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The Wallabies won a gold medal for rugby at the 1908 Olympic Games. Now, the Australian women’s sevens side have created history for themselves and Australian rugby by being the first side, male or female, to win Olympic Gold for sevens rugby, defeating the New Zealand Women 24-17 in the final at Rio.
The Aussies scored four tries to three, but the scoreline actually flattered the New Zealanders. They were out-rucked, out-thought, out-ran and, eventually, out-played.
This was a stupendous victory for a group of athletes who made themselves into terrific rugby players, and for head coach Tim Walsh and his assistants for tailoring the winning style to the girls’ athletic qualities.
The turning point in the final came just before halftime, when the Aussies launched one last determined attack, after some stern defensive work. Kiwi star Portia Woodman knocked a ball forward deliberately.
She knew immediately the consequences of her mistake, receiving a yellow card as the Pearls turned the mistake into a try on the halftime whistle.
This gave them the lead, 10-5, for the first time in the final and the confidence, after a nervous start, to go on in the second half, running away with the game.
The last two New Zealand tries were scored in the dying minutes of the final, when the result was beyond doubt. They demonstrated the heart and determination of the Kiwis in toughing out what was a lost cause.
The Aussies hardly seemed to bother about the last New Zealand conversion, which was taken into the 11th minute of the second half, after full time.
This victory at Rio, before an excited crowd and a massive worldwide audience watching on-line or by television, was based on the fundamentals of Australian rugby for over 100 years: speed, athleticism and unflinching defence.
The girls selected were mainly athletes from other sports.
Charlotte Caslick, as an example, was a former touch footy star. Her step and bursting speed from a standing start saw her score the crucial try towards the end of the final.
From a 5-metre tap penalty, she ran with the ball in both hands and eyes locked into the defenders, she held them in her fierce gaze, then flashed through two bemused defenders to score. It was a classic touch footy manoeuvre.
Earlier in the second half, after a fierce period of defence against the New Zealanders, Ellia Green broke away and the bigger, more muscular New Zealand defenders could not cut her off as she raced away to the try line.
Green came to sevens from track athletics, she was brought on just before halftime to exploit the sending off of Woodman with her blistering speed. And she delivered.
Before the final, New Zealand experts suggested that their side had been selected to play in a physical manner to monster Australia’s “fit, small jack rabbits who use the space expertly.”
Melodie Robinson, a former New Zealand women’s rugby great herself and now an expert commentator on the game, made this point about the Aussies before the final: “Even though they wear ribbons in their hair and look like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths, they are also controlled mongrels on the field with an incredible self-belief.”
This was a shrewd assessment. You could see the self-belief as the two teams lined up for the anthems. The Aussies were relishing the moment. There were smiles on their faces and a fierce, determined light in their eyes.
The Kiwis, on the other hand, looked to be almost overwhelmed with the weight of the moment. Some players were even crying during the anthems.
I wondered at the time whether this overtly emotional, tearful response was sign of a certain desperation, in contrast with the optimistic determination of the Aussies.
As it happened, New Zealand started stronger. But it became obvious, even after their first try, that the Kiwis were not smashing through their smaller opponents. They couldn’t get any off-loads going, which the bash-it-up tactics were designed to create.
Sevens has now made its mark on the Olympic schedule.
The reaction to the game at the stadium and around the world has been sensational. There are now thousands of young girls – here in Australia and many, many tens of thousands more around the world – who want to play sevens in the Aussie manner.
For the record, the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens squad at Rio was:
Shannon Parry (co-captain), Sharni Williams (co-captain), Nicole Beck, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Chloe Dalton, Gemma Etheridge, Ellia Green, Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner, Dominique du Toit (travelling reserve), Brooke Walker (travelling reserve).
Let’s hear it for the new golden girls of Australian sport!