Australian Men’s Sevens coach Andy Friend is hoping the combinations forged in Las Vegas will show some pay dirt when the Aussies line up for the Vancouver leg of the world series this weekend.
Friend has been able to retain the same 12 that did battle in Las Vegas, a first since he took over as head coach.
"That’s pretty exciting. There were a few injuries coming out of Vegas but we weren’t one of the teams so it’s pleasing to be able to name the same 12," Friend said.
“Sevens is about combinations, it’s about the same people understanding each other’s play.
"We had three new guys come into the team post Hamilton so for those guys to have played Vegas and now double up into Vancouver is going to be a good thing,” Friend said.
Australia finished sixth in Las Vegas after a nail-biting extra-time defeat to New Zealand in the fifth-place playoff.
Australia is currently in fourth position on the World Series ladder, only seven points off Fiji in third place while they are five points clear of Argentina in fifth.
Australian captain Lewis Holland and forward Jesse Parahi led by example in Vegas while Ben O’Donnell’s star continues to rise after taking home the Impact Player of the USA Sevens.
Australia have been drawn in Pool A alongside hosts Canada, Uruguay and the USA, who took out their home tournament in Las Vegas.
FIXTURES
Australian Men's Sevens pool matches at Canada 7s
Sunday 11 March
Australia v Canada, 6.42am AEDT
Australia v Uruguay, 10.14am AEDT
Australia v USA, 2.08pm AEDT
TEAM
Australian Men's Sevens team for Canada 7s
1. Charlie Taylor, 10 caps, Manly NSW
2. Tom Connor, 3 caps, Warringah NSW
3. Jeral Skelton, 2 caps, Brothers QLD
4. Lewis Holland, 35 caps, Queanbeyan
5. James Stannard, 46 caps, Souths QLD
6. John Porch, 13 caps, Norths NSW
7. Tim Anstee, 15 caps, Eastwood NSW
8. Jesse Parahi, 38 caps, Norths NSW
9. Dylan Pietsch, 7 caps, Randwick NSW
10. Ben O’Donnell, 5 caps, Randwick NSW
11. Tom Lucas, 22 caps, Sunnybank QLD
12. Lachie Anderson, 12 caps, Eastwood NSW
13th man. Brandon Quinn, 5 caps, Gordon NSW
