Liam Gill says he expects a host of Super Rugby players to put up their hand for the Rio Olympics but has cautioned the ARU about stacking the side in favour of proven Sevens performers.
The Queensland Reds flanker was elated to be on the podium after Australian beat Samoa 24-0 in the bronze medal playoff at Ibrox Stadium, before South Africa ended the perfect record of New Zealand in the gold medal match.
Sevens Rugby was a massive success in Glasgow and Gill only expects it to be bigger in Brazil, where the sport will make its Olympic debut. He is desperate to get a start but so will plenty of other Australians as the prospect of playing for Olympic gold begins to dawn.
ARU boss Bill Pulver has declared winning in Rio a top priority in 2016 and as such, could throw the door open to Wallabies like Israel Folau, assuming he is still in the code at that stage. Currently, the two forms of the game are contracted separately but the temptation to stack the Rio side could yet prove irresistable, especially if rival nations start doing the same.
Gill, who will be trying to force his way back into the Wallaby squad once he returns home, has a sevens background and said it was a different beast that may not prove to be as simple as it looks for players without any experience in the format.
"It's a completely different beast. I said it as soon as I made the transition back. Attack is different, defense is different. I do think it would be tough for Super players to be picked," Gill said.
"It's a different sport and it's hard to get your head around. You need a certain amount of time in the sport. The likes of Folau, amazing talent. What they (the ARU) do I don't know. But hopefully I'm in the picture somewhere."
Gill was a late call-up for Glasgow and although Australia couldn't get past New Zealand in the semi-finals, he said his return to sevens rugby had reignited his love affair with the sport. Rio, he said, was now one of his main goals.
"As of a month ago, I didn't even expect to be a part of this. Fast forward to standing on the podium, it's unbelievable. We were aiming for gold but to come away with a medal, we couldn't be more proud of our achievements," Gill said.
"You look at a crowd like this, a stadium like this, it's hard not to be a part of it all. To come back and to love it as much as I have, surely it's in my mind in two years time."
Gill backed the young team to be able to take the next step by the time Rio burst into life.
"I don't think the gap is as big as everyone thinks it is. I think this team can really take the next step," he said.
