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No secret formula for Sevens silverware

Australian coach Michael O'Connor says there's no secret formula to winning the Hong Kong Sevens, but admits his team will have to be on their game to win the silverware.

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Source: AP


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Australian coach Michael O'Connor says there's no secret formula to winning this weekend's Hong Kong Sevens.

But O'Connor admits his team will have to be on their game and finish top of their pool to have the best chance of claiming the iconic silverware.

The sold-out Hong Kong event, which kicks off on Friday, is the pre-eminent tournament of the Sevens World Series and features an increase in teams participating from 16 to 24, with more championships points on offer.

Sixth-placed Australia have been drawn in a relatively tough pool alongside Canada, Zimbabwe and Argentina.

Argentina trail the Aussies by just 12 points on the series standings and hold the ascendancy following a surprise 14-12 upset victory in the plate semi-final in South Africa in the teams' last hit-out.

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Ahead of the three-day event at Hong Kong Stadium, O'Connor says the equation for his squad is simple - win.

"Hong Kong is the tournament that everyone wants to win - and it's not an easy tournament to win," he said.

"South Africa have never won it, New Zealand - they haven't won here since 2008. You've really got to be on your game.

"We've got a pretty tough pool, but I'm happy to have a tough pool.

"For us, we're not going to try and get through on for-and-against. We have to beat Argentina, we have to beat Zimbabwe and we have to beat Canada, so that's the equation. Simple."

O'Connor has made just two changes to his squad.

Tevita Kuridrani comes in to replace Brian Sefanaia, who has signed a short-term Super Rugby contract with the Western Force, and Henry Vanderglas returns after missing the Las Vegas tournament where the Aussies finished seventh.


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