The pace and power of their finishers on the opening day of the Sydney Sevens helped secure a playoffs spot for the Australian women’s sevens team with a game in hand.
But wins over Brazil and Spain and a try-frenzy from Madi Levi, Faith Nathan and Bienne Terita wasn’t enough to keep coach Tim Walsh happy, with some scrappy defence having also been part of the performances.
Australia allowed Brazil to score twice in a rusty opening 28-12 win, and some early defensive lapses were a minor blip in a giant 46-0 win over Spain, in which Levi scored four tries.
“The first half I wasn’t happy and I told them. We are not going to win if we allow them to tackle well. They have to be effective tackles,” Walsh said.
“It wasn’t a great start but it was a good finish. It was a nice way to finish day one.”
Even with one pool game left against Ireland, Australia’s two wins effectively locked them into a playoffs spot.
Madi Levi scored four tries for Australia in their big win over Spain.Credit:Getty
The hosts will be a handful for whoever they face, especially if Levi continues her dominant form. She was almost untouchable on the left edge.
“Yeah she is pretty handy and we have Faith Nathan on the other end, and we have BB (Terita) coming through as well. And you need that in sevens. You need to be able to play all different games but speed is key,” Walsh said.
“There is nothing better than seeing our edges score tries, and when they’re racking up six tries between them is nice.”
Earlier, a trio of critical plays from Henry Paterson on both sides of the ball helped Australia’s men’s sevens begin their tournament with an important victory at the Sydney Sevens.
Henry Paterson of Australia makes a break to score the game-winning try.Credit:Getty
On an opening day when hometown nerves affected both the Aussie teams, Paterson proved the difference for the men’s side in a tight win over Great Britain.
Trailing the Brits 7-5 after a mistake-riddled first half, Paterson scored the go-ahead try for Australia early in the second half and then saddled up for defensive duties and the hosts held out for the rest of the game.
With a minute left, Paterson lined up GB reserve Will Homer and smoked him in a big hit rarely seen in sevens, and then also won a turnover in the dying seconds to ensure an Australian win.
Coach John Manenti was from pleased with the performance but said the defensive attitude on display was a positive.
“We should have iced the game by halftime. They know that,” Manenti said. “They were a bit excited, wanting to play well at home. That’ll be good to get that out of the system and go home and start well tomorrow. We had to defend well to win that game.”
A loss would have made life a bit more fraught on Saturday, where they’d have needed two wins from their remaining pool games against Argentina and Canada to qualify for the playoffs.
“Winning is a habit right”, Paterson said. “The best teams play with consistency and that’s where we want to be. To not be at our best but to be able to still beat a quality side like GB is good signs.”
Paterson said his big hit was the result of desperation.
Nathan Lawson wins a lineout in their win over Great Britain.Credit:Getty
“Johnny (Manenti) and Chuck (assistant coach James Stannard) put me in the centres in the dying stages of the game so I don’t really know what was going through their mind. I had to repay the favour and put a shot on.”
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