New Zealand sweep Commonwealth sevens gold
Both New Zealand sevens sides competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast have claimed gold medals in their respective tournaments.
The women’s side needed extra time to beat Australia and take the inaugural gold medal, with a heroic 80-metre effort from Kelly Brazier securing the win.
With scores at 12-7 in favour of New Zealand late in the second half, but Australia’s Ellia Green hit back one minute before the hooter to level the scores.
The conversion was missed, locking the scores at 12. Australia won possession and had a chance to win the match as the final hooter blared, but Cassie Staples chose to send the ball into the stands and play an extra period.
In a rematch of the 2016 Rio Olympics sevens final, Australia came just metres from winning the golden point overtime period, with Vani Pelite racing away before being chased down and turned over by Niall Williams and captain Sarah Goss.
The turnover was the spark New Zealand needed, as Brazier took off from inside her own 22-metre line.
Breaking away on her own, Brazier looked for support as she crossed halfway, but was unable to find any.
Instead of slowing down and waiting for help to arrive, Brazier backed herself and crashed over the line to seal the match and a famous 17-12 victory.
To reach the final New Zealand beat England 26-5, while Australia took down Canada 33-7.
New Zealand’s men followed up the women’s effort as they claimed gold, four years after their heartbreaking finals loss at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Etene Nanai-Seturo opened the scoring and a follow-up effort from Regan Ware sealed the deal against an ill-disciplined Fijian side.
Fiji defended admirably after losing Sevuloni Mocenacgi for two minutes after a no-arms tackle on Sam Dickson, but errors defused any of their attacking efforts as they failed to cross the tryline.
New Zealand had the opportunity to extend the lead to three scores before the game ended, but Andrew Knewstubb’s penalty kick careened off the posts.
The ball landed in the arms of veteran Kurt Baker, who booted the ball out of play to wrap up New Zealand’s gold medal.
New Zealand got through England 17-12 in the semi-final, while Fiji edged 2014 champions South Africa 24-19 to advance to the gold medal match.
MEN’S FINAL
New Zealand 14 (E. Nanai-Seturo, R. Ware tries; V. Koroi 2 cons) Fiji 0
WOMEN’S FINAL
New Zealand 17 (Selica Winiata, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier tries; Tennika Willison con) Australia 12 (Emilee Cherry, Ellia Green tries; Emma Sykes con)
Comments on RugbyPass
Ireland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
45 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
45 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.
45 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”?
1 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.
45 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.
45 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
45 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
45 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
45 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
45 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
45 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit 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.
7 Go to comments