Australia using Perth momentum to mount final SVNS push

Having the chance to play in front of a home crowd is an opportunity that only comes along once every season in the HSBC SVNS Series, and Australia’s men’s and women’s sides plan to use the momentum from Perth as a launchpad to push hard in the final legs of the regular season.

With the SVNS teams having less than four weeks before the final legs of the regular season in Vancouver and New York, both teams are hungry to reward the support shown and deliver results.

It will prove especially prescient for the Aussie women, with the side being handed a tough draw in Vancouver which includes pool matches against two recent semifinalists.

Australia currently sits second on the ladder, going down 29-7 to their rivals New Zealand in the final.

The result capped off a frustrating February campaign that also saw them make the final in Singapore, before another heavy defeat at the hands of the Kiwis.

‘It’s a matter of moments… and being able to stay in it,’ Bella Nasser told reporters following their final loss.

‘They’re a real quality side.

‘That’s the beauty of Sevens, we’ll always get another go at them. We’ll use it as motivation in Vancouver and New York.’

It was a similar sentiment for the men’s side, who also went deep into the competition.

Despite going down in the semi-finals to eventual champions South Africa, the men rallied to finish with the bronze medal, defeating New Zealand twice in the same weekend.

‘Huge emotion, it’s always tough coming off a semi-final loss,’ Henry Hutchison said following the third-placed playoff.

‘We were really disappointed with our processes against South Africa, we weren’t clinical enough. So to bounce back and beat the Kiwis twice in a weekend, we haven’t done that in a while. Really proud to do that, especially at home.

‘We were really focusing on being consistent [for this block], to go better than week one [Singapore] was really pleasing.’

With both sides using the home-ground advantage to push deep into the tournament, they now believe they can use the momentum to go one better in Vancouver and New York, with both sides still a chance to top the leaderboard ahead of the finals series.

The chance to play at home is one that both sides are not taking for granted, especially returning youngster Hayley Tonga, who scored a crucial match-winning try against France.

‘I’m grateful to be here,’ Tonga said.

‘I debuted here last year in the grand final against Argentina. Perth just feels very special to me, especially coming [in] at a young age.’

‘We love it,’ echoed Hutchison.

‘It’s not lost on us that we don’t play at home often, we only get once a year to play in front of friends and family, so it’s really important we turn up for these events and hopefully keep some fans coming back for years to come.’

‘I was holding in tears during the anthem,’ Nasser added.

‘Just looking at the amazing support we have from the fans, the family and friends, we’re really blessed with the group we have.

‘We take in the energy, and that’s something we’ll use going forward.”