Australia’s women’s sevens team will take on the United States of America in the Perth Sevens semi-finals, but they’ll likely have to do it without their star outside back Maddison Levi.
In a dramatic quarter-final against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, Australia survived a second half scare to prevail against their trans-Tasman rivals and biggest threat to a second Olympic gold medal in July.
After the Black Ferns lost the physical and talented threat of Jorja Miller in the opening minute because of a head-on-head clash with Faith Nathan, Australia raced out to a 12-0 lead through Nathan and Madison Ashby.
Madison Ashby and Charlotte Caslick celebrate their dramatic quarter-final win over New Zealand at HBF Park on January 27, 2024 in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
But the quarter-final turned on its head in the moments before half time as Levi, who was playing his first match of the tournament after being shown a red card in Australia’s final success in Cape Town last month, was shown another red card for a similar front-on, head-on-head clash that left her in tears. The incident occurred one day after her younger sister Teagan was shown a red card for another head clash, where the defender failed to drop their body height.
With the match down to six on six, New Zealand pounced through their tryscoring machine Michaela Blyde who scored twice in as many minutes to give the Black Ferns the lead and take the momentum.
However, it didn’t last as Bienne Terita found space and got away a splendid pass to Charlotte Caslick who put Australia back in front.
Some nice footwork from Dominique du Toit then sealed the deal, as Australia survived an almighty scare to progress through to the final four.
“We’ve made a bit of a habit unfortunately of playing for six,” Caslick said.
“I think we’ve joked about being called the Sydney Sixers moving forwards instead of Aussie women’s Sevens. But, it was a pretty gutsy performance. If there’s one thing we can’t doubt in this group is they’ve got a lot of courage. I’m really proud of them for continuing to show up.”
Asked how good it feels to beat the Kiwis, Caslick said her side had bigger things in their mind like taking momentum and trying to claw the Black Ferns’ seeding points down ahead of this year’s Olympics in Paris.
“It always feels good to beat the Kiwis,” she said.
“Obviously, overall, we’re trying to chase them down for top seed at the Olympics in July, so we’re edging closer every tournament which is our goal.”
Charlotte Caslick races away to score and put Australia back in front against New Zealand. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said Australia’s discipline was increasingly becoming an issue, but said their resilience was something to be proud of.
“It’s already cost them once in the pool round, it probably should have cost them there,” Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“They’re just going to have to fix that discipline, especially around tackle height and dipping – they’ll work on that. The one word that I want to pull out is courage and that’s what they needed to show to win that match.”
Australia will take on the USA in the second semi-final on Sunday at 3:46pm, with Ireland and Great Britain to meet in the first after downing Fiji and Canada respectfully.
Meanwhile, after scraping through the pool stage, Australia’s men’s side smashed the USA 31-7 to set up a tough semi-final encounter against Fiji.
After suffering an agonising 19-14 golden point loss to the USA on day one, Australia flipped the script on their slow start to the Perth Sevens by shocking the North Americans in the final quarter-final of the night.
Captain Nick Malouf was at the heart of the win, scoring the opening try before stealing the crucial turnover that led to Australia’s second try.
The home side capped off their outstanding first half when Nathan Lawson scored out wide after the USA’s decision to try and run the ball back from deep in their own corner came back to bite them. Maurice Longbottom, who was brilliant on both sides of the ball in the match, once again scored out wide to open up a 21-0 half-time lead.
Making matters worse, after conceding a penalty at the breakdown for failing to release, speedster Perry Baker was shown a yellow card for playing the man in an offside position.
Australia took advantage of their numerical advantage early in the second half, as young gun Henry Palmer showed off his finishing ability by scoring inches in from touch.
The USA hit back when they were awarded a penalty try when Joe Schroeder was hit high out wide as he attempted to score.
But it mattered little, as Australia’s defence held firm and Ben Dowling scored a late try to finish the rout.
Australia will take on Fiji in the semi-final (4:34pm AEDT), with Ireland to play Argentina in the other knockout fixture.
