Australia aren't 'looking for any excuses' following shocking quarter-final exit
The Australian Women’s Sevens team aren’t “looking for any excuses” following their shocking quarter-final exit at the Sydney Sevens.
Reigning World Series champions Australia are a team who expects excellence, and they would’ve been eager to put on a show in front of their home supporters this week.
Australia qualified for the Cup quarterfinals after three convincing wins in pool play, including a 43-7 win over eventual semi-finalists Ireland.
The women in gold seemed be tracking quite well ahead of their sudden death blockbuster against France on Saturday evening.
But it just didn’t go to plan.
French star Chloe Pelle scored the sole try of the first-half in the seventh minute, after Australian captain Charlotte Caslick was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
The match went from bad to worse for Australian rugby fans though, as Les Bleus doubled their advantage through Carla Neisen.
While a late try to Faith Nathan sent the vibrant home crowd into a frenzy, as they dared to dream along with their champion team, it just wasn’t meant to be.
But to their credit, they showed plenty of character early on Day Three. Australia returned to Allianz Stadium for their fifth place semi-final against Great Britain, which they won 19-nil.
While Head Coach Tim Walsh still doesn’t believe the performed “that well at all” on the final day, he spoke about the “unknows” the team has learnt from over the past few days.
“In age, (we’re) young and we’ve got some learning to do, but I don’t like saying ‘oh they’re a young team.’ Not looking for any excuses,” Walsh told reporters.
“They’re a team that’s performed very well and got a lot of experience despite their age, so that’s not an out for us.
“This is an unknown situation in terms of the distractions that are forthcoming being here, and the excitement and emotional energy.
“It’s certainly a character magnification and something which they have worked hard at and they came out here and gave everything, but they’ve got to be able to do it at both ends in attack and D.”
Australia may not be competing for silverware in front of their home fans today, but not all hope is lost.
This is a team who will carry genuine gold medal ambitions into next year’s Olympic Games, and will still hang on to hope throughout this season’s World Series.
“This tournament magnified where we’re at I think going forward because of all those unknowns,” he added.
“You learn more from your losses but look they’re a great team, they’ve got a lot of success, and they’re great individuals.
“It’s a game of footy you can lose in 14 minutes and your whole tournament can change.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and we know our competitive advantage and our point of difference is going to get us to that point so we’re looking forward to the next game and then moving forward.”
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No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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