How the Australian Men’s Sevens team can qualify for Olympics this weekend

Olympic qualification is virtually inside attain for the Australian Men’s Sevens team, however they’ll need to do considered one of the breakout stars from this yr’s World Collection marketing campaign.

Forward of this weekend’s remaining World Collection leg in London, head coach John Manenti has confirmed the one change to the squad.

Rising star Darby Lancaster has been dominated out of the occasion at Twickenham as a result of a concussion, and has been changed by Commonwealth Video games sprinter Trae Williams.

Williams, who was famously labelled ‘Quadzilla’ throughout his athletics profession, made the sensational change to sevens forward of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Video games.

Whereas Williams didn’t make the Olympics team, the 26-year-old has impressed in the coveted gold jersey on the World Collection.

Making his World Collection debut a number of years in the past towards Scotland, Williams made a try-saving cease on Alex Coombes mere seconds after coming off the bench.

At the moment fifth on the World Collection standings, Australia can robotically qualify for the Video games by inserting fifth of upper in London.

“London 7s is a good match that has good reminiscences for us,” coach John Manenti mentioned in a press release.

“We have to concentrate on enjoying how we’ve ready, stick with our processes and never get distracted by outcomes.

“We’ve drawn a very powerful pool – with the new format of 12 groups, each recreation will likely be closely contested.

“We’ve made one change to the squad, as Darby Lancaster has needed to sit out as a result of final week’s concussion, and we’ve introduced Trae Williams into the squad.”

Final weekend in Toulouse, Australia began the match with an emphatic 49-5 win over minnows Japan – setting the tone for their dominance in pool play.

Victories over Eire and Samoa adopted, the males in gold topped Pool D with three huge wins from as many begins.

However, issues took a flip in the knockout rounds.

Australia have been overwhelmed by Canada 10-12 in the quarter-finals, however managed to safe fifth-place after wins over South Africa and Eire.

With yet another match to play this season, captain Nick Malouf mentioned the team is concentrated on their opponents in pool play – Spain, Samoa and France.

“We’re excited for the final match of the yr this weekend and the problem that lies forward,” Malouf mentioned.

“Though this will finally decide the computerized qualification spots for the Olympics, we’ve been making an attempt to focus extra on our performances towards the groups in our pool, and let the outcomes play out.

“After some nice performances in Toulouse, we’re wanting ahead to enjoying in entrance of a packed crowd in Twickenham.”

The London 7s will get underway at 6.39pm AEST on Saturday, with Australia enjoying Spain in the opening match of the occasion.

Australia Men’s Sevens squad

Dietrich Roache

Tim Clements

Henry Paterson

Josh Turner

Dally Chicken

Matt Gonzalez

Nick Malouf (c)

Maurice Longbottom

Nathan Lawson

James Turner

Trae Williams

Kye Oates

Hayden Sargeant

Ayden Ekanayake*

*14^th participant