The Aussies have made it through the first day of the inaugural Australian Women’s World Series in Sydney, undefeated from their Pool matches.
Australia revelled in the return of Vani Pelite and Ellia Green for their pace and their try scoring abilities, with five tries between them.
The Aussies blew out the cobwebs against Brazil with some strong tackling, although they did not press hard on the scoreboard until the second half, defeating the South Americans 24-7.
Green joined team-mate Emilee Cherry in registering a treble for the day although the try scoring plaudits have gone to Ireland’s Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe and Russia’s Alena Mikhaltsova – both of whom ran over five tries.Australia 🇦🇺 finish the day unbeaten at the #Sydney7s 🏉
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) February 3, 2017
Hear the thoughts of try scorer @GeezyGreen after their win over Fiji: pic.twitter.com/YNQYaLDuE4
Your top try scorers from the women's #Sydney7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) February 3, 2017
Action kicks off tomorrow at 10am (GMT+11) pic.twitter.com/6H4Vgc1eaL
Aussie Sevens Co-Captain Shannon Parry was pleased, but knew the hard work was still ahead of them.
“We won three from three and topped our pool so we’re looking forward to our Quarter Final clash tomorrow.
Parry also underlined the importance of performing well in front of family and friends.
“Every time we play in front of family and friends, it’s special. We had a good turn out today, there were obviously some nerves there, but I think the girls handled it well,” she said.
Australia overcame Ireland 29-0, although their biggest test of the day came against Fiji, with the locals trailing at twice to come from behind with 26-17 win.
“Fiji is a funny opposition, they play very similar to the Men’s in that they’re so hard to defend with their offload game so you have to make your tackles and you can’t give them that offload channel,” - Shannon Parry
“They’re a team that are big and physical and we were probably a step off the pace in that game so we are happy we came away with the win in the end.
“We have to work harder in defense and harder in attack in re-loading and getting that front foot ball - when we do get those turnovers we need to get it in the space and get it to the speed.”
New Zealand and Russia also finished the day three from three giving both teams confidence ahead of Saturday’s quarter finals.
For others it was a tough one. England especially, as it lost two of its three Pool games – a feat it has never before achieved in the history World Series.
That's the first time @englandrugby have lost two games in the Pool stages of an #HSBC7s women's competition #Sydney7s pic.twitter.com/gleQASsfMn
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) February 3, 2017
New Zealand had the pace to outrun Canada in the final match of the day to decide which team finished top of Pool A, ultimately doing it with ease cursing to a 31-10 victory.
Ireland would be very pleased with its performance from the day being assured of a quarter final place following Australia’s defeat against Fiji.
Spain, Brazil and PNG failed to get a win although PNG stood tall in defeat scoring in every game against some tough opposition – the best performance of which was getting two tries past France in their final pool game of the day.
There is much to like about the Cup quarter finals on Day Two – the most obvious being a rematch between hometown heroes Australia and their toughest opponents from Day One in Fiji.
Canada will have a mighty battle against Russia which scored 53 points in attack in its three Pool victories.
RESULTS
HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series, Sydney, Day One.
Australia 24-7 Brazil
Australia 29 -0 Ireland
Australia 26-17 Fiji
FIXTURES
Day Two
Australia v Fiji – 10.44am AEDT
