1
Redemption: Maddison Levi’s defensive heroics see Australia win thriller
Maddison Levi being the hero for the Australia women’s sevens side isn’t exactly a new narrative. The try-scoring machine has stunned fans the world over with her relentless pursuit with the ball in hand, but it was a slightly different story on Saturday night.
ADVERTISEMENT
France trailed SVNS Series leaders Australia 14-17 when the time ticked into final play territory. But Les Bleues Sevens had the ball about five metres out from the try line and looked intent on shocking the world just as they did in Vancouver.
They threw everything at their favoured opponents and looked more than threatening too as Caroline Drouin threw a monster pass to replacement Yolaine Yengo on the left wing.
Yengo had about seven metres to her left to play with, but Australia’s Maddison Levi stood opposite the Frenchwomen – looking determined to make the match-winning stop.
Levi, 21, forced Yengo to test her on the outside before the Australian bundled her opponent into touch with a forceful hit that sparked both gasps and cheers throughout the stands at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Australian stood up and was immediately embraced by captain Charlotte Caslick and sister Teagan Levi was second to greet the defensive heroine for the SVNS Series juggernauts.
“That’s the one thing that went straight through my head is she’s really small, don’t hit her high. Don’t give any inkling into it being a bad tackle,” Levi told RugbyPass.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We spoke about it in the game before, when we’ve got nothing to lose we’ve just got to push up off that line and not give them any space.
“I just knew I had to get up and force her on my outside and then just back my speed and my strength to get her to that outline.”
It was a redeeming moment for the Australians, too, after they were stunned in last weekend’s SVNS Vancouver semi-final by France at BC Place Stadium.
But Australia, who had already beaten Perth champions Ireland earlier in pool play, made sure to put the past behind them as they prepared to tackle their proven rivals.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Redemption I’d call it. It’s always a tough battle against them, they always come out and put on their best footy,” Levi said.
“It’s good to match them as practice for the Olympics in tough games like this.
“There was a calm feeling before we went out and we all knew what happened last week, we park it to last week and we go out there, we do our jobs and we keep improving.”
But what fans may not have seen is the emotion that this result generated. Without naming names, there were a couple of French players in tears down the tunnel at the LA venue.
Meanwhile, when the Australians walked up the very same tunnel a few moments later, they were all smiles and in good spirits after sailing through pool play with a perfect 3-0 record.
“Every time you step out, and we’ve got the emblem on our jersey, (Sharni) did a little spill at the start for our jersey presentation and they worked so hard to actually wear the emblem on our jerseys.
“So, for us to be able to step out and do our country proud each game… I guess you learn more from your losses so we’ve become a better team from it.
“I’m sure they’ll work on theirs and come out and it’ll probably be an even closer game next time.”
Comments on RugbyPass
hit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
5 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
1 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
5 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
5 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
5 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
12 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
5 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
12 Go to comments