SEVENS STARTS AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Emirates Western Force winger Nick Cummins and scrumhalf James Stannard will kick start their Commonwealth Games Sevens campaign today in New Delhi.
The Sevens program starts with Pool matches that will pit Australia against Uganda, Sri Lanka and England.
The squad has a chance to create history if they can finish with gold or silver as Australia has not stood on the podium at the Commonwealth Games since securing bronze in 1998 (Kuala Lumpur) when Rugby Sevens was first granted entry.
Matches:
Monday, 11 October, 13:20 PM (Perth Time) Australia v Uganda
Monday, 11 October, 16:56 PM (Perth Time) Australia v Sri Lanka
Monday, 11 October, 20:24 PM (Perth Time) Australia v England
Eight of the 12 members of the Games squad hold Super Rugby contracts for 2011.
2010 Australian Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens team
Robbie Coleman (20, NSW)
Nick Cummins (22, WA)
Bernard Foley (20, NSW)
Shaun Foley (24, NSW)
Liam Gill (18, QLD)
Ed Jenkins (24, NSW)
Pat McCutcheon (23, NSW)
Luke Morahan (20, QLD)
Nick Phipps (21, NSW)
Kimami Sitauti (19, QLD)
James Stannard (27, WA)
Lachie Turner (23, NSW)
England puts roadblock in way of sevens glory
England puts roadblock in way of sevens glory
* From: AAP
* October 12, 2010 12:00AM
Sevens
Australian players reacts at the end of their rugby sevens loss to England Source: AP
ENGLAND last night dented Australia's hopes of a maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal with a 21-19 comeback victory in their final pool D match.
The gut-wrenching three-tries-all defeat has forced Michael O'Connor's team into a more difficult quarter-final, likely to be against world champion Samoa today. Australia led 14-7 midway through the second half but conceded two quick tries from kick-offs before skipper Pat McCutcheon crossed on the last play of the game.
Goalkicker James Stannard had the chance to tie the game but his angled conversion sailed wide.
With both Australia and England unbeaten going into their last match, the game was important in deciding who received the more favourable draw.
Australia controlled the first half but could only manage a 7-0 lead at the break through a try to five-eighth Bernard Foley after England were reduced to six men with Greg Barden yellow-carded.
In the already decided quarter-finals at Delhi University, South Africa will meet Scotland and New Zealand plays Wales.
Australia had earlier breezed into the Delhi Games quarter-finals but coach O'Connor had warned serious improvement was needed to take a maiden Commonwealth gold medal.
O'Connor's men qualified for top-eight action today courtesy of a 42-5 pool thumping of Sri Lanka following its competition-opening 33-0 whitewash of Uganda.
"We're steady, not outstanding, but we need some improvement," said O'Connor, who was particularly unhappy with some option-taking in attack.
Rusty in the heat against the Ugandans, Australia started on fire against Sri Lanka with Nick Phipps crossing for a double in a five-try first half.
Overjoyed at playing at the Games, Lachlan Turner, renowned as Australia's fastest footballer, scored two tries in the first half against Uganda before being rested against the Sri Lankans.
"I came from an athletics background and I always dreamed of getting to something like this, but when I chose rugby I never thought I'd get to enjoy it," he said.
Turner had previously only played sevens in Darwin five years ago. "One of the teams was seven blokes on a bucks weekend so my sevens experience is pretty sparse and varied."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225937476018