‘Reeling them back’: Aussie reacts to his first SVNS win over New Zealand
There really is something special about the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. It’s both a pressure and honour that goes well beyond what it means to win or lose.
So, for young Australian Henry Palmer, who has watched the Wallabies lose to the All Blacks time and time again over the years, the opportunity to get one over the Kiwis means “a lot.”
For the first time at SVNS Series level, Palmer was part of an Australian sevens men’s side that defeated the All Blacks Sevens. Australia won 24-17 on the opening night of SVNS LAX on Friday.
Tries to Nathan Lawson, Nick Maloud and James Turner saw the Aussies race out to a strong 17-9 lead at the break, and the men in gold hung on against a six-man New Zealand side in the end.
The Australians were in good spirits as they walked off the field, although it was clear that it was just one result. But as Palmer explained, it’s a match which simply means more.
“Biggest rivalry growing up. Bledisloe, and now my opportunity, I think my first time playing them at this level, and because it’s such a big challenge it makes it all the better when we finally get one on top of them,” Palmer told RugbyPass.
“Beating the Kiwis in any sport feels good when you’re an Aussie, but especially in the footy as they’ve dominated us for so long.
“It feels good to finally feel as though we’re reeling them back in.”
It’s a statement win for Australia as they look to rally in the City of Angels after their underwhelming performance at SVNS Vancouver last weekend.
Australia went 0-3 in pool play and failed to make the Cup quarter-finals. It was a vastly different showing from a side that had made the previous two Cup finals before the Canadian event.
But the Aussies’ big win over their arch-rivals has put them back on track – at leas for now.
“It shows that we can bounce back and when we’re on our game we can compete with the best,” Palmer said.
“It shows, now we’ve just got to string these performances together, and then we hold it, get back to the number two ranking and hopefully be the first ones to beat the Argies again.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Dickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to comments