Australia’s women’s sevens team have suffered a shock quarter-final loss at the Sydney Sevens in a match where star player Charlotte Caslick was controversially yellow-carded.
Last year’s Commonwealth Games gold medallists now can’t finish higher than fifth at their home tournament after falling to France 10-5 in an energy-sapping quarter-final at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
It comes as Australia’s men prepare to face France on Saturday evening (9.03pm AEDT) in their own quarter-final after winning all three pool matches.
Five years ago, Australia’s female side won the Sydney Sevens without conceding a point.
This year, they were outdone in the match that mattered against a French side who dominated territory and possession.
As far as upsets go, they don’t get much bigger.
Australia leave the field after their 10-5 quarter-final defeat to France at the Sydney Sevens. Credit:Getty
After clinical wins over Brazil (28-12), Spain (46-0) and Ireland (43-7) in the pool stages, Australian players dropped to their knees after full-time.
Australia, the reigning world champions, were on the back foot early as France asked plenty of questions of the home side’s defence.
Caslick pulled off a brilliant try-saving effort centimetres from Australia’s line before being shown a yellow-card for a high tackle in defence.
However, it was an extremely unlucky call given Caslick lowered her body height before France’s attacker dipped her head into the Australian’s shoulder. There was very little Caslick could have done.
France made the most of the player advantage by scoring a try just before half-time to take a 5-0 lead.
Former sevens player Chloe Dalton, who won a gold medal with Australia at the 2016 Olympics, questioned the call on social media.
“How is that a yellow card? A penalty at most,” Dalton tweeted. “Caslick went in with low body height into the tackle and the French player ducks her head and body into the contact.”
With two minutes remaining, Faith Nathan scored a brilliant 90-metre try down the right edge to put Australia behind by five points before a Caslick knock-on handed possession back.
Charlotte Caslick after the match on Saturday. Credit:Getty
France celebrated the huge upset by booting the ball into the northern grandstand.
Australian coach Tim Walsh refused to make excuses after the match and paid credit to France for their defensive spirit.
“Losing is not the greatest feeling, particularly at home,” Walsh said. “They defended really well, I thought they deserved to win the game. They shut us down and we couldn’t get going.”
France, USA, Ireland and New Zealand all advanced to the women’s semi-finals.
Henry Hutchison receives medical treatment during Australia’s game against Argentina.Credit:Getty
Meanwhile, there was good and bad news for Australia’s men on Saturday.
In their final pool match against Argentina, captain Henry Hutchison went down in the first half with a leg injury.
Hutchison returned in the second half but limped off the field with a suspected knee injury.
Coach John Manenti said he didn’t expect the speedster to feature at all on Sunday on the final day of action.
“He looked pretty sore didn’t he. He’s unlikely for the rest of the weekend I would think,” Manenti told reporters ahead of Australia’s quarter-final with France. “He’s a pretty tough bloke. At half-time he said it was bothering him but he wanted to go on. Then he went one play and then basically went down. He’s been unbelievable for us.”
Australia defeated Great Britain 12-7 on day one before notching victories against Canada (22-7) and Argentina (29-10).
“I thought the boys have all stood up and had a real good crack,” Manenti said.
Australia’s men’s team finished fifth at last week’s event in Hamilton in New Zealand.
At the 2018 edition in Sydney, Australia registered three straight victories in the pool stages before clinching the title with a sensational 29-0 win over South Africa in the final.
Watch all the action from the Six Nations with every match streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport from February 5.
