The All Blacks Sevens are eyeing a strong performance in Los Angeles today to cement their place atop the HSBC Sevens Series ladder and to celebrate Tim Mikkelson's 90th tournament.

There are five changes to the side that finished fifth in Sydney, with Joe Ravouvou and Amanaki Nicole making their first starts of the season while Andrew Knewstubb, Akuila Rokolisoa and William Warbrick returning to the team.

The team is;
1. Amanaki Nicole
2. Tim Mikkelson – co-captain
3. Tone Ng Shiu
4. Joe Ravouvou
5. William Warbrick
6. Akuila Rokolisoa
7. Sam Dickson
8. Andrew Knewstubb
9. Caleb Clarke
10. Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Sione Molia – co-captain
* Vilimoni Koroi is the 13th player.

All Blacks Sevens Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said with a strong, fit squad to pick from the changes will add excitement to the team this weekend.

'Joe Ravovou has been training as well as he ever has so we're keen to get the ball to him, it will be great to have Amanaki's aerial skills out there and it's Will's first official run on, so we're excited for all of them.”

The All Blacks Sevens sit first on the World Series points table, nine points ahead of South Africa in second.

The USA leg of the World Series returns to Los Angeles from Las Vegas after being played there from 2004 - 2006. The All Blacks Sevens have not won a USA tournament since 2008.

Clark was strong in his praise for Co-Captain Tim Mikkelson who becomes the team's most capped player this weekend, in his 90th World Series tournament.

'His genuine love for training and this team and his preparation every day is second to none – we'll respect that as a team but ultimately he has a job to do and we've got a job to play well for him.”

Tim Mikkelson plays his 90th tournament in Los Angeles, surpassing DJ Forbes as the most capped All Blacks Sevens player of all time and becoming the second equal most capped played in Series history behind England's James Rodwell. He is just two tries away from becoming the third highest try scorer in Series history.

The All Blacks Sevens will open their account in Los Angeles against Wales, who they have met in every tournament this season, followed by matches against Spain and England.

'We think we know what Wales will bring but we have to be sharp in case they've changed things; we need to start well and be on straight away,” says Clark.

'Spain are tricky opponents in the way they keep the ball alive and England are a settled squad with lots of experience, but we have to take care of Wales first so we can't look past them at this stage.”

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black has been named Player of the Final in Cape Town and Hamilton.

Schedule
Day One – Sunday March 1 (NZT)
6.45am v Wales
9.41am v Spain
1.21pm v England

Day Two – Monday March 2
Play offs

2019/2020 Schedule
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 5-7 December, Dubai - RUNNERS UP
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 13-15 December, Cape Town - WINNERS
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 25-26 January, Hamilton - WINNERS
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 1-2 February, Sydney – FIFTH PLACE
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 29 February – 1 March, Los Angeles
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 7-8 March, Vancouver
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 3-5 April, Hong Kong
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 11-12 April, Singapore
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 23-24 May, London
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, 30-31 May, Paris
2020 Tokyo Olympics, 27-29 July, Tokyo