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Great Britain needed a hero to stand up during their women’s quarter-final in Hong Kong, and replacement Rhona Lloyd answered the call.
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Playing on the treasured turf at Hong Kong Stadium, GB were locked in a titanic battle against the previously undefeated France on Saturday evening.
Both teams threw everything at one another, but the match remained scoreless as the game clock continued to tick ever closer to full-time.
It’s rare, but a nil-all scoreline looked like a real chance – but GB had other plans.
The definition of the term ‘super sub’ can be rewritten as simply ‘Rhona Lloyd.’
Replacement Lloyd was injected into the game in the 13th minute, and made a stunning match-winning play shortly after.
With their final attack of the contest, GB spread the ball wide left for speedster Lloyd. Getting the ball deep in her own half, the 26-year-old ran about 70 metres to the house.
After a big old battle (and with the scores at 0-0) @RhonaLloyd96 is on hand to book @GBRugbySevens‘ place in their first semi-final this year with a last-minute score 😳
And look at what it means! 🥹@DHLRugby | #ImpactMoment | #HK7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/xKkatYGo7k
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) April 1, 2023
Lloyd broke down crying in the in-goal after scoring the match-winning try, while her teammates burst into a frenzy on the sidelines.
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Shortly after, GB hoisted their try-scoring hero up on their shoulders – there was plenty to celebrate at the rugby sevens’ spiritual home.
After taking countless selfies with fans at the legendary sevens venue, Lloyd shared her immediate reaction to the match with RugbyPass as she began to make her way down the north-west tunnel.
“I’ve got to deal with Jas (Jasmine) Joyce, she tires them out and I get to do the fun bit and it worked out today,” Lloyd told RugbyPass.
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“Incredible. I’ve had the pleasure of playing here before, that was for Scotland for a World Series qualifier, so to be back playing for Great Britain on the World Series is incredible.
“Shona Campbell just gave me the ball and told me to pin the back so it was a bit all-or-nothing but it paid off.”
This weekend’s historic World Series stop in Hong Kong didn’t quite go to plan for Team GB during pool play, but they didn’t let that define them.
After starting their campaign with a hard-fought 5-nil win over Canada, they were beaten 43-nil by World Series leaders New Zealand late on day one.
But Great Britain bounced back with a convincing 35-nil win over Hong Kong China on Saturday, which set up their quarter-final blockbuster.
“I think we did brilliant,” she added.
“To finish on that loss yesterday was really hard, we couldn’t get our kick-off right so we spoke about that last night.
“We recovered, we had a really, really good match this morning against Hong Kong (China), we made mistakes there but learnt from them.
“I think that match we really brought it together and we kept our cool even when it got tight there at the end.”
Their win over France is an important milestone for the team as well, as they prepare to play in their first semi-final of the season on Sunday.
“It’s our first semi-final this season so it means the world to us.
“France, they’re an amazing team so for us to (grind) that out and get the try right at the end there, it’s incredible.
“It’s a small margin, you don’t get many opportunities, France or nor did we.
“But we executed them there and that’s the difference sometimes.”
Great Britain will play Australia in the first semi-final, before New Zealand take on Canada to determine the other finalist.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to comments