Satisfied but hardly thrilled. That was the feeling from Australian men’s and women’s sevens team as the reigning World Series champions’ got their Sydney Sevens campaign off to winning starts on Friday afternoon.
Australia’s women recorded a 28-12 victory over Brazil in front of a modest crowd in humid, cloudy conditions in Sydney, before they finished day one in stunning fashion by crushing Spain 46-0.
While Australia’s men won a hard-fought tussle over Great Britain, holding on 12-7.
John Manenti’s side dominated possession in the first half but had very little to show for it, with Dietrich Roache’s runaway try their only points for the first half.
Manenti was left filthy by the blown opportunities, which began when the home side were penalised for holding on out wide on the opposition tryline.
Soon after stand-in captain Henry Hutchison had his pass adjudged to be forward despite being release with his hands backwards.
A try to Robbie Fergusson on the stroke of half-time left Australia’s coaching team chewing their finger nails.
But some excellent defence and a try to Henry Patterson saw Australia claim an important 12-7 victory, with two pool matches to follow on an action packed Saturday.
“No, I was not happy with it at all,” Manenti said.
“I think we turned over four times in the first half in possession and three of them probably should have been tries.
“There was probably a bit of anxiousness and wanting to do well, so I told them I’d give them this grace and tried to stay calm because that performance is not going to win us too many games of football.
“We defended pretty well,” Manenti added.
Henry Hutchison made a couple of crucial tackles in the second half during their victory over Great Britain at Allianz Stadium on January 27, 2023. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
Patterson, who also made a bone-crunching tackle in the second half after being moved to the centres, said the fact the side won ugly was a positive sign for their progress as a side.
“They say winning’s a habit,” Patterson said.
“The best teams find a way though their consistency and that’s where we want to be, so to be able to not be at our best but still be able to beat a quality side like GB is good signs for us ahead.”
Meanwhile, Tim Walsh’s side hardly had it all their own way, particularly in the first half, but the Olympic gold medal-winning coach said he expected his side to improve and shake off some ring rust after an emotional week.
“It was good to get a win but it wasn’t the greatest performance,” Walsh said.
“We were falling off tackles. They looked just heavy. I think the emotional excitement got them to tighten up a bit.
“It was a good hit-out. We had to work hard at times and show some desire to chase them back. It’s a good way to start and hopefully build on.”
Charlotte Caslick in action against Brazil at Allianz Stadium on January 27, 2023 in Sydney. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
After Bienne Terita scored an early try, Charlotte Caslick’s side struggled to get their hands on the ball in the first half, with the officials failing to reward them for their on-ball presence and when they were curiously not given possession despite an obvious maul.
Brazil struck back through Thalia Costa to close the margin to two points, before Madison Ashby run a superb line to slice through the opposition defence and scored.
Caslick managed to get her hands more on the ball around the duck in the second half as Terita grabbed her second, before Teagan Levi also scored a five-pointer.
Brazil managed one late try to give the South Americans some confidence heading into their next match.
Caslick, who signed a four-extension with Rugby Australia, admitted Australia were far from clinical but said the physical outing against Brazil, a week after they were bullied by the USA in their semi-final loss in Hamilton, was a blessing in disguise.
“Obviously against the USA last week we struggled with the physicality and Brazil are kind of a similar team,” she said.
“They’ve got a lot of speed, they’re big, physical girls. I think for us, it was good taking what we learned last week into that game.”
The 16-point victory meant there would be no repeat of their historic tournament success in 2018, where Walsh’s side didn’t concede a point during their tournament victory.
But Walsh said he wasn’t concerned by their slow start.
“I’m not concerned,” he said.
“The build-up of playing at home, there is a build-up of emotional energy. They’ll feel a whole lot better in the next game. You treat it as a blow-out to get accustomed to it and go through some certain plays.”
The cobwebs were a distant memory later in the evening for Australia’s women’s side, as Walsh’s side easily accounted for Spain despite some late rain.
Outstanding winger Maddison Levi scored four tries, including three in the second half, while Faith Nathan picked up a brace. Caslick and Ashby also scored five-pointers.
“A nice way to finish day one,” Walsh said.
Friday, January 27
Australia 28 def Brazil 12
Australia 46 def Spain 0
Saturday, January 28
Australia v Ireland , 1:56 pm
Friday, January 27
Australia 12 def Great Britain 7
Saturday, January 28
Australia v Canada , 11:12 am
Australia v Argentina , 5:17 pm
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