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Australia last team standing between New Zealand and Hong Kong three-peat
By Finn Morton
New Zealand and Australia will contest the Women’s Cup Final at the Cathay/HSBC SVNS Series on Sunday evening. Maddison Levi was once again prolific for the Aussies who got the better of France 28-5, while New Zealand ran away with a stunning 41-point demolition of Canada.
The Black Ferns Sevens had been impressive throughout the first two days at the all-new Kai Tak Stadium after an emphatic 45-point blitz of China to start, a 12-point win over the United States, and a clinical 29-7 triumph over Brazil to round out pool play.
After overcoming Brazil for a second time in as many games, a rematch of the Paris Olympics gold medal match awaited. New Zealand were pitted against Canada, who had also been impressive with a loss to Australia the only loss on their record.
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But this semi-final, it wasn’t even close.
Manaia Nuku scored the opening try in just the first minute, and it was all one-way traffic from there with Risi Pouri-Lane, Jorja Miller, Kelsey Teneti and Michaela Brake also crossing for a five-pointer each. Jazmin Felix-Hotham was also a standout, scoring a well-worked double.
New Zealand are the two-time defending champions at the Hong Kong Sevens after beating Australia in the 2023 decider and then the USA last season, and their quest for a fascinating three-peat remains alive.
“In the back of our minds a little bit but we just take each tournament as it comes,” Mahina Paul told RugbyPass and another reporter on Saturday when asked about the pressure and expectation that comes with winning this event.
“I guess the three-peat in Hong Kong would be pretty awesome.”
But the New Zealanders will have to overcome a familiar foe to make that dream a reality.
Australia charged not the Hong Kong Sevens decider with a convincing win over France. Levi continues to score tries for fun on the SVNS Series, with the reigning World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year crossing for yet another hat-trick.
Bridget Clark scored the only other try for Australia, while Lea Trollier got France on the board with a runaway effort in the 11th minute. Coach Tim Walsh named the most inexperienced Australian Women’s Sevens side for this event, but they’re now one win away from the title.
“We really wanted to focus on each pool game and then each final and we made it all the way through to the Grand [Final] and I guess against New Zealand it’s going be a really tough one,” Australia captain Isabella Nasser told RugbyPass.
“We’re really looking forward to it.
“I think it just shows the depth of our program back home and how we can keep rolling out fresh and young players who can perform on a [SVNS Series] just like that.
“I feel like it’s pretty hard to make a Grand Final and in particular in Hong Kong with such an incredible crowd. To be able to do that with such a young group, it’s just awesome.”
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Go to commentsLakai? Hell no, Kirifi is the like for like. I could never imagine Lakai throwing a dummy like Ardie, his had’s and offload are probably his best asset. Still a good option to replace Ardies function within the group. Happy for that to phase in slowly over the next two years.
Kirifi is someone demanding attention as Ardie’s/the teams go to back up option though. Like with you’re Kaino ref though, happy for that to reverse back again if Lakai simply starts outperforming him again. The Kaino role has really been filled by Cane (perhaps because they didn’t find a replacement) and the 6’s that have been used are more like a Read/Jones/Flavell/Fifita.
I really do like the idea of that rock being a little bigger and a little tougher than Cane though. Miracle looks like that guy, and there are few possible young kiwis coming through too. Barrett over Vaa’i for me, he just has a little of the mongrol and flair you also want.
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