NEWCASTLE Falcons winger Ollie Phillips has praised the "awesome role" played by team-mate Mathew Tait in England's Los Angeles Sevens victory.

Tait, who is expected to be named in England's sevens squad for next month's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, scored two eye-catching tries as England waltzed to a 38-0 win over South Africa in the semi-finals of the latest tournament in the IRB Sevens series.

The Wolsingham-born youngster then added another score in the final as Henry Paul's side beat Fiji 38-5 to lift the trophy.

"It was awesome to be involved," said Phillips, who starred in the semi-final success over the South Africans. "And I was particularly proud of Mathew. He proved again that he really is an incredible player.

"He is a real big-match player and was awesome throughout the tournament. He scored two blinding tries against South Africa and then it was pretty much the Mathew Tait show in the final."

This time last year, Tait was recovering from the trauma of being left out of the full England squad following his debut in the Six Nations defeat to Wales.

A series of injuries sidelined him for much of the second half of last season but, after a successful pre-season programme, the centre has rediscovered the form that made him one of English rugby's hottest prospects.

With just over a month to the start of the Commonwealth Games, Tait is hoping to maintain his progress with an appearance in one of the world's biggest sporting events.

"To be selected for the Commonwealth Games would be incredible," said the 20-year-old. "I am really pleased to be in the core England Sevens squad this season and am hoping that my performance in the IRB Sevens will earn me a place in the squad."

Yet, while the youngster is using the sevens environment to hone his handling skills, his long-term ambition remains a return to the full international squad. If his club form for the Falcons is anything to go by this season, it should not be too far away.

"At the moment I am concentrating on playing well for Newcastle and learning as much as I can from being involved with the sevens team," said Tait, who is also part of the England A squad.

"The season is going quite well for me so far. I have been playing regularly for the Falcons and hope to secure my place in the first-team squad by the end of the season.

"Rob Andrew (Newcastle's director of rugby) has been incredibly supportive and we had a good chat before I came away with the sevens team.

"My involvement in the sevens is intended to develop me further as a player. The nature of sevens means that your core skills are developed much more than in XVs and I am already gaining in confidence as I improve as a player."

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