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Aussie rugby women roar to Sevens revenge

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Australia’s women, inspired by returning veteran Sharni Williams, have taken ruthless revenge by dismantling Russia in the Seville Sevens and moving powerfully in sight of another world series triumph.

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After they’d raced into the semi-finals, the Australian men followed suit later on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT) by also reaching the last-four of their event with an impressive win over the USA.

Williams proved the women’s star, leading a merciless seven-try quarter-final demolition of a Russian side who’d ended the Australians’ 15-match winning streak just seven days earlier in Malaga.

“We put our bodies on the line, really proud of that effort,” said Charlotte Caslick, the player of the series so far who once again demonstrated why with a wonderful solo kick-and-chase try to complete the rout.

“It was great to play really well against Russia after last weekend.”

The Russians, with their smaller squad, looked a different, wearier outfit after having ended the Australians’ win streak 29-26 in Malaga.

And they couldn’t cope with the power and nous of 33-year-old Williams, captain of Australia’s 2016 Olympic gold-medal winning team, who finished off two slick moves for scores in the first four minutes.

Her second try, weaving past a couple of red shirts to race over, was the 56th of her distinguished career.

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It sparked a deluge, with Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea going over to make it 19-0 at halftime and scores from Madison Ashby, Teagan Levi, Dominique du Toit and Caslick after the break wrapping up a consummate display.

Earlier the Australians, who’d already qualified for the last-eight, had lost their final group match 12-10 against France, despite tries from Caslick and Faith Nathan.

They’ll next meet USA in Sunday’s semi-final with eyes firmly fixed on the prospect of a third world series title of the season following their back-to-back wins in Dubai in November and Decamber of last year.

Like the women, the Aussie men are out to improve on their third-place finish in Malaga, with three wins on a busy day promising much.

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Corey Toole scored twice in a 19-7 win over Scotland, before they overpowered Canada 35-12 with tries from Dietrich Roache, Maurice Longbottom, Solomone Vosaicake, Yool Yool and Ben Dowling.

In the quarter-finals, they had to come from 14-5 down as the American star speedsters Carlin Isles and Perry Baker struck from deep following Chris Kuridrani’s opener.

But the Aussies then took control with tries from Nathan Lawson and Josh Turner sandwiching a dazzling and impudent score by the electric Longbottom, who nipped inside two challenges to run nearly the length of the field.

Their 29-14 victory sets up a semi-final with Argentina, while South Africa’s unbeaten streak showed no sign of ending as they beat Scotland 31-24 in their quarter-final.

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RedWarriors 7 hours ago
'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

I was actually at the match. Leinster were the outstanding team in the league stage. Leinster’s squad depth meant the Bulls could only nick a late win in Pretoria against an understrenght Leinster. Simple put, Leinster are significantly better this year compared to last. The Dublin match last year was a big win by Leinster. Yes they won by a point in the RDS three years ago but thats not relevant to yesterday.

As Leinster are such a dangerous team, it forces an opponent to focus on a strategy to undermine them and that way get their game on the pitch. Leinster allowed that against Northampton. But that was not going to happen again. The Bulls attack in last 10 minutes of the first half was as savage as anything in the URC this year. Yet Leinsters coaching plan repelled them allied to savage commitment from the players. The defense was outstanding, pressure at breakdown outstanding. Leinster did not win the European cup but arguably at their best this year no other European team could reach that height. They reached that yesterday. Leinster completely removed Bulls ability to hurt them.

And Croke Park….100 years ago the Brits fired machine guns into spectators injuring 100s and killing loads. No Irish team ever performs badly there. Same with Irish supporters. Opposition players might as well be Brit Tommies with machine guns.

I think a great Leinster team, played a great game plan, to the height of their power in a horrible stadium for opponents. If Bulls score before half time they were back in the match. They went down, but they went down fighting.

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