'I think that's a cop out': Aussie 7s coach not buying New Zealand's loser talk
The phrase ‘do the jersey justice’ has become synonymous with New Zealand rugby. For all the prestige, pressure and scrutiny that comes with wearing a black jersey on the rugby field, there’s a responsibility to leave the shirt in a better place than when you found it.
Both the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens have a history of championship success at tournaments around the world, but this season hasn’t quite gone to script from the outside looking in.
The Black Ferns Sevens, who won every Cup final last season except for one, had their 41-game unbeaten streak snapped by arch-rivals Australia in Dubai late last year. New Zealand were later beaten in the semis in Cape Town and the quarter-finals in Perth.
It’s been a whole lot tougher for the men’s team, though. The All Blacks Sevens reached the heights of the final four in Dubai but hadn’t come close to repeating that feat since.
After a win over Australia in pool play at SVNS Cape Town, 2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Leroy Carter told RugbyPass that the team was “not trying to be the best at the moment.”
The All Blacks Sevens’ focus at the stage, according to Carter, was “to be the best in a couple of months’ time at the Olympics.”
New Zealand were fortunate to make the quarter-finals that weekend after finishing third in their pool. Tough times continued for the Kiwis at the next tournament in Perth as they finished ninth overall.
Sevens veteran Sam Dickson echoed Carter’s comments after New Zealand’s final match in Perth by telling this outlet: “We’re slowly building towards the Olympics, the Olympics is our main goal.”
But before a ball is kicked, a try scored, or a whistle blown at the series’ next stop in Vancouver, Australia women’s coach Tim Walsh had clear thoughts on the sentiment of those comments.
“I think that’s what you’re saying when you’re losing, to be honest. I can’t imagine any New Zealand team saying that ever,” Walsh told RugbyPass.
“I think that’s one of the things around New Zealand is that they always try and be the best they can be at the time.
“For us, that’s exactly what we do. We have a very strategic plan to be peaking at the right time as well. We go out in every tournament to try and win but we might be overdone or underdone at certain tournaments.
“But if we still go out there and win it then great because that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The Australian women’s seven side currently sit in pole position on the overall SVNS Series standings. With two wins from three tournaments, there’s no question who the team to beat is ahead of SVNS Vancouver from Friday to Sunday.
There has only been a handful of blemishes on their otherwise sensational so far, with unwanted red cards to Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan disrupting the team’s momentum and cohesion at their home event in Perth last month.
But they’re at the top of the overall standings – there’s some daylight between them and second-place New Zealand too. It’s where every team would like to be.
“I think that’s a cop out,” Walsh continued. “I hear that every year or every Olympic cycle.
Shiny memories from Vancouver 🤩✨#Aussie7s #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/CqN2UjXXLD
— Australia Sevens (@Aussie7s) February 19, 2024
“If you’re going to win a tournament, the one you want to win is the Olympics but in order to do that you need to prepare well and play and get that winning feeling.
“You look at all the Olympics, and there’s only been a couple (with rugby sevens) I know, but the in-form teams generally go and win or at least medal.
“Our philosophy is probably no different to anyone else’s.
“We respect the World Series and respect playing for our country. Every single time we’re trying to win and we’re also trying to get better and we’re also trying to peak at the right times.”
The SVNS Series heads to North America later this month with stops in Vancouver and LA. After the stop in Canada, SVNS LA is from March 1 to 3 and tickets can be bought HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
37 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to comments