El Flash
Roar Rookie
I posted this comment (below) on Friday. Just call me Nostradamus please. "Both the Levi girls are tallish & lazy in the tackle. This may not be the last red card from one of them".
scrum
Roar Rookie
That comment is a joke coming from you. You are the one who as in this case supports any call that favours NZ and criticises any call that goes against NZ. I coach Refs every weekend in footy season from Juniors right through to Senior Rep games. All Refs make mistakes right thru to Test level and Refs acknowledge this. It’s impossible in a dynamic game like Rugby to get every call correct. Unfortunately there are many who see this as a right to verbally abuse the Ref or make cowardly online attacks on their character. Refs do not want to make mistakes but being human it happens. Looking at this incident I can fully understand why the Ref made the call as he did but the simple fact is, as the replay proved, he got it wrong. Does that make him a bad person or incompetent Ref, absolutely not. His standard of officiating was very good.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
As you have possibly made mistakes scrum, so get over it, & hopefully you don't hypocritically, as now, call out the men in yellow, when they have a wrong decision called against them. The call was right, so move on, as it was judged by the officialdom! Honestly, some!!!
scrum
Roar Rookie
Ok Muzzo, just make sure next time a call goes against the ABs you support that call as being correct, not as in the past. The call was wrong, it’s that simple. Refs make mistakes.
scrum
Roar Rookie
What you are saying has no relevance in Law. If the ball goes forward off the forearm it’s a knock on, that’s the Law. As I have repeatedly said if it touches another part of the body first that has no bearing and neither does the position of the arms in relation to the body. Are you saying for example if a player reaches behind himself to pick up a ball and knocks it forward that’s not a knock on because his hand is behind his body. And for your info I have reffed over 300 games, currently a Level 2 Ref coach and in my last Law exam I got 99 out of 100. I suggest you consult the Law book.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Look again, as why was the try awarded! ffs!!! :crying: :crying: :crying:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Wrong again scrum, as why was the try given? I've explained my view of it a couple of times now, but you simply don't have any understanding of what happened. Even to say I've criticised ref's in the past is true as I've never been a big fan of a certain Pom ref who's record overall with the AB's has been the worst ever of any international refs, reffing the AB's. So why are you being so hypocritical in this? As I said previously, the ref DID communicate with his assistants & awarded the try. I know the law, as apparently your view is wrong. Have you ever attempted reffing, as I?
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Can’t ask for much more, both teams into the final..
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Superb win for the men in the semi. Great defence and took their chances. Smart skilful and gutsy, Longbottom again outstanding.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Splendid semi win to the women. Challenged physically by the big Americans, but they held up well led by their experienced leaders Smale and Caslick. Then took chances with finishers pace. Concern over Terita limping off the only downside.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
You always give me a chuckle
scrum
Roar Rookie
It’s a knock on if it comes off her arm and goes forward, the position of the arm is not relevant and where it contacted her initially is also not relevant- it clearly hit her arm and went forward.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Where it came off first is irrelevant. If it hits the hand or forearm and goes forward it’s a knock on, that’s the Law. So it went from leg to chest to forearm and forward off the forearm. Whether her arms are behind the body is also irrelevant. And Muzzo for one who has criticised Refs in the past for getting decisions wrong your defence of them is a little puzzling. I can understand how the Ref with only one Quick Look can get these wrong. I do not know the protocol for the TMO in Sevens but I do know it is different to 15s. But it is clear the ball contacted the arm and went forward, that has always been and still is a knock on
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
It is as clear a knock on as can be on the Stan replay. It wasn’t reviewed. However, it didn’t effect the final result. My point remains… the refs calls are very important in these close and short 7s contests.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
That was a knock on for sure! Came off her leg then forearm
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Try looking at it again, as it clearly came off her right leg first. If you care to look she had both her arms out behind her. OK if it wasn't a try, then why was it awarded? The officials did get it right. Try again!!
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Levi is much worse than the maligned Swinton. 2 Reds in consecutive games means she is "dangerous" to other players and be rubbed out for 15 games. Maybe she will learn then !
scrum
Roar Rookie
Clearly came off the forearm , that’s a knock on. Coming off the leg first is irrelevant
scrum
Roar Rookie
Impressive from both Women’s and Men’s. The depth of the women’s side is strong. Levi is a real strike weapon to lose but the Aussies just trust their high work rate and depth of talent to see them home. The Men have never been superstars so good to see them in the Semis.
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
Unless you’re trying to make an unknown point, it’s not that intriguing, there’s an article on the Stuss front page under sports about them being flops in Perth.., so it is being reported on.