South Africa, Australia and Canada have all strengthened their squads for this month's Credit Suisse First Boston Hong Kong Sevens. South Africa have called up a handful of fringe Super 12 players, Australia a league convert and Canada four of their most experienced sevens campaigners as they all bid to mount a serious challenge for the plum event in the IRB's World Sevens Series. South African sevens coach Chester Williams has still to name his final 12-strong squad after drafting five new players into the squad that won the Wellington Sevens last month, the previous leg of the World Sevens Series. The five - Marius Schoeman, Johan Calitz, David Manuel, Egon Seconds and Barry Jacobsz - were not available for the last two tournaments held in Brisbane and Wellington. But South Africa, who have never won the Hong Kong Sevens, seemingly did not miss them as they defeated all three sevens powerhouses - Australia, New Zealand and Samoa - in their final-day charge to the title in Wellington. 'I want to look at their form and fitness before naming the squad for Beijing and Hong Kong,' Williams said. 'I could make changes.' Obviously the former Springbok winger does not want to rest on the laurels of his first success since becoming a coach last October. Australia hope a league convert can boost their team as they press for Hong Kong honours last won back in 1988. No, his name is not Mat Rogers or Wendell Sailor. Former Lismore league player Milton Thaiday will follow in the footsteps of his more high-profile peers as he joins the Aussie 12-strong squad for the Asian leg. The Australian Rugby Union picked Sailor and Rogers for the Brisbane Sevens. But Super 12 duties prevent them from coming to Hong Kong. Instead, Thaiday will carry the flag and sevens coach Glen Ella hopes he will be as explosive as, if not better than, his illustrious ex-league brethren. 'Milton Thaiday has plenty of raw talent and attacking flair and he can only benefit from exposure like this on an international stage,' Ella said. Ella said the selection of Thaiday was also consistent with the ARU policy of using the sevens team as a 'rich breeding ground for current Super 12 and Test players.' Australia are with France, South Korea and Morocco in Pool D at the Hong Kong Sevens. Canada, who are drawn with South Africa in the preliminary round (the other two teams in the pool are Papua New Guinea and Taiwan), have included four European-based professionals in their team. A break in the calendar has allowed Canada to draw upon the services of veterans Nik Witkowski, Winston Stanley, Morgan Williams and John Cannon. The four will join other long-time sevens campaigners, captain Gregor Dixon, the country's most-capped sevens player, Fred Asselin and Shane Thompson. 'We were surprised that all four professionals were released,' Canadian sevens coach Doug Tate said. 'It will be to our advantage to have them play prior to selection for the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Even though Morgan Williams will only be available for Hong Kong and we will go to Beijing with only 11 players, we feel that - based on his prior performances - his selection is justified.' Hong Kong are drawn with Canada at the Beijing Sevens which will be held next weekend. TEAMS Australia: James Couper (captain), Luke Foster, Matthew Giteau, Peter Hewat, Brock James, Peter Miller, Patrick Phibbs, Chris Siale, Nigel Staniforth, Milton Thaiday, Morgan Turinui, Timothy Walsh. Canada: Gregor Dixon (captain), Shane Thompson, Marco Di Girolamo, Morgan Williams, Winston Stanley, John Cannon, Fred Asselin, Barry Ebl, Todd McBride, Jim Douglas, Garth Prouse, Nik Witkowski.
