Cup Quarter-Final: Australia 17 defeated England 12
Australia are through to a Cup Semi-Final match-up with South Africa after beating England in an extra time Quarter-Final thriller, 17-12.
Battling against the midday Sydney heat as well as the whistle of referee Craig Joubert, Australia’s Henry Hutchinson scored two tries including the match-winner in the fourth minute of extra time.
Australia’s forwards were exceptional through the 18-minute match, as were backs Lewis Holland and Cam Clark.
33-year-old veteran James Stannard addressed the penalty count post-match with Green and Gold Rugby.
“It was a pretty stop-start game and we saw a lot of penalties,” Stannard said.
“We had to cop those on the chin because worrying about that sort of rubbish costs you games. The composure we showed at the end saw us through a tough one.”
“It’s tough to play in this heat but we’re lucky to train in it, so we’re all really well-conditioned to it. I feel for teams like Wales who train in the snow and then play in this.”
Stannard also addressed the Thunderbolts’ series of slow starts at the Sydney Sevens.
“They kind of just happen, we definitely don’t go out intending on starting slowly. We didn’t have a lot of possession early on with those penalties, but as soon as we got our hands on the ball we were able to put them to the sword.”
England put Australia to sword first in the the third minute when fiery redhead James Rodwell brushed by Stannard to score.
Australia countered quickly, but a poor pass couldn’t find Henry Speight inside the 22.
Speight made up for it by executing a brilliant cover tackle to bundle England speedster Tom Bowen in to touch.
Ed Jenkins carried the Thunderbolts inside the English 22, creating a running lane down the blindside for Australia’s player of the tournament thus far, Lewis Holland, to score.
Stannard kicked an important conversion to tie the game at halftime, 7-7.
England started the second half on attack, but had the carpet tugged from under them on Australia’s five metre line when Tom Cusack won a Pocock-esque turnover.
England were back at it again midway through the half as a long kick ahead exploited the lack of top-line pace in the Australian lineup.
A poor bounce snuffed out the attack, but Australia were slow to retreat onside, allowing England to attack left and find the line.
Both sides forwards worked well at the breakdown, turning over the ball multiple times in a frenetic closing period.
Another Australian turnover allowed Lewis Holland to launch a long cut-out pass to wonder-kid Henry Hutchinson on the right wing, breaking through a tackle to equalise with 15 seconds remaining.
Stannard couldn’t convert, but Australia again won the ball back inside England’s 22.
A controversial knock-on was ignored by Joubert on full-time, allowing England to kick the ball out safely to bring about extra time.
A penalty awarded to England on the Australian five metre line threatened to end the game in the first minute of extra time, but a clutch turnover again kept Australia alive.
Cam Clark booted the ball long to buy time, but was taken out late by a defender to a roar of disapproval from the crowd.
Lewis Holland reached the ball first and grubbered ahead only to be taken out by another diving shoulder charge.
Australia’s forwards took Joubert out of the game in the fourth minute, counter-rucking inside England’s 22 on the next phase before spreading the ball to Hutchinson to score the most important try of his young career.
Australia play South Africa next at 4:19pm AEDT in the Cup Semi-Final.
Cup Semi-Find: Australia 12 defeated South Africa 5
Australia have secured an All-Bledisloe Cup Final at the inaugural Sydney Sevens, triumphing over a previously undefeated South Africa, 12-5.
Australia got off to their strongest start of the tournament as star first receiver Lewis Holland scored within the first minute of the contest.
Australia changed their previous tactics by kicking early and often, netting big gains and piling the pressure on South Africa to escape their half.
Veteran Chucky Stannard showed his experience in kicking ahead a loose ball to score, securing Australia a 12-0 haltime lead.
Australia kicked upon receiving the ball for the first time this tournament, catching South Africa off guard and netting a 40 metre gain.
Con Foley broke three tackles on a long run in the second minute only to be dragged down in a try-saver, 10 metres out.
South Africa were penalised for slowing down the ball, giving Lewis Holland room to dart through for the score.
Despite identifying the domination of possession as the key factor in last night’s draw with New Zealand, Australia continued to kick the ball away.
South Africa kicked ahead for lightning winger Seabelo Senatla, but Henry Hutchinson won the chase, defusing the situation.
