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‘Bunch of psychos’: Aussie weighs in on possible nickname for sevens ‘sisterhood’
The Matildas, Jillaroos and Australian Diamonds are all iconic names that represent the rapidly growing popularity of women’s sports in the Land Down Under. They’re icons of Aussie sport.
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But the Australian women’s sevens team are an anomaly of sorts. Just like their countrymen in the same sport, they are not known by anything beyond that drawn-out phrase.
The opportunity to play for Australia is a lifelong dream for all athletes who call this country home, and that should by no means be omitted. But there’s merit in a nickname.
Whether it’s to promote a sense of popularity, possibly patriotism or familiarity, these names allow all supporters to identify with something more than just ‘Australia’.
Arch-rivals New Zealand are known as the Black Ferns Sevens – an expansion of the Black Ferns moniker for the 15s side – so the Aussie could rightly go by the Wallaroos Sevens.
As the team that sits atop the women’s SVNS Series standings, and with their 2016 Olympic triumph still inspiring young girls today, a team name could propel this team to the top of Australian sporting fandom along with the Matildas and the Australian cricket team.
Australian sevens star Madison Ashby, who was once identified as a 13-year-old hopeful for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, has weighed in on the debate with a couple of ideas.
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“Psychos, nah,” Ashby told RugbyPass while laughing. “We are a bunch of psychos but I’m not sure yet, that’s a team discussion, we’re a sisterhood.
“If we want to be known by anything it’s family. We’re very family-orientated.
“We just celebrated my birthday on Tuesday and cause my family couldn’t make it, my team made me feel very homey – surprised me with dinner, lots of presents.
“Definitely family.”
If you were there at Perth’s HBF Park last weekend, you know how much this team means to rugby fans in Australia. The crowd was loud, crowd and passionate as they cheered on the golden girls.
Australia reached their third final in as many tournaments this season after recovering from a shock pool stage defeat to Great Britain.
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Rising star Teagan Levi was sent off during that match, and older sister Maddison also saw red less than 24 hours later in the thrilling quarter-final win over New Zealand.
But after making the final, the Aussies fell short of expectations after falling to the fighting Irish 19-14. But still, the women in gold still sit atop of the overall series standings after winning Cup finals in Dubai and Cape Town in December.
“Losing at home always hurts,” captain Charlotte Caslick told reporters on Sunday evening.
“I think the emotional toll and the lack of discipline really let us down. Regardless of the result, we know we have a lot to work on.”
The Australian women’s sevens side will look to bounce back when they take the field at SVNS Vancouver in February.
SVNS Vancouver gets underway on February 23 to 25. Those interested in watching some of the world’s best rugby while enjoying the best party in town can get tickets HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
So many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
207 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
18 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
18 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
207 Go to comments“Teams would generally have three coaches below their head honcho; attack coach, defence coach, forwards coach” do they? I’m not sure what the NZ set up is tbh, but the other 4 sides top 5 sides all have very different structures to the one outlined in the article! As well as attack, defence, and forwards coaches, SA, Ireland, and France also have specialist scrum coaches. England have a specialist scrum coach too, but arguably don’t have a forwards coach, with that role taken on by Borthwick. SA also have a backs coach in addition to defence and attack, and Ireland and England have fitness coaches, with England also having two skills coaches.
2 Go to commentsWorst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
2 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
18 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
207 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
18 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
6 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
2 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
207 Go to commentsThanks Sam. Interesting read. Harder or easier for Parling to come into a completely new setup where performance was abysmal last time out? I’d suggest easier to be better but, as you suggest, will be a lot to do with how much latitude he’s granted. Hopefully all he needs. With hybrids like Holloway, Hannigan, Swinton and Leota as options at 6 we have the basics for a strong lineout. BPA returning means we have good options at 2 also with Faessler, Porecki and Uelese, although Jordan is a scrumming beast rather than a dart thrower. I’m typically a pessimist or realist but that’s never applied to the Wallabies
2 Go to commentsMad how this somehow contained absolutely zero information.
4 Go to commentsI’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
3 Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
11 Go to comments