Don’t expect any dramatic changes from the Aussie Sevens men in Singapore, new coach Tim Walsh says.
Walsh is leading the team for the first time this weekend, after just over a week in charge, and the former women’s coach has been using the lead-up to the Singapore tournament to observe the way the side goes about things.
“I've been with the girls for five years, and we have a very system that everyone knows and for me this is, I'm in and learning how things operate and observing and things - what can I change, what should I change? and just seeing how it all works,” he said.
“(It’s) definitely different but at the crux of it, it's a rugby game and that's the same really, from that perspective.”
Walsh said he had a few plans for the team post-Singapore, but didn’t want to rush the team into any drastic changes.
“(I’ve) certainly got my ideas around it but nothing that can be implemented in the space of one session and then on tour,” he said.
“Really looking forward to it though and can't wait for the future with this team.”
The conditions shouldn’t be a problem for the Aussie men, who have been using heat chambers to prepare for the humidity of the Asian World Series legs and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“It started after Sydney really, we've been in heat chambers, Nick (Poulos) and (Simon Harries) have been up in heat chambers getting 95 per cent humidity and ready to go tomorrow,” senior player Sam Myers said.
Myers said the transition into Walsh’s tenure had been smooth ahead of their first tournament under him, with injured captain Lewis Holland playing an important role helping Walsh.
“Not much has changed,” he said.
“We've got a really good leadership group that he's brought over, especially with Lewi, Lewi's come over even though he's injured, he's still around the group, helping Tim settle in. He's pretty flawless change over and we've just got to go out there and do a job.”
The Aussie men open their Singapore campaign on Saturday against Scotland at 1pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
FIXTURES
Saturday April 28. All times AEST
1pm - Australia vs Scotland
4:50pm - Australia vs New Zealand
7:54pm - Australia vs Wales