Lewis Holland hit the next shot of aerial ping pong, winning the kick-chase race himself but unable to progress any further.
As the clock ran down in the half, a loose ball popped out of a ruck in to the path of Stannard.
A deft grubber allowed the former Western Force and Brumbies halfback swoop on the ball and dive over the line in the corner, securing a 12-0 half-time lead.
The Thunderbolts did well to frustrate South Africa in the second half, defending capably despite conceding six penalties.
South Africa’s only try of the match was scored after Australia was awarded a penalty after South Africa failed to release in the breakdown.
As the players stopped to assess options, referee Richard Kelly reversed his decision and awarded a quick tap to South African Kwagga Smith, who raced away for an unconverted try amidst the chaos.
Australia kept up the pressure in attack on the second half, but were held out by determined defending.
Consecutive high tackles on Tom Kingston and Henry Speight earned Kwagga Smith a trip to the sin bin in the 5th minute, but Australia could not capitalise.
As the clock wound down to zero Allan Fa’alava’au forced a breakdown penalty to win the match and book a Cup Final berth with New Zealand.
Australian Sevens head coach Andy Friend said at a media conference post-match that nothing would change in Australia’s game-plan from last night.
Expect passing-lanes to be cut, possession to be fought for like a hot chip at a Seagull convention, and for Australia to halt New Zealand’s momentum on defence.
Australia play New Zealand at 7:04pm AEDT for a chance at Cup Final glory on their home soil.
Cup Final: New Zealand 27 defeated Australia 24
New Zealand have dashed Australian dreams of Sydney Sevens success on the Bondi Beach rocks they were founded upon.
New Zealand slipped a tackle in midfield and scored out wide through Player of the Tournament Rieko Ioane to win the Sydney Sevens Cup Final 27-24 seconds after the final whistle had blown.
The Australian side played admirably to restrict New Zealand in attack, forcing the All Black Sevens to rely on splash plays to score points.
Australia’s player of the tournament Lewis Holland, Cam Clark and Henry Hutchison fought mightily to create Australia’s best attacking performance to date at the Sydney leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Australian endured a shaky opening minutes to create the first scoring opportunity of the night.
Lewis Holland drew defenders before switching with an almost certain-to-score Cam Clark, only to be cut down by a try-saving ankle-tap with the line open.
Australia maintained possession and built pressure on the line before consecutive offloads from Holland and Clark created the gap for Hutchinson to streak through for Australia’s first try.
New Zealand’s renowned counter-attack sprang in to action as a Sonny Bill Williams offload set Kurt Baker free on the right wing for a runaway equaliser.
A high tackle from Sonny Bill Williams tackle earned the Sydney Seven’s pantomime villain a yellow card, earning Australia an opportunity to score points that ultimately went begging.
Rather, New Zealand were the next to attack as Rieko Ioane bounded down the touch-line, only to be brushed against the line by a Hutchison tackle.
Lewis Holland added further weight to his credentials as Australia’s player of the tournament by breaking the line on a scoot from the base of the ruck before firing a monster cut-out pass to Sam Myers, lurking on the right wing.
Australia looked set to end the half with a 12-7 lead, but for an x-factor impact from Kiwi captain Tim Mikkelson.
Brushing aside a weak tackle on his own 22, Mikkelson exploited the lack of out-and-out pace in the Australia side by jetting 80 metres for a try, tying the game 12-12 at the break.
New Zealand opened the second half hot on attack, requiring try-saving tackles from Cam Clark and Henry Speight.
Australia’s momentum continued in the match as Cam Clark slammed through a double-tackle to break in to the backfield, linking with Greg Jeloudev to secure a 24-17 lead with minutes remaining.
New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane scored out wide after another devastating counter-attack, but Tim Mikkelson failed to convert, preserving the slimmest of Australian leads, 24-22.
A penalty against Australia with 0:02 on the clock gifted New Zealand the opportunity to unleash a set piece move to seal the game.
Gillies Kaka broke a tackle in midfield and fired a long ball right to Rieko Ioane, scoring his Cup Final hat-trick and ending Australian hopes of a maiden Sydney Sevens victory.
New Zealand 27, Australia 24.
