James Stannard ... returns to the Australian Sevens team. Source: Dan Peled / AAP
It might be the biggest party in world rugby, but the Aussie Sevens team can't afford to lose focus in Hong Kong.
1. Jesse Parahi (C)
2. Ben Adams
3. Cameron Clark
4. Tom Cusack
5. Con Foley
6. Pama Fou
7. Lewis Holland
8. Sean McMahon
9. Will Miller
10. Simon Morahan
11. James Stannard
12. Shannon Walker
Coach: Michael O'Connor
There are four tournaments to be played in this current HSBC World Sevens Series (HK, Tokyo, Glasgow, London) and while the young Australian team is out of the running to win the overall title, the Rugby World Cup Sevens will be staged in Moscow in late June and that is now a major goal for Australia.
But before that, coach Michael O'Connor and his team have some work to do, and it all starts this weekend. If Australia doesn't have a good finish to the current series they could find themselves in promotion/relegation at the final event at Twickenham and that wouldn't be a great confidence boost heading into Moscow.
I have always been a big fan of Sevens and Australian rugby has been blessed over the years to have so many Wallabies (mainly backs obviously) use the abbreviated game as a pathway to Super Rugby and full International honours.
But for those of you who haven't kept up with what is happening in Sevens, here's the deal. Firstly, it's an Olympic sport now and both the men and women will compete for a Gold Medal in Rio in 2016.
It is no longer just the big Rugby Nations who are competitive in the HSBC World Series. There are 15 'core' teams that play each tournament. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, England, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Kenya, Portugal, Spain, France, USA and Canada.
At each of the tournaments there's a regional qualifier and in Hong Kong it's the host nation. Points are awarded at each event and the overall winner is crowned in London. If you don't win the title the next aim is to secure a spot in the 'core 15' for next year.
All games will be shown live on Fox Sports. Just hit the red button for Viewers Choice. Australia plays Wales at 9.12 PM (EDT) on Friday, South Africa at 1.46pm and Argentina at 5.26pm on Saturday. Sunday is Finals day.
The top 12 teams on the points table after the penultimate event in Glasgow in May are safe. They will be a 'core' team in 2013-14. But the 13th, 14th and 15th placed teams on the ladder will have to go into a promotion/relegation event in London.
They'll be up against Hong Kong and another four teams who qualify via a second tier event at Hong Kong this weekend. Countries like Japan, Tonga, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Tunisia etc are all hoping to earn a spot in London and then qualify for the next World Series.
Australia is currently 11th, just 2 points ahead of 12th placed Scotland and 7 in front of the USA who are 13th. The Aussies have been very inconsistent and have missed out on the Cup (main) quarter finals on a count back of points 'for and against' in quite a few events.
That's proven costly. They can knock over a major nation and then lose to a side they're expected to beat. One thing you can't do in Rugby Sevens is drop your concentration. Australia was second in the try scoring stats in the last event in Vegas behind winner South Africa, but ahead of New Zealand, Fiji and Canada. Trouble is they also conceded too many tries.
So there's plenty at stake for the Aussies this weekend and over the next two months. The inclusion of former captain James Stannard will add some much needed experience. He'll also lift the average age above 20.
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