McCutcheon finally in the clear for World Series finale

Wed, May 11, 2016, 2:28 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Pat McCutcheon will play in Paris and London. Photo: Getty Images
Pat McCutcheon will play in Paris and London. Photo: Getty Images

Pat McCutcheon feels like a Sevens player again and the former Waratah is ready to make the most of his final World Series chances before Rio.

McCutcheon looks to have finally shaken off hamstring concerns that delayed his return to the Sevens side, with a full showing in Singapore, and back-to-back tournaments in Paris and London will only boost his confidence.

"The high speed metres in Sevens is phenomenal - they're  really quite finely tuned athletes," he said.

"It's a different feeling to Super Rugby.

"Probably took me a little bit to adjust to that. I feel like I’ve done the time and I feel like I’m probably a Sevens player again."

McCutcheon said an intense training block in the lead up to the final World Series legs with plenty of players returning from injury was the best way to prepare.

“To play a few games in Singapore and get through six games there and play a few 14-minute games gives the body and yourself a lot of confidence that you can keep up,” he said .

“You train with all these boys during the week and they step you and they’ve got some lightning speed and you go, ‘Strewth I don’t know if I’ll keep up with them’ but you get out there on the field and to know you can compete with the world’s best game in, game out gives you a lot of confidence.

“The opportunity to play in the next two tournaments is awesome and hopefully we can get through that as well.”

Another player returning from injury is cult figure Nick Cummins, who knows he will have to perform in the final two tournaments to push for a Rio spot.

“Absolutely keen as,” he said.

“Last time I was absolutely shagged after the first two minutes but this time around I‘ve got a bit of run in the old pins.

“Back-to-back tournaments will be a tester for me but I’ll be ready for it.”

“I’ve been stressing the ticker the last couple of weeks and that’s been nothing but good for the lungs.

“Hopefully I can bag a meat pie that James Stannard’s been up me about.”

It won’t be an easy start for the Aussie Sevens in Paris, in a pool alongside England, South Africa and Brazil but McCutcheon said that would be a boost for the Sevens.

“I think the team responds well to that,” he said.

“Playing the big nations gives the boys a bit of excitement and they want to go out there with a bit of intent to win.

“You want to play the world’s best to see where you stand.”

The Australian Sevens are currently in Paris ahead of the city’s World Series tournament, starting on May 14.

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