• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

The Aussie Thunderbolts Sevens squad are feeling the heat ahead of the Darwin Hottest 7’s Tournament this weekend, following a slow start to the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series. With selectors and coach Michael O’Connor ringing in changes following the Dubai and George tournaments the Aussie squad, currently placed sixth, will be hoping to use the two day Darwin event as a stepping stone to success in Wellington (Feb 4-5) and Las Vegas (Feb 12-13).

Australian Sevens selector Anthony Eddy says the side is in good shape heading into the second-round of the Series. “They learnt a lot from the opening two rounds,” Eddy said. “They’re a young side and they now go into New Zealand and Vegas with more experience and having learnt more about the top-tier of the game, given that for most of them it was their first World Series tournament.”

Skipper Bernard Foley said he’s hoping his side will show the benefit of game-time after finishing sixth in Dubai and seventh in South Africa. “It has been a slow start but we are a young team and the opening two rounds will have seen the younger guys gain some experience on the circuit,” Foley said. “Darwin is a fantastic stepping stone for us to lead into Wellington and Vegas and will give us an opportunity to further build combinations and get a feel for the standard of the other sides.”

Selectors have reinstated Brian Sefanaia and Henry Vanderglas who have been part of the Australian Sevens program since 2008. The pair, who helped Australia to victory at the London Sevens in 2010, were set to feature in Australia’s challenge for gold at the Commonwealth Games however were both struck-down with injury prior to the Delhi tournament.

Foley welcomed the return of the experienced duo. “Nick is a huge loss as his energy and enthusiasm lifts the team on and off the field, but that’s Sevens Rugby, the team is constantly changing and you need to be able to adapt,” Foley said. “Brian and Henry are more than able replacements, they’re going to add a lot in the way of physicality up-front and their leadership and experience on the circuit will be invaluable.”

Sydney Uni’s Michael Hodge and Trent Dyer make way for Sefanaia and Vanderglas’s return, however the pair will travel with the side to Darwin along with seasoned Sevens campaigner Jacob Taylor – who missed the majority of 2010 after a shoulder reconstruction.

2009 Australian Schools representative and NSW Waratahs Academy member Tom Kingston has also joined the squad, with the 19-year old impressing selectors, in rep programs over the past two seasons.

The Thunderbolts have no easy task ahead of them at the Darwin Sevens with the Brumbies, Sunnybank and Randwick all sending teams to compete for the $24,000 prize-money awarded to the “Croc” Cup winners.

A record 29 teams will take the field across the two-day tournament in the Men’s and Women’s competitions at AUSTAR Rugby Park, Marrara on January 22-23.

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: Bernard Foley (captain), Ed Jenkins (vice-captain), Hamish Angus, Shaun Foley, John Grant, Greg Jeloudev, Tom Kingston, Tevita Kuridrani, Jono Lance, Brian Sefania, Henry Vanderglas, Dan Yakopo