Australia’s sevens game-breaker Cameron Clark has welcomed Wallabies trying to fast-track their way to Rio, but warned they were racing against the clock.
Clark, who returns from a hamstring injury to play in this weekend’s Olympic qualifier in Auckland, believes Test stars like Quade Cooper and Israel Folau would have the talent to be sevens hits.
However the tackle-busting speedster doubted whether high-profile 15s players could adapt to the shortened game with just a few world series tournaments under their belt before the Rio Games.
“They’re highly skilled and would add to the group but it’s making sure they have enough time playing and training with us,” Clark told AAP.
“Building combinations doesn’t happen overnight.
“I’d like to see them play quite a few times, it would be hard to walk straight in. I don’t see that as too realistic.”
Henry Speight is the only Wallabies player to so far train with the Thunderbolts, but he was not included in an experienced 12-man team of sevens specialists to play the Oceania Olympic qualifier this weekend.
Australia needs to win the eight-nation tournament to seal a place at Rio
Speight will be released by the Brumbies to play sevens for three world series tournaments next year in a bid to make the Olympics, while France-based Quade Cooper is also set to get a release from Toulon to also play three tournaments.
A confident Clark believed it was highly important the Thunderbolts qualified with victory this weekend rather than leave their five-ringed hopes to a last-resort 12-nation tournament next June.
Samoa stand as their biggest rival, and likely opponent in Sunday’s final, but world No.5-ranked Australia did outperform the island nation on this year’s circuit.
“They’re definitely a good side and we know they can beat anyone on their day so we’re not taking them lightly,” Sydney-based Clark said.
“We’re confident and in good shape so there’s no excuses for us.”
Australia: Ed Jenkins (capt), Cameron Clark, Tom Cusack, Allan Fa’alava’au, Con Foley, Pama Fou, Lewis Holland, Henry Hutchison, Greg Jeloudev, Jesse Parahi, James Stannard, Michael Wells.
Kiwi
Guest
FOLEY IS RUBBISH !! The good teams will run around him or run over him ...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Some players do. But these tend to be players who would not be starters. Tom Cusack put his prospects on hold. It's unlikely if he was contracted in 2016 that he would play a single game though. As a back rower he would be behind Fardy, Pocock, Vaea, Butler and Fotu. Only 4 of these 5 will make the 23. Then there's the other back rower who played for the Vikings (Perry or Doyle).
Chivas
Guest
And for the record same goes for the kiwis and everyone else. medalling won't be a walk in the park for anyone, let alone thinking about gold.
Chivas
Guest
To win an Olympic gold. Aussie will be extremely lucky to medal. And to get any coloured medal would be a great achievement requiring the very best.
cuw
Guest
LOL do u know who won the last world series? FIJI :) they are the front runners. but with guys like sonny bill and habana coming in both NZ and SA will also be right up there
cuw
Guest
not really. the Ioane brothers, Ardie Savea and Ben Lam will play just 4 legs. in-between they will play super rugger Messam and Sonny Bill committed for all 10 coz they know how hard it is to get into a team that already has seasoned 7S pros who have won several cups!!!
Ken
Roar Rookie
Yes, but if you are good enough you will be there. Aust does not embrace losers - must put out best of the best to win an Olympic gold (and have some Bon chance also) If the current guys can keep out the 15s players, then they are good enough and the best at their speciality is what I am saying
Ken
Roar Rookie
I think this is good for all parts of the NZ game. More options, last men standing. The culture of opportunity and taking it to success. I hope the ARU can see this and implement this correctly also, being transparent early is key!
Ken
Roar Rookie
I wonder if Cooper is up to sevens, you have to tackle properly and get up quickly. He usually does the 2nd before the first. No doubts on his attacking flare
Rugger
Guest
Biggest issue with current 7s squad is lack of express pace and x-factor for the simple reason they are not the best we have. ARU needs to widen its search of potential 7s players far and wide and allow them to develop and grow. For instance, Lewis Holland not sure what is speeds results are but looks to be on thread mills when running on cover defence. Henry Hutchinson will footwork and speeds need to mover to play maker over period of time and faster half back brought in to open space on the field. Unfortunately,. better players are being target by NRL team including Jesse Parahi and Semi Radradra who stared for Fiji some years back. With all the money World Rugby needs to provide pool of money for 7s players to stay in the game to take game to next level otherwise it become development tool for XV's and NRL
Not Bothered
Guest
NZ will win the gold imo with SA being the main rival. I dont think any of NZs potially best sevens players actually play sevens, all of them play 15s. Hooper, Folau, Beale, Foley are the players I would look at for Aus.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Back in June, 2013, I foreshadowed this happening - http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/06/05/the-politics-of-rugby-sevens/ - I hope that the guys like Tom Cusack and Lewis Holland, and the others who have consistently put in over the last few years, don't just get bumped aside for the Superstars
Bakkies
Guest
Tom Cusack put his Brumbies prospects aside to have a crack at Rio. Some of the Kiwi players do play in the NPC. There are no IRB tournaments between May and December. Kwagga Smith a backrow prospect at the Lions played Currie Cup after the 7s finished. Tom Varndell and Mat Tait played 7s after being capped in XVs. Lee Jones from Scotland is the same
Jerry
Guest
I don't think you can really structure the season so that players can play both XV's and 7's in the same year. There's just too big a difference in the kind of fitness required which means that many players would have completely different body shapes depending on what they were concentrating on. Liam Messam or Victor Vito were stars on the 7's circuit but they would have been 10kg lighter as they needed more cardio and didn't need the bulk to handle the impact and collisions of XV's. The difference would be less marked in the backs but there still would be a difference.
DanFan
Guest
Yet NZ is asking players to commit to the full series. Go figure.
Markus
Guest
It's tough to deny. Most Sevens players, even captains, have jumped at the opportunity to join Super Rugby and have been largely squad players as opposed to guaranteed starters once there. Foley is probably the exception in recent years. Speight was devastating during the World Club Sevens tournament two years back, and Cooper is one of the most talented players in world rugby. I doubt either will struggle with sufficient lead time adapting and developing with the squad.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't think even the coaches fully believe this and it's a matter of saying the right things so not to denigrate their playing group. Certainly even the best won't just walk in and do well. But the fact is that no player chooses 7s when they could be playing super rugby. They play 7s when they cannot make it at super rugby level. Wallabies players will be far superior rugby players. Providing they are afforded the lead in time to train and adapt they should be able to at least perform at international 7s level.
sheek
Roar Guru
I agree with the premise of this article. Good 7s players, especially backs & backrowers, should make them better 15s players, as they take their 7s knowledge & adapt it to 15s. Back in the late 70s & early 80s, Australia was outstanding at 7s. We had the likes of the Ella brothers, O'Connor, Campese, Moon, Pearse, Poidevein & Roche. But noticeably, the Kiwis observed, learnt & then passed us by. Significantly. Today, 7s players tend to be specialists because structurally, the season forces them to be so. Something needs to be done to change this so that all players get an equal opportunity at both 7s & 15s.