The Australian women’s Rugby Sevens team, better known as the Aussie Pearls have claimed the Sao Paulo Sevens title in style, in a rain-soaked final against Canada in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The World Rugby HSBC Women’s Sevens Series descended on South America, in the second round of the 2015/2016 series. Hosted by the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, it was a well run event that will no doubt assist in preparations for August, but all the teams in attendance were focused on the World Series calendar.
After the Dubai tournament; which felt like a lifetime ago, Australia were atop the points table, with Russia the surprise package and wanting to retain any momentum to see off challenges from England, France, Canada and the perennial favourites New Zealand. The standings mean little, as every side would have been eagerly practicing and strengthening their defence and fine-tuning attack. Enough time spent in the team room, now the teams worked on real goals.
SAO PAULO – Round Two
Pool A: Australia, Canada, Fiji and Ireland
Pool B: New Zealand, United States (USA) Spain and Russia
Pool C: France, England, Brazil and Japan
The humid conditions were the very first test for each of the 12 competing sides. Physical conditioning is key to this season, so the best prepared teams would be able to utilize their full complement of players (squad size is limited to 12) The opening day proved to be a great one for many sides, not so much for those who were on the receiving end and only a handful of ‘upsets’ would halt some sides progress to the Cup final.
Results – England 38 Japan 5 | France 29 Brazil 10 | Australia 26 Fiji 17 | Canada 26 Ireland 7 | Russia 12 Spain 19 | New Zealand (NZL) 35 USA 5 | England 24 Brazil 12 | France 36 Japan 7 | Australia 19 Ireland 5 | Canada 24 Fiji 7 | Russia 10 USA 19 | NZL 46 Spain 0 | England 12 France 17 | Japan 5 Brazil 27 | Australia 29 Canada 14 | Fiji 15 Ireland 7 | Russia 10 NZL 40 | Spain 0 USA 33
Day One had many predictable but also some fine matches that were highlights for the crowd: Brazil beating Japan 27-5 heard the greatest applause. One team that had a backward step on the first day was Russia. They were ranked second on the standings after Dubai, but what a difference a new tournament makes as they were beaten by Spain. This seemed to cause them to fall apart and they lost to USA and finally New Zealand. That Kiwi side went through Day One unbeaten, as did Australia and France [predictable] but England, Canada and the USA had to settle for two-out-of-three, which set-up the next days qualifying stages.
DAY TWO
In such sapping conditions, player rotation was critical. For the NZ team, tryscoring Portia Woodman was under a cloud with a haematoma so that role now fell on Kayla McAlister, who would score 11 tries in this tournament (fantastic as Kayla only played in four games) and that squad depth would benefit them in the quarter final match against hosts Brazil. With big expectations, too often it is ‘a step too far’ and Brazil felt the wrath of the reigning Champions in losing 41-0.
The US team continued a good run, in defeating England 22-12 after the English side made a mini-comeback before Jessica Javelet sealed the win with a fine try. The result sent England to a Plate semi final (only to be well beaten) A poor tournament for them, a win over Brazil will not gloss over a side that must focus on the next event if they hold hopes of winning this competition.
Australia had the better of Fiji (for the second game of the weekend) and proved to be a force to be reckoned with, holding out Fijiana, crossing twice themselves. France, who eclipsed England the day earlier were surprised by Canada. The well drilled team did well to control the French side, Ghislaine Landry and MVP Jen Kish had a strong influence in the outcome. Winning 19-0, it set up a tasty semi final between the NZ team and Canada.
Results: Australia 10 Fiji 0 | NZL 41 Brazil 0 | France 0 Canada 19 | USA 22 England 12
The semi final matches had one foreseeable result; Australia winning 34-0 over the USA. Remarkably, the Aussie Pearls seemed to improve and peak for the finals, they would not have any points scored against them on Day Two in fact. They used their strengths, big Elia Green and Alicia Quirk all starred for the top-ranked side.
In the other match [NZLvCAN] one side approached the match as their grand final, and threw everything at it. An opening try seemed all too familiar for the NZ women, but Canada soon fronted up and crossed for two converted tries. At 14-5, coach Sean Horan might have demanded his girls reply early but he did not count on Canada doing exactly that–one of the tries of the series from Canada’s Jen Kish was a magnificent example of determination.
It upset the Kiwi teams form, and while McAlister would continue the trend of NZ teams scoring after time was up, time had slipped away and a tremendous win by Canada sat the Kiwi girls on their rear ends. Results like this take everything out of many sides, and as Canada would now reach the Cup final, Australia had certainly not had to expend the same amount of energy to reach their second final in a row.
Results: Australia 34 USA 0 | NZL 10 Canada 19
The Cup final was played in driving rain, and while that made life difficult, nothing seemed to halt the Australian women from storming towards a big win. Better strategy paid dividends, the Aussie girls with more direction and keeping the ball in hand while kicking well (but not giving away territory easily) A huge victory in fact, they crossed five times and held the Canadian girls scoreless. The fact that the semi final had taken it’s toll on Canada was evident but still, in this tournament the Pearls went from strength to strength and were deserved winners but full credit to the Canadian women.
Result: Australia 29 Canada 0 | Play-off for third place: NZL 28 USA 0
The Australian media are now pouring praise on the Tim Walsh coached side, even going so far as stating “Australian women’s sevens rugby team a ‘sure thing’ for Olympic gold in Rio” [Daily Telegraph] That is probably an over statement, but with this type of form, Shannon Parry and her team are definitely front runners to stop the New Zealand team from claiming another series title. That being said, when it comes to the knock-out event like the Olympics, expect national pride to even the odds and teams to fight for every advantage possible.
But until August, expect Australia to continue to set the benchmark that others like New Zealand and the Canadians will need to match. If England, France or Fiji have any chance, winning at the Round Three tournament in Atlanta, USA after the Easter break will be make-or-break. Only five events fill this years calendar,and while the heavyweight sides all look capable, it will take something special to defeat the Aussie Pearls in the form they are in.
“Main photo”
