Rookie picked for Adelaide Sevens Series

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THE Australian rugby selectors have plucked a Sevens rookie from the Sydney first-grade competition for the Adelaide leg of the IRB Sevens World Series next week.

West Harbour flanker Sam Latunipulu has been drafted into the 12-man squad for the Adelaide Oval tournament March 19-21 after a highly impressive Kiama Sevens carnival last week.

Teenager Liam Gill, who started his rugby career in Adelaide, has retained his spot in the youthful team, along with a teammate from last year’s national schoolboys side, Kimami Sitauti.

National team coach Michael O’Connor spoke with Latunipulu immediately after he helped West Harbour conquer Aussie Spirit in the semi-finals last month at Kiama – his first Sevens action for three years. The 20-year old was invited to a Sevens camp in Canberra before playing in a selection trial.

“My main goal in Kiama was to see where I was at with my fitness and strength,” Latunipulu said. “After the game against the Australian side, Michael approached me; it was totally unexpected. It is going to be tough in Adelaide, faster and stronger than previous competitions I’ve been in.

“But it is exciting and the experience is going to be awesome.”

O’Connor has been forced to revamp his squad for Adelaide and the Hong Kong event the following week after the squad was again hit by injury at the Las Vegas tournament, where it qualified for the semi-finals.

Leading try-scorer Clinton Sills (groin), Brian Sefanaia (knee) and Bernard Foley (foot) have been ruled out, allowing Latunipulu and Ed Stubbs to make their debuts and Dominic Shipperley to be recalled.

The 16 countries will arrive in Adelaide on Monday.

Australian Squad: Patrick McCutcheon (captain), Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk, Tala Gray, James Stannard, Sam Latunipulu, Robbie Coleman, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Ed Stubbs, Kimami Sitauti, Dominic

Brackin Karauria-Henry, Ed Stubbs, Kimami Sitauti, Dominic Shipperley, Jacob Taylor.