the London event in May last year.
Tough task on day one
The young Australians face a tough task in Wellington, drawn alongside reigning World Series champions Samoa, Tonga and crowd favourites Kenya in the pool stages, but Foley believes his side is up to the challenge.
“It’s going to be a real test when we meet the Samoans in our final pool match on Saturday, but you can never underestimate the likes of Kenya and Tonga,” Foley added.
“We’re going to have to be on our game to stay in the top side of the competition, but the guys have been training really well over the last couple of weeks, in terms of building combinations and I’m hoping that will show on the field.”
New recruit Lewis Holland is set to make his debut for the Australian Sevens following a show-stopping performance at the Darwin Sevens with the Brumbies Academy last month.
While the “Aussie Thunderbolts” failed to fire and were knocked out in the quarter finals by an invitational side, the former Australian Schoolboys playmaker caught coach Michael O’Connor’s eye and has been rewarded with an immediate call-up to the national squad.
The Australian leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series, staged in Adelaide on 2-3 April, follows on from the iconic Hong Kong Sevens as stop six on the eight-leg World Series. Tickets for the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide are on sale now at Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au .
Australia squad in Wellington: Bernard Foley (capt), Ed Jenkins, (vc), Hamish Angus, Shaun Foley, John Grant, Lewis Holland, Greg Jeloudev, Jonothan Lance, Brian Sefanaia, Jacob Taylor, Henry Vanderglas, Daniel Yakopo
Buoyed by the return of three experienced Sevens campaigners, Australian skipper Bernard Foley says the time is right for his young squad to show the benefit of their time together and put in a solid performance at the NZI Sevens in Wellington this weekend when the HSBC Sevens World Series resumes.
Far from content with his side’s sixth place after the opening two rounds in Dubai and South Africa, Foley is confident the return of fellow London Sevens-winning teammates Jacob Taylor and Henry Vanderglas, plus the inclusion of key figure Brian Sefanaia, will give his side the competitive edge they require to reach the play-offs at a sold-out Westpac Stadium.
“We’ve taken a lot from our first two hit-outs in the World Series and will be looking to put that into action in Wellington this weekend,” Foley said.
“The newer guys have now had the taste of what it’s like to play Sevens at the next level and are only going to get better with each match they play.
“While we’ve lost (Qantas Wallabies Spring Tourist) Nick Phipps from the side, the return of Vanderglas, Taylor and Sefanaia will more than make up that void in experience.”
The return of Taylor (shoulder) and Vanderglas (shoulder) takes the number of players to five who were successful in ending Australia’s eight-year title drought in winning the London event in May last year.
Tough task on day one
The young Australians face a tough task in Wellington, drawn alongside reigning World Series champions Samoa, Tonga and crowd favourites Kenya in the pool stages, but Foley believes his side is up to the challenge.
“It’s going to be a real test when we meet the Samoans in our final pool match on Saturday, but you can never underestimate the likes of Kenya and Tonga,” Foley added.
“We’re going to have to be on our game to stay in the top side of the competition, but the guys have been training really well over the last couple of weeks, in terms of building combinations and I’m hoping that will show on the field.”
New recruit Lewis Holland is set to make his debut for the Australian Sevens following a show-stopping performance at the Darwin Sevens with the Brumbies Academy last month.
While the “Aussie Thunderbolts” failed to fire and were knocked out in the quarter finals by an invitational side, the former Australian Schoolboys playmaker caught coach Michael O’Connor’s eye and has been rewarded with an immediate call-up to the national squad.
The Australian leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series, staged in Adelaide on 2-3 April, follows on from the iconic Hong Kong Sevens as stop six on the eight-leg World Series. Tickets for the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide are on sale now at Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au .
Australia squad in Wellington: Bernard Foley (capt), Ed Jenkins, (vc), Hamish Angus, Shaun Foley, John Grant, Lewis Holland, Greg Jeloudev, Jonothan Lance, Brian Sefanaia, Jacob Taylor, Henry Vanderglas, Daniel Yakopo