The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens coach Tim Walsh has made two changes to his side ahead of the HSBC Sydney 7s this weekend at Spotless Stadium.
Australia will be looking to go back-to-back at the Sydney 7s after claiming the title in stunning scenes last year at Allianz Stadium.
Veteran Jesse Parahi and NSW Waratahs star Michael Wells return to the team after sitting out the leg in Hamilton last weekend while key man Ben O’Donnell has overcome a knee complaint that he picked up in New Zealand.
Australia are in Pool D alongside Argentina, Tonga and South Africa as they chase vital World Series points with Olympic qualification looming at the end of the season.
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens Head coach, Tim Walsh said: “We don’t have any excuses after Hamilton and we know we have some work ons from day two that we have addressed as a group.
“For us, we’re not out there to defend the title of last year, but out to attack the challenge of winning the HSBC Sydney 7s and claiming valuable Series points.
“We have Argentina in our opening game and that is where our attention is focused.
“We were pretty tight in defence, but we know that our attack has plenty of improvement, so Saturday is another opportunity to put that into action,” Walsh said.
The top four nations at the end of the 2019 will automatically qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year with Australia currently sixth on the standings, nine points off South Africa in fourth.
The HSBC Sydney 7s will be LIVE on FOX Sports Australia from Friday February 1.
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens Team:1. Henry Hutchison, Randwick, 19 caps
2. Simon Kennewell, Randwick, 12 caps
3. Michael Wells, Norths (Sydney), 4 caps
4. Lewis Holland (c), Queanbeyan, 41 caps
5. Ben O’Donnell, Randwick, 12 caps
6. John Porch, Norths (Sydney), 20 caps
7. Jeral Skelton, Brothers, 7 caps
8. Jesse Parahi, Norths (Sydney), 47 caps
9. Josh Coward, Sunnybank, 1 cap
10. Nick Malouf, University of Queensland, 25 caps
11. Maurice Longbottom, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, 9 caps
12. Lachie Anderson, Eastwood, 19 caps
13th Brandon Quinn, Gordon, 10 caps
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens fixtures:
Saturday 2 February
10.28am AEDT: Australia v Argentina
3.56pm AEDT: Australia v Tonga
8.23pm AEDT: South Africa v Australia
