Sevens superstar Maddison Levi believes the bright lights of the Olympics and a sold-out Stade de France will be music to their ears as they press for a gold medal. Levi and the Australians are in Montpellier at their pre-Olympic campaign as they kick off their tournament on 28 July. If the pools go as planned, the Aussies will likely have to get past hosts France in the semi-finals for a shot at the gold medal. It presents a potential hostile environment for Tim Walsh’s side, with Levi welcoming the noise and atmosphere.
“I was at Stade de France last year for the World Cup at it was such an awesome experience to have that sold out. I think our team’s full of entertainers so once we get out there, the crowd will probably help to our advantage just having the adrenaline and playing in front of a crowd,” she told media before heading to France. I think we’re pretty used to touring and playing in front of a crowd at the World Series, this year has helped us with that. I’m excited to put on a show in front of everyone and show what we’ve been working on.”
The Australians loom as one of the gold medal favourites alongside the French and Kiwis. In particular, the trans-Tasman rivals have battled it out in the major finals in the 2020s. New Zealand claimed the Olympic title in Tokyo but since that, the Australians have swung the ledger thanks to Commonwealth, World Cup and SVNS success over the past two years.
Teagan Levi believes the pressure still remains on the Black Ferns Sevens, with a number of players likely featuring at their final Olympics. “Definitely more pressure on them but you never know, everyone can add pressure to themselves in different ways,” the younger Levi said. “I think if we stay in our bubble as a group and don’t let anyone inside that I think we’ll do a really good job over there in Paris. I think we’ve definitely got the team to get the job done and we’ve all got our little things that we can add to this team to make the game better.”
From Pravda
Reds v Wales
It’s an interesting Queensland lineup for the game against Wales on Friday. With a large Reds contingent running out for the Wallabies against Georgia the Queensland team includes some uncontracted and recently signed Rebels along with a couple of QPR players. The crowd is tipped to be the largest since the Super AU final during covid. It Should be a cracker.
Queensland Reds v Wales7:55pm AEST
1. Sef Fa’agase – Sunnybank – Shailer Park State High School – Beaudesert Warriors
2. Richie Asiata – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – Norths – Wellington College, NZ
4. Connor Vest – Souths – Grafton High School – Grafton Junior Rugby Club
5. Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
6. Seru Uru – Wests, Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli Rugby Club, Fiji
7. John Bryant – Souths – St Laurence’s College – Souths
8. Joe Brial – University of Queensland – The Scots College – Easts, Sydney
9. Louis Werchon – Wests – Sunshine Coast Grammar – Maroochydore Swans
10. James O’Connor – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Brothers
11. Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Downlands College – Souths Toowoomba
12: Dre Pakeho – Brothers – Anglican Church Grammar School
13. Tim Ryan – Brothers – St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
14. Floyd Aubrey – GPS – Marist College Ashgrove – GPS
15. Jock Campbell (c) – University of Queensland – The Southport School – Inverell Highlanders
Reserves:
16. George Blake – Bond University – The Southport School – Fasi Maufanga Eels, Tonga
17. Matt Gibbon – Bond University – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Wollongbar Alstonville Rugby Club
18. Massimo De Lutiis – Easts – The Southport School – Surfers Paradise Dolphins
19. Josh Canham – Bond University – Brighton Grammar School – Harlequins Rugby Club
20. Connor Anderson – Wests – Brisbane State High School – Everton Park Roosters
21. Will Cartwright – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Brothers
22. Mason Gordon – Wests – Brisbane Boys’ College – Wests
23. Lachie Anderson – Eastwood – Oakhill College – Dural Rugby Club
Welsh Team
Named in an order to trigger Sully
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
14. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 22 caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 38 caps)
12. Eddie James (Scarlets – 1 cap)
11. Regan Grace (Bath Rugby – uncapped)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 77 caps) vice-captain
1. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 4 caps)
2. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 3 caps)
4. Matthew Screech (Dragons – 2 caps)
5. Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts – 34 caps) captain
6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
7. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
8. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
Replacements
16. Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped
17. Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)
18. Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – 4 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 19 caps)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 23 caps)
22. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
Reds tour confirmed to play the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan
From QPRQ Pravda
With a Japanese tour later in the year and a preseason tour to Europe, the Reds Management are doing many good things to set the state up for a successful 2025. There’ll be a full cap fixture against the Wild Knights in November, after a warm-up match, just as there has been in 2022 and 2023.
The Reds came out on top 55-30 at Kumagaya Stadium when they visited Japan in 2022 and there was a tight, free-flowing contest for a 31-29 win when the sides met at Ballymore Stadium in 2023.
Two broken legs and two more out long-term, it was a brutal series
After a brutal two games the Irish and the Boks are counting the cost. South Africa will start their Rugby Championship campaign next month without four of their star players.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that veteran lock Franco Mostert suffered a leg fracture in the loss to Ireland at the weekend and won’t make the trip to Australia for the two Tests against the Wallabies. Back-up captain Pieter-Steph du Toit will also miss the first Rugby Championship Test – in Brisbane on August 10. Erasmus put Du Toit’s recovery at “four to six weeks”.
Wing Cheslin Kolbe, who also suffered a lower leg injury in the Kings Park loss, might play again in the second Test against the Wallabies in Perth on August 17. Their World Cup-winning teammate Malcolm Marx suffered a tibia fracture when he was crock-rolled in the loss to Ireland.
Ireland also lost Hooker Dan Sheehan to an ACL and a prop to a hand injury.
