Andrew Walker knows a thing or two about performing at the highest level. The Australian speedster has spent the best part of a decade scoring tries for Australia in fifteens, sevens and rugby league.
Yet, after a spell away from the IRB Sevens World Series circuit, the 34 year old Queensland Reds player is back in sevens action and back to his creative best in Hong Kong, guiding a young Australia through to the quarter finals after topping the Pool F standings.
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“It is great to be back playing sevens and it is always a dream to play for your country, wearing the green and gold. I am really enjoying it, especially because we have 12 fantastic players.”
Walker is the only test capped player in Bill Millard’s squad and is a comparative veteran in what is a young and largely inexperienced squad. In fact, he has a son of 17, the same age as James O'Connor, Australia's youngest player. Despite his advancing years, though, Walker says that he has enjoyed slipping back into the beloved jersey to offer his considerable experience to the younger players in the squad.
“We are a young squad and we have only been together a week and a half. However, we have trained well and have bonded pretty well as a sevens squad, we are tight and it has been great fun. With my experience returning to the squad it really helps the younger blokes around me, especially on a big occasion like this. I just help calm things down and tell the guys to play normal rugby and control that ball.”
As well as Walker's steadying influence on the pitch, it is clear that the young Wallabies have responded to Millard's steady guidance and the presence of Australian rugby legend David Campese, who is with the squad in Hong kong as assistant coach.
Australia booked their place in the quarter finals after coming from behind to defeat Tonga 17-15 in the top of the table pool clash, youngster Caleb Brown going over in the corner at the death. And although Walker feels there is much more to come from his side, he returned to the team hotel last night satisfied with his side’s day two performances to close out the pool.
“We are pretty stoked at the moment. We played two tough pool matches on day two and the performance against France got us into a bit of a roll and the Tonga match was really hard and they really took it to us.
“We were patient though, and felt that if we held onto the ball we would score and we clawed it back in the last 30 seconds. I am really pleased for all the boys. We are now just looking forward to the quarter final.”
Australia face South Africa in the Cup competition today at 1325 local time.
