The Aussie women’s sevens team – The Pearls – are in red-hot contention to make history and win their first world series this weekend, as they head to France for the final leg needing at least a 6th place finish to win the damn thing. Not only will this put a dent in the Kiwis’ girls record of three series wins from three, but it’ll also give the girls a huge boon in preparation for the Rio Olympics.
Earlier this week, GAGR’s Matt Rowley had a bit of chin wag with Pearls coach Tim Walsh, and gathered a few insights into how shiny the girls are going. So, while Bruce McAvaney is furiously researches what rugby sevens is – probably with the same success that Homer Simpson researches marketing – here’s a guide to fill you up on what’s good vis a vis the Aussie Women’s Sevens.
The Story So Far
Walsh is a former Reds player, and during his career in fifteens found himself playing in New Zealand, England and Italy. During his career, he found time to dabble in sevens, which he says was “a lot easier” to swap between than it would be now. He’s been coaching the girls since 2013, and also made time to be interim coach of the boys’ team in 2015.
This season, the girls have won three of the four legs, coming out top in Dubai, Sao Paulo and Atlanta and placing third in the Victoria, British Columbia leg. Unlike the men’s series, which has ten legs, the women’s series only has five.
In two of their gold finals, the Pearls blitzed Canada (31-12) and Russia (29-0), pipped the Kiwis (24-19) and saw off France in their 3rd-place match in Victoria.
Your 12-woman #Aussie7s squad aiming to #MakeHistory this weekend @WorldRugby7s in Clermont-Ferrand, France pic.twitter.com/nKc1YeRcX6
— AU 7s (@Aussie7s) May 27, 2016
A Bit About The Girls
Having coached both the mens and the womens, Walsh knows a good deal about the differences between the two. While the girls have now caught up to boys in terms of professionalism – both sets train together in Narrabeen – there’s still a few things that set the two apart.
The girls: “ask a lot more questions, they need a lot more detail on how to do things” (only because the boys have been more involved in rugby more); get injured less in collisions during games and training, and are able to train longer at a higher intensity; and are easier to gather up for a team meeting than the men – “you can pull up in the car park and hear where they are, there’s a lot more noise and a lot more talking”.
Walsh is quick to point out that those are only subtle differences. After all, a game of rugby is a game of rugby.
Coach also let us in with a few neat bios of some of the girls in the team. Before he began, Walsh made clear that “I’m very fond of them all”. Good move, Tim.
Emilee Cherry
🇦🇺 Best Kick and Chase Try of the WSWS season so far goes to Australia's @emilee_cherry & Nicole Beck #Clermont7shttps://t.co/7TiYedhJqf
— Women's Rugby Comp (@WomRugbyComp) May 26, 2016
Voted best player in the world a couple of years ago, currently leading try and points scorer this series; “she’s a complete player, on and off the field”
Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry
Co-Captains, Clermont @Shan_Parry @sharni2388…setting the standards for ever @Aussie7s #gameday #MakeHistory pic.twitter.com/SkwnSDlgtT
— John Manenti (@john_manenti) May 28, 2016
Both “ruthless”, “workhorses, feared by the opposition”; came from the 15s women’s side, the Wallaroos
Charlotte Caslick
ReLIVE: Australia's Charlotte Caslick opens the scoring against New Zealand as her side clinch the #Atlanta7shttps://t.co/TiYAUV9Ge2
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 10, 2016
Named in the top four players last year, “an incredible athlete…incredible movement” and great in defence.
Ellia Green
Discovered her four years ago in tryouts, “one-in-a-million kinda person”.
Meet @GeezyGreen from the women's rugby @Aussie7s who are on the cusp of becoming world champions #Rugby7s #Rio2016https://t.co/aRzMxbFVp2
— abc730 (@abc730) May 27, 2016
Styles Of Play
What about the main contenders? Walsh highlights three: the Poms, the Kiwis, and the Canadians.
New Zealand
They’ve been the closest team to the Aussies all series, but they haven’t won a leg yet, having lost out to the English girls in the Canadian final. In Walsh’s words, they’re a “well-rounded team and powerful. They’ve got a couple of gamebreakers…certainly physical and very skillful too”. Walsh highlights Portia Woodman, an MVP in years previous.
Canada
“A power-based team, really focussed on their power game. Narrow in attack. They’re working hard on their skills, trying to play a wider game”
England (aka Great Britain at Rio)
“They’ve got a very experienced team…they made a decision last year to [change their focus from fifteens to sevens]…and using their experience, and rugby knowledge, they’ve really grown into sevens. They’re really solid in the ball retention area.”
And last, how does Australia play?
Skillful, intelligent, ruthless. But not big. Walsh even goes as far to call them entertaining. “We have very quick – well, we have girls with ribbons in their hair, pink boots and bright yellow jerseys” – Walsh cuts corners, cautiously calling them girly girls – “but [the opponents] come out, and think they’re just gonna run them over”. Walsh concludes saying “our intelligent play leads the way”, with The Pearls using guile, speed and skill to overcome the other teams.
The @Aussie7s side are looking to #MakeHistory this weekend in France. Here's 3 of their best tries in the series.https://t.co/0Gx3GjZDhz
— Sean Maloney (@seanny202) May 25, 2016
What Now?
As said at the very top, the Aussie girls have to finish at least 6th to grab the series win. Australia are currently on 76 points, with the Kiwis behind on 64. If the worst happens, and the Kiwis win the upcoming, last tournament (to be held in Clermont), that’ll mean the New Zealanders will find themselves on 84 points.
Each position comes with the two less points – so coming 2nd means 18 points, 3rd 16 points, etc – so that’s why 6th (10 points) is the least needed.
Both Australian teams have already qualified for the Rio Olympics – the girls through their world series positions, the boys had to go through an Oceanian qualifier – but as the qualification for the Olympics still isn’t sorted, there’s not telling who the girls will face. Safe to say, a series win would cement their seeding as favourites.
As for the tournament this weekend, the girls have France (ranked 5th), Fiji (8th) and Ireland (12th) in their group. They’ll play Fiji at 8:28 pm, Ireland at 11:12 pm and France at 1:56 am (all AEST) on the first day of play, Saturday 28 May, Saturday/Sunday our time. The finals are the next day; for all the fixture info you need head to this site over here.
Wrap Up
https://soundcloud.com/green-and-gold-rugby/gagr-podcast-211-as-likeable-as-a-pom-with-tim-walsh#t=30:30
Check out the whole of the Tim Walsh podcast on the latest GAGR pod, where he also discusses his thoughts on the Hayne Plane’s foray into sevens.
Also, here a few more links for you perusing pleasure to help you fully get into the know:
