The Australian Womens’ Sevens team put down an emphatic marker for the Rio Olympics in the desert sand in Dubai, when they beat Russia in the final 31-12, in the first round of the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Day One
There was a sensation in the first game in Pool A when Russia (seventh in the 2014-15 standings) thrashed last season’s Series’ winners, New Zealand, 33-7. Wow !!
Canada, second in the standings last season, looked shaky also going down to Fiji 10-24 in the opening game of Pool B; but like the Kiwis, they steadied and went through to the Cup quarter-finals [QFs] as second in their pool.
The Aussie Pearls, third on the ladder in 2014-15, breezed through their three pool matches (with Ellia Green getting a hat-trick against Japan), and finishing with a convincing win over England 24-7. They had the least trouble of the three unbeaten teams but Fiji were impressive in two of their games and Russia were playing an exciting brand of Sevens that could beat any side.
Australia Coach Tim Walsh said getting three out of three was always tough:
I’m pleased with how we progressed throughout the day. I felt we developed and were getting to what we were after, by the end of the England game.
Shannon Parry – one of the best in Dubai
Day Two
Quarter- and semi-finals
Russia whacked Spain in the first game of the QFs and France beat Fiji in the exciting second match.
The Kiwis wouldn’t have been the first-choice opponent of the Pearls in the quarters, since the girls in black had won four of the six tournaments in 2014-15.
Indeed, by half-time NZ were showing some of their old form and led 12-5, but Charlotte Caslick scored for Australia in the second half to get them to 10-12; then Ellia Green scored a signature try in the corner for the Aussies to win 15-12.
England beat Canada in the fourth QF but went down to giant-killers Russia 19-12 in a cracking semi-final.
Australia beat France comfortably 26-0 in their semi showing excellent speed off the mark and backing up, whereas their opponents had probably invested too much effort in their QF win against Fiji.
Evania Pelite – scored last try of the final
The final
After the Aussies parked in the Russia half for an age they held their width for Amy Turner to score in the corner; then Nicole Beck followed with a try after supporting Ellia Green who was too strong and fast.
Australia looked in a comfortable position at 10-0 but Alena Mikhaltsova caught them napping with a brilliant long break, and scored under the posts.
With the score 10-7 to the Aussies at half-time it was “game on” and soon it was “advantage Russia” when Marina Petrova scored after the break for her side to lead 12-10.
But Green was rampant on a 50-metre sprint to score and with the Russians fading and not being able to get possession, Emilee Cherry and Evania Pelite added a try each to finish them off.
Final score: Australia 31 – Russia 12
Ellia Green deservedly won the medal for being the Player of the Final. She had been prominent on both days but so were Shannon Parry, Emilee Cherry and speedster Emma Tonegato,.
Coach Walsh remarked after the game:
It was our day today but it was by no means a fluke. We showed composure and an ability to solve problems on our feet.
Ellia Green – Player of the final
The Wrap-up
If all the teams keep playing like they did in the Dubai Sevens for the rest of the year the Aussies will be hard to beat in any of the remaining three tournaments in the HSBC Sevens World Series, or at the Olympics.
It was a good effort to win the final despite not having Chloe Dalton and influential captain Sharni Williams available, but Australia started the Series strongly, and we know that other teams have more room to improve.
The Kiwis have too many good players not to lift their game, and Canada, the winners of the last tournament of the 2014-15 Series, in Amsterdam, have a big upside.
The surprise packet of the tournament was the performance of the Russians who showed signs that they could become major contenders in the Sevens’ version of the sport when they get more experience.
