Vancouver surface will help Aussies' up tempo game

Sat, Mar 10, 2018, 2:00 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Aussie Men's Sevens are on a mission in Canada to become the first side in the 2017/18 season to win two Cup finals. The side wrapping up preparation and getting their first look inside BC Place ahead of kick-off tomorrow.

Australian Men's Sevens coach Andy Friend believes that the artificial turf and enclosed stadium where the Vancouver leg of the world series is being played this weekend will suit their "up tempo" style of play.

"I think it's going to be fast game (here in Vancouver)," Friend said.

"We know that's Sevens is quick anyway but with this surface it's going to be really quick - for kickers, for restarts are going to able to get a lot of height, you get a lot truer bounce and I just think it's going to be a lot neater game than what we saw in Las Vegas.

"(But) all that said I think we are in a real good spot as we head into this tournament."

The Aussies have set themselves a "target" of becoming the first nation to win a second tournament on the 2017-2018 series after five different teams - South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the USA - have taken out the five legs played so far.

"We want to be the first team to do a double," Friend added.

"But that's what every other team will be thinking too. That's where the series is at at the moment, it's so tight and one little error can drop you out of the playoff games and we want to make sure that we are not that team. 

"We want to be the top team and go all the way through."

The Aussies have been seeded into a pool that includes the home team Canada, wild card Uruguay and Las Vegas gold medal winner the USA."It's tough yeah that's right but Canada is our main focus at the moment," Friend said.

Ben O'Donnell, who won the Impact Player of the Tournament in Las Vegas, got his first look at BC Place where this tournament will be played and came away impressed.

"First run around here. I'm not new to Astro turf but it will be a fast surface," O'Donnell said.

"This sort of surface really suits our style of play so we won't need to change anything with our game."

For the first time in Friend's tenure as men's coach the Aussies have been able to name the same squad to play from one tournament to the next.

The Aussies first game will be against Canada on Sunday. From there they will take on Uruguay and the the USA

DRAW

Australia's pool matches at Canada 7s on Sunday 11 March

6.42am v Canada

10.14am v Uruguay

2.08pm v USA

The Aussies' campaign in Vancouver will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

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