Last chance for Sevens before Commonwealth Games
Australian Sevens coach Glen Ella wants his regular Sevens players to show they have the goods to keep Super
14 players out of the Commonwealth Games team when they play in the next two IRB Sevens tournaments.
The Wellington Sevens (3-4 February) and Los Angeles Sevens (11-12 February) are the last chance for
players to stake their claim for the Commonwealth Games team which will be announced in mid-February after the
team returns from Los Angeles.
Ella will be able to select a starting player from each of the four Tooheys New Super 14 teams, as well as
a second player from outside the starting XV.
He already has his sights on the likes of Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Scott Fava and Chris Latham, but he
said there was no reason why his regular players can't knock off the more recognised Super 14 candidates.
With the Commonwealth Games now less than 50 days away, Australian coach Glen Ella said the performances at
the Wellington and Los Angeles tournaments would finalise the selection process.
"We have the cooperation of the four Super 14 teams to help put together the best possible team for the
Commonwealth Games," Ella said.
"There will obviously be some big names coming into the Games team, but there is no reason why the guys in
the current Sevens team can't give them a run for their money.
"They are young players who have not yet picked up Super 14 contracts, but they certainly have the Sevens
experience and nous to play in the Commonwealth Games.
|
Australian Sevens Squad |
| Name | Club (State) |
| Shawn MacKay (c) | Randwick (NSW) |
| Matthew Bell | Gordon (NSW) |
| Michael Black | Southern Dist (NSW) |
| Vinnie Byrne | Warringah (NSW) |
| Josh Gamgee | Gordon (NSW) |
| Luke Inman | Sydney Uni (NSW) |
| Luke Milton | Southern Dist (NSW) |
| Damon Murphy | Brothers (QLD) |
| Richard O'Connor | West Harbour (NSW) |
| Viliame Ratu | Southern Dist (NSW) |
| Nick Reily | West Harbour (NSW) |
| Anthony Sauer | Brothers (QLD) |
"They just need to play out of their skins in Wellington and Los Angeles and prove that they are better
than the higher profile Super 14 players."
One such player is Anthony Sauer who rejoins the Australian Sevens after missing the Dubai and George
tournaments last month due to a badly broken nose.
Sauer was one of the stars of Australia's 2004/05 Sevens campaign, having played in every tournament before
making his debut for the Queensland Reds against the Junior All Blacks last year.
Fellow Queenslander Damon Murphy has also returned to the team, being the only other change to the squad
that played in the Dubai and George Sevens tournaments.
The team goes into camp in Sydney tomorrow before flying out for Wellington on Monday.
|
Wellington Sevens
Day 1 (3 February)
2:50pm - Australia vs PNG
5:46pm - Australia vs Scotland
9:34pm - Australia vs England
|
Los Angeles Sevens
Day 1 (11 February)
11:06am - Australia vs West Indies
2:12pm - Australia vs Tonga
6:02pm - Australia vs New Zealand
|
Note: *All start times above are local.
Related Article:
Australian Sevens go down narrowly to Argentina (Sun Dec 11)
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