One change for France Sevens

[(IRB.COM) Wednesday 19 March 2008] ：

France Sevens coach Thierry Janeczek has made only one change to his squad for the next two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

Thomas Anies is the only newcomer with Julien Carraud the player missing out as Janeczek keeps faith with a squad for the majority of whom this is their first season in the Series.

France reached the Bowl semi-finals in both Wellington and San Diego last month and are yet to secure any points in the 2007/08 Series, something they will be hoping to address in the next two rounds.

They have been drawn in Pool F with Australia, Tonga and the hosts for the Hong Kong Sevens and then face an even tougher task with Fiji, Kenya and England their Pool D opponents in Adelaide.

Dual code international for Australia

Meanwhile two of the sides drawn in Pool C at the International Rugby Sevens in Adelaide from 5-6 April have named extended groups of players from which Australia coach Bill Millard and his USA counterpart Al Caravelli will name their final 12-man squads.

One interesting name among the 17-strong Australia Sevens squad is Andrew Walker, who has played both Union and League for his country. He is the only Test capped player in the squad, although several others, including Tim Wright and Peter Owens, have recent Super 14 experience.

The squad does not include playmaker Kacey Mitchell, who has withdrawn for family reasons, but Damon Murphy returns having missed the last two legs after suffering a head injury playing for Aussie Spirit in a warm-up tournament before the New Zealand International Sevens in Wellington.

USA take a look at youngsters

Caravelli also welcomes back players from injury in Jone Naqica, Vili Matanibukaca and Dewon Reed to his training squad, along with some exciting youngsters in Blaine Skuly, Kurt Weber, Alex Ross, Jonathan Pratter and Arnold Sibanda.

However Caravelli will be without USA Eagles wing Takudzwa Ngwenya due to his club commitments in France with Biarritz and Mike Palefau, whose wife is expecting their child over the Hong Kong Sevens weekend.

The 22 players will train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista before Caravelli selects the 12-man squad who will look to continue the USA's impressive displays this Series which has seen them reach the Cup quarter-finals in George, win the Shield in Wellington and reach the Bowl final on home soil in San Diego.

France squad:
Joffrey Michel, Manoel Dall Igna, Florent Gibouin, Eddy Labarthe, Simon Sarthou, Sebastien Mercier, Vincent Roux, Anthony Poujol, Thomas Combezou, Loic Mazieres, Thomas Anies, Emeric Chretien.

Australia extended squad:
Shawn Mackay (Captain), Ben Batger, Willie Bishop, Caleb Brown, Blair Connor, Ross Duncan, Dane Haylett Perry, Rob Horne, Luke Inman, Mitch Inman, Luke Johnson, James Lew, Damon Murphy, James O'Connor, Peter Owens, Andrew Walker, Tim Wright.

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