Debutant’s powerful start as Australia’s ‘youngins’ usher in new dawn

Amahli Hala has never played at a venue quite like Kai Tak Stadium. On debut with a historically inexperienced Australian Women’s Sevens side at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Hala didn’t waver, with the debutant making a powerful statement early in the team’s new era.

Without the likes of three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick, who has decided to see out the rest of this season’s Super Rugby Women’s season with the Queensland Reds, coach Tim Walsh has named the most inexperienced Aussie Women’s squad in 10 years.

It was a bit of a nervy start for the women in gold at Hong Kong China’s new 50,000 seat sevens Coliseum, with Spain making it a two-point game during the first term. But with the Aussie running away with it 52-14, they had every reason to smile as they walked off the field.

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And none were smiling bigger or brighter than Hala.

Hala scored a breathtaking five-pointer about three minutes into the pool stage clash, with the Queenslander offering a powerful fend on a Spanish defender while racing more than 50 metres to the house for a popular score.

“I wasn’t expecting the ball. At first I was thinking McKenzie, my centre, was going to have a go,” Hala told RugbyPass. “Then when she gave me early ball I was like, ‘Oh… you’ve been in this situation one-on-one, just give it a crack and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.’

“I think it was just going with the flow at the time.

“I scored and then she kicked it and she was like, ‘Sorry, sorry!  I was like, ‘No, no, it’s okay.’ It’s footy so don’t take anything personally on the field anyway.”

After a bit of a slow start from the Aussies, which was met by Spain’s impressive efforts on both sides of the ball, Maddison Levi’s brilliance stole the show. The reigning World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year didn’t skip a beat after returning from a brief stint on the sidelines.

Levi, who missed the last HSBC SVNS Series stop in Vancouver with a hand injury, helped the Aussies secure a one-sided win by running in a hat-trick of tries. Australia scored eight tries in total, with the “youngins” doing the jersey justice to open their account in Hong Kong China.

“Definitely. I think it’s a big thank you to all the coaching staff who have given us the opportunity, us youngins to go out there and show what we’ve got.

“We’ve got a lot of young ones coming through so building for the next generation is what we’re looking for. It’s good to be a part of it.

“It’s an honour, it’s a privilege to be wearing not only a jersey on the World Series but one of the best,” she reflected earlier. “It’s just such a great opportunity to come out here and play in front of such a big crowd.

“Thanks to all the people that have supported me along this journey. I couldn’t be any happier.”

In the other Pool C clash early on day one, which kicked things off at Kai Tak Stadium, Canada overcame a strong effort from Japan to win 24-17.

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