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Australia coach's immediate reaction to ‘fresh’ Perth SVNS draw
Live from the training field with the Australian women’s sevens side, coach Tim Walsh provided an immediate reaction to the Perth SVNS pool draw which was held on Thursday afternoon (AEDT).
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With just over two weeks until the third leg of the SVNS Series from January 26 to 28, the Aussies have learnt their fate after being drawn in Pool A along with Canada, Great Britain and South Africa.
While the women in gold will be full of confidence after a perfect start to the season in Dubai and Cape Town, these three teams are not to be taken lightly – and they’ll know that.
Canada, who placed ninth at the Tokyo Games, has a rapidly improving sevens program with the team now sitting equal on overall points with fourth-placed Fiji on the Series standings.
Are you ready for a party down under? 🦘🇦🇺
Here’s how it will go down in the pool stages of #HSBCSVNSPER! 🏉#HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/IzHAYv8Ufl— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 11, 2024
Great Britain is also capable of an upset or two with the likes of Jasmin Joyce and New Zealand-raised playmaker Isla Norman-Bell steering the team around the park.
But it’s South Africa who are especially intriguing. Having won the Challenger Series last year, the newly-promoted side poses an unknown threat to the Aussies. They almost beat the Black Ferns in Dubai and there’s no reason why South Africa can’t go the distance again.
Before returning to training with the SVNS Series leaders, coach Tim Walsh sounded excited about the challenge as the team prepares to run out in front of family, friends and fans in Perth.
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“We’re actually on field training now and I just announced it to the girls,” Walsh told reporters.
“It’s fresh. We haven’t played those teams in a while so we’re excited and we know how strong they are, particularly Canada, they’re a fastly improving team so they’re very much a team to watch out for.”
But the Aussies will be without one of their key players for the remainder of the season – and reportedly the Paris Olympics as well – after Demi Hayes picked up a serious injury in Cape Town.
Hayes has since had surgery on her ACL and is now looking ahead to what will unfortunately be a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
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But if the rapid rise of emerging talents including Teagan Levi, Kaitlin Shave and Bella Nasser is anything to go by, Australia has the depth to manage the loss of quality players.
“They’re good. They’ve had a nice break and refreshed but came back physically and mentally ready to go,” Walsh said.
“We’ve had a good week and a half training.
“We did unfortunately get an injury in Cape Town. Demi Hayes, she’ll be on the sideline for quite a while.
“Other than that we’re at good fitness and a really good group to be able to select a really strong team.”
Australia brought an end to New Zealand’s 41-game unbeaten streak when they defeated their Trans-Tasman foe in the Dubai SVNS final early last month.
With all the pressure and expectation that comes with being a Cup final winner, the Aussies thrived one week later as they went back-to-back with a win over France in the Cape Town decider.
But there’s no question that the Perth tournament will be another step up. 12 months ago in Sydney, the Aussie women fell short after losing to France in the quarter-finals.
They’ll want to make amends later this month by putting a smile on the faces of Australian rugby fans. You don’t want to miss it.
Tickets are on sale for the upcoming Perth SVNS at HBF Park and can be bought HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
1 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
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