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‘We were pretty terrible’: Australia show ‘ticker’ on road to Cape Town final
When the full-time siren sounded to bring an end to Australia’s Cape Town SVNS match against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on Saturday, the Aussies didn’t look like a contender.
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Australia had opened their campaign at the Western Cape venue with a promising 27-7 win over Olympics-bound Samoa before an emphatic loss to the All Blacks Sevens that afternoon.
World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Leroy Carter scored three tries as New Zealand ran away with a commanding 35-5 win, but it’s not like Australia’s campaign was over.
With an opportunity to book their ticket to the quarter-finals against Canada, Australia made no mistake – and it was just the start of something special as they continued their SVNS redemption.
Australia blitzed the Boks 28-nil in front of their home fans and later booked their ticket to the big dance at Cape Town Stadium with a 17-point win over traditional sevens powerhouse Fiji.
With coach John Manenti leading the way, the Aussies have secured their spot in the Cape Town SVNS final – an appearance that once seemed unlikely, but the Aussie didn’t hear no bell.
“We were pretty terrible against New Zealand yesterday but we learned a lot from it,” coach Manenti told RugbyPass. “It’s a group that’s resilient and we’re learning from our mistakes.
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“Last week we weren’t fantastic either and we had a couple of decent performances yesterday but obviously we had to come out this morning and beat South Africa here which was tough.
“Beating Fiji (in the semi-final). In both games, we defended really well with one try in the two games.
“Argies again, next level. We’re excited. We’re running on empty – the boys are running on empty but I’m sure the emotion will get them up and just find one more performance.”
Australia’s road to the cup final in Cape Town is quite impressive on its own, but the greater picture makes the men in gold’s journey all that more incredible and special.
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Just a week ago, the Aussie bowed out of the Dubai SVNS with a “frustrating” quarter-final exit – but they were once on the cusp of finishing in the final four after two pool stage defeats.
The Australians have clearly channelled that disappointment and learned their lessons from the week that was. Now, they’re focused on letting their “actions” do their talking and showing “ticker” out on the field.
“We had a couple of themes this week,” Manenti said.
“One of them was actions because we spoke a lot of what we were gonna do and didn’t do it so one was actions and one was ticker.
“Probably that last chase from young Henry Palmer to stop a try probably when the game was safe but we still fought hard. Under fatigue, that was ticker.
“I’m proud of them. We’re improving… but we’ve got to learn to win these games now.
“Last year in Hong Kong was the last time we won so we’re really keen to have a bloody crack at it tonight.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat 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.
2 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.
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