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New Zealand move closer to Hong Kong double with wins over Australia
Looking to defend their Hong Kong Sevens crowns from last season, both the New Zealand women’s and men’s teams have taken another step towards glory by recording hard-fought wins over arch-rivals Australia.
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The Black Ferns Sevens were the first Kiwi side to book their place in the big dance after overcoming their valiant opponents 28-14 before the All Blacks Sevens’ tough 26-7 win over their neighbours from across the ditch.
An atmosphere fitting for a Cup final filled the stadium at the world-famous Hong Kong Stadium as captains Risi Pouri-Lane and Charlotte Caslick led their team into battle on Sunday afternoon.
New Zealand and Australia were met with a deafening cheer as they made their way out of the north-east tunnel and towards the middle of the field. The next 14 minutes promised to be a rugby war.
The two top sides on the SVNS Series traded blows early with Australia’s Maddison Levi and New Zealand’s Michaela Blyde scoring inside the first five minutes.
While the two captains went on to trade tries, it soon became clear that this would be the Black Ferns Sevens’ day. 20-year-old Jorja Miller scored in the final play to cap off what will go down in history as an iconic victory at the sevens venue.
“Yeah it was pretty upsetting obviously but that first half we played some really good footy,” Australia’s Sharni Smale told RugbyPass.
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“We’ve got some young girls stepping up into positions they haven’t played before they haven’t played before… still building momentum and the big picture’s Paris.
“(Coach Tim) Walshy always talks about you’re either winning or you’re learning so you’re not really losing,” she added.
“Go back to the drawing board and start learning more, train harder and then you can put performances out there that are better than what we put out there today.”
With the Black Ferns Sevens booking their place in a decider against Iloner Maher’s USA, the All Blacks Sevens faced the exact same challenge as their countrywomen as they looked to qualify for their second SVNS Series final this season.
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The All Blacks Sevens, who Argentina beat in the SVNS Vancouver final, also played Australia. Less than two minutes into the fixture, captain Dylan Collier ran down the blindside to score the opening try of the contest.
Australia’s Maurice Longbottom hit back with a try in the fifth minute, but after a tense period, it was all New Zealand in the second half as Tepaea Cook-Savage, Codi Vai and Tone Ng Shiu added to the All Blacks Sevens’ advantage.
The Aussies had shown plenty of promise in their quest for Hong Kong Sevens glory, but their journey would only go as far as the third-placed playoff. Walking down the north-west tunnel, the players were devastated as they grouped together for a huddle.
“I think we’ve been playing well all week. It’s always a good game against the Kiwis so it hurts a little bit extra when we lose to them,” Australia’s James Turner told this website.
“We just didn’t execute as well as we knew we could’ve, I guess that’s where the frustration comes from.
“We defended well. We had a couple of gusty efforts from the boys but we just didn’t execute on attack.
“Vancouver wasn’t our best one and even in LA, a similar situation, we lost in the quarters. We’re playing really good footy but just in our most important games it’s just the bounce of the ball,” he added.
“We’re definitely on the up and we’ve got Olympics at the end of the year and Madrid in two tournaments. I think we’re tracking the right way.”
The Australian women’s side will face France – who upset New Zealand in pool play on Saturday – in the third-placed playoff, before the men’s team take on Ireland in the corresponding fixture.
With an incredible Hong Kong Sevens double two wins away, New Zealand will play the United States of America and the men’s side will come up against France.
Comments on RugbyPass
This cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
6 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
108 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
6 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
6 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
6 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
108 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
108 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
108 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
108 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
108 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
108 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
108 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
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