Australia needs to lift their game if they’re to taste success in the third round of the Rugby Sevens World Series in Wellington, coach Michael O’Connor says.
“We came out of the blocks a little bit slowly,” coach Michael O’Connor told AAP after training in New Zealand’s capital on Wednesday.
“The team’s really evolving at the moment.”
The Australians finished sixth and seventh in the opening two rounds of the tournament in Dubai and South African, but are buoyed by the return of three experience sevens campaigners for the sold-out Wellington leg of the competition at Westpac Stadium on Friday.
“Players we’ve bought in for this Wellington leg, we’ve now got nearly half the squad that have played here in Wellington before, so that experience factor I think is going to be very important,” O’Connor said.
Australian captain Bernard Foley is confident the return of fellow London Sevens-winning teammates Jacob Taylor and Henry Vanderglas plus the inclusion of key figure Brian Sefanaia will give his side the competitive edge they require to reach the playoffs.
But the skipper admits it’s going to be a tough ask amidst a pool featuring Tonga, Kenya and reigning Sevens World Series winners, Samoa.
“We don’t have an easy game, which could be a good thing and a bad thing,” Foley said.
“We know we have to switch on for every game.”
Australia is currently ranked sixth on the World Series ladder.
kovana
Guest
The IRB site says only live matches from DAY 2 for Fox Australia. and further down the list we have samoa and Solomon Islands.. "All matches live" Even in PNG all the matches will be broadcast live.
kovana
Guest
MEH.. Hooter blows.. Its over.. England guilty of complacency.. END SCORE ENG 21 - 17 COOKS. Man cooks had them man.. They had them!
kovana
Guest
DANG! Turner scores again.. Conversion is good.. ENG 21 - 17 COOKS... 40secs left.. COOKS CMON!!!
allblackfan
Guest
yes; fox 3, I believe, 1030am-2/8pm?
kovana
Guest
DANG IT.. ENG Score with Gollings... Cnversion good. ENG 14 - 17 COOKS.. Cmon Cooks dont get LAZY!
kovana
Guest
Damu is subbed onto the field.. Immediate Impact... Turner for England Scores... Conversion is good. ENG 7 - COOKS 17
kovana
Guest
2nd Half Started.. This is going to be one of the BIGGEST UPSETS EVER!
kovana
Guest
Well they are going good without em.. As soon as i think the matches are set in Stone.. These things happen and i cant get any work done..!! :lol:
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Imagine if Stan Wright was out there. C'mon give it to those poms.
kovana
Guest
England being bullied by the COOKs.. Score to Matutu..Missed Con.. ENG 0 - 5 CKI Oh crickey.. EDIT! Sailosi Nagi Scores for COOKS.. Conversion is GOOD! Wow... HT Soon ENG 0 - 12 COOKS.. CMON COOK ISLANDS.. EDIT AGAIN!!! COOKS WITH KOIATU!!! MISSED CONVERSION.. ENG 0 - 17 COOKS.. GO COOKS... 1st half over!! :lol:
kovana
Guest
OH WOW.. WHAT A GAME! SA didnt make the 1 man Advantage count! France got their man back.. and with time up... They score in 1 min Overtime.... By Delmas... Acebes got the Conversion over.... GAME OVER.. SA 12 - 14 FRANCE!! :lol: How does france do these things.. :lol: Wouldnt be surprised if they lose to Canada next up! Next Match POOL A ENG vs COOK ISLANDS.. ENG should win easily.
kovana
Guest
Alba Paul for France was sinbinned. Meh Du perez with the score.. Missed Con. SA 12 - 7 FRA. Cmon france.. Dont be wasting my time.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
hopefully they can keep it going in the 2nd half.
kovana
Guest
Would you look at France.. I didnt watch the first half... But turning it Back its HT.. SA 7 - 7 FRA.. France really is unpredictable. 2nd half is about to start. Now im interested.
kovana
Guest
And Nemani Nagusa with the Last try at the End of the Match.. Con Over. FIJ 38 - 0 CAN.. Fiji with the Dominance again showing in the 2nd Half.. When they have their tails up they are just amazing. Next Match is Pool D again. SOUTH AFRICA vs FRANCE.. SA should win this easily. France playing like a bunch of headless chooks.
kovana
Guest
Mitieli Scores... Conversion over. FIJ 31 - 0 CAN.. I cant watch anymore.. :lol:
kovana
Guest
Burotu with HAT TRICK.. Making it look easy.. Conversion over. FIJ 24 - 0 CAN. Meh.... Canada outclassed with 3.30 mins left.
kovana
Guest
Burotu with a Easy try in the Opening Min.. :lol: Peni converts. FIJ 19 - 0 CAN. Time to open the gates..
kovana
Guest
Joeli Lutu scores at the end of the 1st Half under the sticks.. Peni Gaunimeke (new guy?) Gets the Con. FIJ 12 - 0 CAN. HT. Well.. Fiji seems not as dominant as before.. Either getting lazy as the Canadians were able to shut down the Fijians quickly.. However.. I see the Fijians running loose in the 2nd Half.
kovana
Guest
Burotu Scores... Missed Con. FIJ 5 - 0 CAN. Dang.. Fiji too seems to be making mistakes after the awesome performance against France. 3 mins left 1st half.