Australia’s newest women’s Olympic team underlined why they will be true gold medal contenders at the Rio Games with a rugby sevens whitewash of Ireland.
The Pearls scored a total of 13 tries and conceded just two as they outclassed the Irish women 26-7, 29-7 and 24-0 in their three-match series played over the weekend at the Sydney 7s.
Ranked No.3 in the world after last season’s world series, Australia are leading the 2016 competition, and continued their form to captivate fans at Allianz Stadium.
Spectators were cheering and bowing to them during their warm-ups and the big day-two crowd on Sunday gave them a victory lap to savour following their four-try, last-game drubbing.
“It was awesome to have the exposure and people realising how talented they are as athletes and future Olympians,” said coach Tim Walsh.
“Every time they play in stadiums or on TV and people see them they say ‘Oh wow I didn’t realise girls could play like that!’
“They are world class athletes who train full time and they are the best of the best.”
The defining moment in the series was Nicole Beck’s effort to chase down Ireland’s fastest player, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, and jolt the ball free just as she was to dot down under the posts.
“Hopefully people can see that’s the sort of team we are – never giving up,” Walsh said.
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