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Injuries force Aussie 7s reshuffle with players to return home from Vancouver
Women’s SVNS Series leaders Australia have been dealt a tough blow ahead of the upcoming tournament in Vancouver as two players need to return home to Australia due to injury.
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As confirmed on Wednesday, Rugby Australia’s 2023 Shawn Mackay Award nominee Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea has picked up an issue with her shoulder.
Rising star Heidi Dennis, who debuted on the SVNS Series at last month’s event in Perth, has a thigh injury and will join Lefau-Fakaosilea in returning home to Australia.
Coach Tim Walsh has called the reliable Lily Dick back into the squad for the first time this season, while Sidney Taylor is in line to debut at senior level for Australia.
Lily Dick, 24, is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, World Series champion and Rugby Sevens World Cup winner. There’s no question that she can be counted on after being called into the playing squad.
The rest of the squad remains unchanged from how it was originally announced with two-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick set to captain the Aussies in The Great White North.
Madison Ashby, who recently re-signed with the sevens program, and Teagan Levi are among the world-class players who have played a key role in the team’s success this season.
Wishing Alysia and Heidi quick recoveries 🙏#Aussie7s pic.twitter.com/cAQsbJncTo
— Australia Sevens (@Aussie7s) February 21, 2024
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“The key thing for us is to keep them on the field,” coach Tim Walsh told RugbyPass earlier this week when asked about the quality of the squad.
“We have a pretty philosophical view, and it’s not rocket science but the more you train the better you get. The more we train the better we get but the more we train and play together we become unstoppable.
“We’ve got to make sure that at training our medical staff and S&C (strength and conditioning) and everyone to make sure every player is training efficiently and effectively as often as possible and together as (much as) possible.
“To have Mady re-sign and then having these girls performing well and together puts in a pretty position for us to keep rolling on this season and beyond.”
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The pair of Lefau-Fakaosilea and Dennis join Bienne Terita in the injury ward. The rising star picked up the injury during SVNS Perth late last month.
Try-scoring machine Madison Levi has still got to serve the third and fourth matches of her suspension after being red-carded in the Perth quarter-finals against New Zealand.
The SVNS Series is off to North America 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.
Updated Australia women’s squad
- Lily Dick, 2. Sharni Smale, 3. Faith Nathan, 4. Dominique Du Toit, 5. Teagan Levi, 6. Madison Ashby, 7. Charlotte Caslick (c), 8. Kaitlin Shave, 9. Tia Hinds, 10. Bella Nasser, 12. Maddison Levi, 44. Sidney Taylor, 65. Sariah Paki
Comments on RugbyPass
Karl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’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.
45 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.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 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.
8 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.
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