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.
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.
“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.
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
Speell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
2 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
6 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
6 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
6 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to comments