Australian Rugby Sevens captain Patrick McCutcheon says the time is right for his young side to continue their record-breaking feats and win a Commonwealth Games medal in Delhi on Tuesday.

Since securing bronze when Sevens was introduced to the Games in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Australia has come up short in their last two attempts, finishing fourth in Melbourne in 2006 and equal sixth in Manchester in 2002.

But after finishing third on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit to record Australia’s best result since 2002 and toppling World Series champions Samoa to claim the Oceania Sevens Championships last weekend in Darwin, McCutcheon says his side is primed to create history in Delhi.

“Definitely the chance to create history and bring home a silver or gold would be a great honour but the team has more goals focussing on ourselves, without being selfish,” McCutcheon said.

“We set goals early in the season saying we wanted to increase Australia’s position from seventh or eighth, from where we came last year, to definitely finishing in the top three.

“So after the world series we were third and I think individually we know we can do better than that.

“Going into the Commonwealth Games I’m sure we’ve all got our goals set on gold.”

Sevens competition gets underway at Delhi University on Monday, with Australia taking on Uganda, Sri Lanka and England in their pool matches.

Coach Michael O’Connor’s side will be aiming to progress undefeated though the pool matches to secure a favourable draw in Tuesday’s finals.

New Zealand are favourites to win their fourth-straight Sevens gold medal and have stacked their team with All Blacks Zac Guilford and Liam Messam, who came in as a late replacement for the injured Adam Thomson.

Hurricanes Super Rugby standout Hosea Gear will give the Kiwis serious pace out wide.

But Australia has a host of young stars with speed to burn and boast the likes of Qantas Wallabies winger Lachie Turner and Super Rugby duo Luke Morahan and Nick Cummins.

Queensland Reds rookie recruits Liam Gill and Kimami Sitauti have both recovered from ankle complaints and are expected to be fit for Monday’s pool matches, as is Sydney University flyhalf Bernard Foley.

“It’s quite obvious that New Zealand are the team to beat,” McCutcheon said.

“They’ve come in with an experienced side and they’ve brought in a few Super Rugby slash All Black representatives.

“I’m sure they’ve got the composure and the speed and the endurance to be the gold medallists but the work the Australian team has done over the last four to six months, we can counteract that.

“But obviously the Kiwis are the team to beat and you can never underestimate Samoa, they’re the world champions, and that’s no fluke.”

2010 Australian Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens team: Robbie Coleman (20, NSW), Nick Cummins (22, WA), Bernard Foley (20, NSW) , Shaun Foley (24, NSW) ,Liam Gill (18, QLD), Ed Jenkins (24, NSW), Pat McCutcheon (23, NSW, Captain), Luke Morahan (20, QLD), Nick Phipps (21, NSW), Kimami Sitauti (19, QLD), James Stannard (27, ACT) , Lachie Turner (23, NSW).

ARU