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‘It was unreal’: Australia almost rewrite history by putting 60 on Fiji
SVNS Series co-leaders Australia have taken another step towards a historic title at Singapore’s National Stadium after demolishing Olympic bronze medallists Fiji 60-nil on Saturday afternoon.
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With regular captain Charlotte Caslick and veteran Sharni Smale both missing the final regular season leg of the season, younger players have had to step up for the Aussies including a new skipper.
Madison Ashby, 23, has just finished her first pool stage as the captain of the national team. The playmaker has led by example and other have thrived in the gold jersey as a result of her captaincy.
Faith Nathan and Madison Levi have continued to score tries for fun on the Series, but it’s the rise of other younger players – including Ruby Nicholas and Kaitlan Shave – that is especially impressive.
Inevitable.
Maddi Levi brings up 50 #HSBCSVNS tries for the second season in a row 🤩#HSBCSVNSSGP pic.twitter.com/zeKK4ymceE
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 4, 2024
Australia recorded a clinical win over Brazil to open their campaign in Singapore on Friday morning, and have since backed that effort up with victories over Great Britain and Fiji.
The Aussies, who beat Japan 66-nil in December to set the record for the largest Series win ever, came frightening close to repeating that history-making feat against the Fijians on a rainy day in Singapore.
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Speedster Faith Nathan got things underway in the first minute, with Maddison Levi, Teagan Levi, Kaitlan Shave, Tia Hinds and two penalty tries also adding to the cricket-esque scoreline.
“It was unreal. Everyone has come out here and said we have such a young team but the depth within Australian rugby was showcased out there just then,” Ashby told RugbyPass.
“Huge loss. We’re also missing Alysia (Lefau-Fakaosilea), BB (Bienne Terita), Demi (Hayes), a lot of girls,” she added when asked about the injuries.
“But missing Charlotte, our original skipper, world-class player, it’s really making us all step into that role and show that everyone’s up for grabs for Olympics.”
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The Aussies are equal on overall Series points with arch-rivals New Zealand, with the team that places higher in Singapore set to take out the inaugural regular season crown at the National Stadium.
New Zealand are also through to the quarter-finals with a practically flawless run of three wins from as any starts. Big name players shone as the Kiwis got the better of Ireland, Canada and Spain.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored her 250th SVNS try on Friday evening, while the likes of Machala Blyde, Risi Pouri-Lane and Jorja Miller have also taken their games to an all-new level.
The Black Ferns Sevens will take on Great Britain in the second quarter-final at 4:49 pm local time before the Australians follow with a blockbuster rematch of the SVNS Perth final against Ireland.
Catch up on all the latest SVNS Series action from the 2023/24 season on RugbyPass TV. SVNS Singapore is live and free to watch, all you need to do is sign up HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
12 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
12 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to comments