The Australian Women’s 7s team have capped off an amazing year of success on the international circuit with an historic victory over New Zealand to claim Gold in this mornings final of the Rio Olympics 7s competition.
The Aussies ran out victors 24-17 against their neighbours, and traditional rivals, in a match that bore all the intensity of a Bledisloe Cup encounter.
The nerves were apparent early, following two emotional anthem renditions, and the kiwis had the Aussies under all sorts of pressure in the opening quarter. That pressure paid off soon enough with Kayla McAlister finding her way across the try-line.
One of Australia’s best all tournament, Emma Tonegato finally found some space and seemed certain to claim Australia’s first points, but was brought down in a ripper of a tackle. However Tonegato was over soon afterwards, again stretching out to plant the ball on the line in the corner. With just a couple of minutes to go in the half, the scores were level 5-all.
Then came the turning point of the match. Kiwi star Portia Woodman was ruled to have deliberately knocked the ball on with the Aussies on attack and Yellow Carded. From the resulting tap, the Aussies sent Evania Pelite over in the corner for a crucial try.
With the ball in play for considerable periods of time, the Aussies were fortunate that Woodman remained off the field for almost 5 minutes of actual play, and a second try was scored by Ellia Green following some smart ball work between Charlotte Caslick and Emilee Cherry. It was a great reward for Green who late in the first half had brilliantly secured her team a turnover at the tackle to swing momentum their way.
Woodman returned to the field and, seemingly over eager to make amends, knocked the ball on from the kick-off. It meant the Aussies were able to keep the kiwis down their end of the field and soon enough Caslick was dummying over for a try of her own and one that would seal the victory for the Australians with the score 24-5.
Two late consolation tries to the kiwis took some gloss off the match for the Aussies, but the celebrations were well deserved as the the significance of the moment got to them.
While there was some brilliance in attack the match was undoubtedly won by the defensive work by the Aussies who held the kiwis scoreless from 5 minutes in until 2 minutes to go. The likes of Cherry, Williams, Parry, Quirk, Dalton et al were relentless in defense and ensured the win.
The victory represents the first time a rugby Gold Medal has been won at the Olympics since 1924 and the first time for the women’s game. The Aussies were deserved winners with contributors across the field, and off. This team have been sensational role models for the sport in Australia and will hopefully inspire a raft of young girls to give the sport a go. Now for the ARU to really get behind these stars and do everything they can to reward them, raise their profile and give them more opportunities to shine.
Australia 24 defeated New Zealand 17
Starters:
1 Shannon Parry
2 Sharni Williams
5 Emma Tonegato
7 Charlotte Caslick
8 Chloe Dalton
10 Alica Quirk
11 Emilee Cherry
Substitutes:
3 Nicole Beck
4 Gemma Etheridge
6 Evania Pelite
9 Amy Turner
12 Ellia Green
Scorers:
Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite, Ellia Green, Charlotte Caslick tries; Chloe Dalton 2 con
Before the Aussies won the Gold they defeated Canada in the semi-final. Notes from that game are as follows.
Australia 17 defeated Canada 5
Starters:
1 Shannon Parry
2 Sharni Williams
5 Emma Tonegato
7 Charlotte Caslick
8 Chloe Dalton
10 Alica Quirk
11 Emilee Cherry
Substitutes:
3 Nicole Beck
4 Gemma Etheridge
6 Evania Pelite
9 Amy Turner
12 Ellia Green
Scorers:
Emilee Cherry 2 tries; Chloe Dalton try, con.
Notes:
- As you’d expect, Australia started with their strongest line-up.
- The up and in defense of the Canadians allowed them to put pressure on the Aussies at the breakdown, perhaps learning from the USA the day before.
- Parry snagged a vital turnover early on to relieve some pressure.
- Dalton was on the end of a great pass to go for a long run down the far wing before the ball came back the other way for Caslick to pass to Tonegato with some space, before she made a delightfully timed inside ball to Cherry to score.
- Dalton’s kick offs were bang on! A strong asset to Australia.
- Canada rarely had possession until the final two minutes where they put Australia under plenty of pressure. The Aussies defended very well and Canada actually never looked like scoring.
- A sign of the confidence within the team, the Aussies got a penalty right on half time, about 60m out, and elected to run the ball. Following a nice Parry run up the middle, Tonegato again slipped a handy inside ball for Cherry to go over. 12-0 at the break to the Aussies.
- The big defense continued in the 2nd half with Williams putting in a key tackle.
- The strong defense forced Canada to put in a poor kick which went dead in goal and from the resulting scrum Australia were away. Dalton made a big break up the far wing, before the ball came back the other way for Cherry to put in a lovely little grubber which she regathered before the ball went back out to Dalton to score a well deserved try.
- The Aussies looked very determined in defense.
- Things fell away a little in the last minute or so with a mistake at scrumtime giving Canada a tight head and their first try followed, before a string of penalties and a loose pass from Caslick meant Canada were hard on attack in the closing stages. They couldn’t get through and the game was ours and we were through to the historic Gold Medal match.
