Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

Rugby Sevens International - Rugby Union

Australia Wins Womens Rugby World Cup Sevens

March 8th 2009 07:58

Australia has been crowned in Dubai as the first ever winners of the women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens title.

The Australians triumphed 15-10 over New Zealand in sudden death extra time with Shelly Matcham scoring the decisive try after both sides ended regulation time locked at 10-10.

“This is unbelievable,” said Australian captain Cheryl Soon before lifting the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens trophy.

“Words can’t describe this moment.

“We made it happen, we believed in ourselves, we did make history.

“I’m just so happy, so excited. I’m elated.”

Australia made a strong start to the final with 20-year-old Nicole Beck, one of several recruits from touch football, crossing in the second minute.

Debby Hodgkinson powered across four minutes later to put the Australians ahead 10-0.

The loss of Rebecca Tavo to the sin bin left the Australians one short for two minutes and, in her absence, New Zealand capitalized.

They scored moments before half time through Justine Lavea and again 17 seconds after the resumption when flyer Carla Hohepa swooped on a kickoff mishandled by the Australians.

There was no further scoring in regulation time, leaving Matcham to collect the Golden Point try that delivered the greatest moment in the history of Australian Women’s Rugby.

WOMEN’S CUP COMPETITION

Quarter finals

AUSTRALIA 17 (Tobie McGann, Nicole Beck, Rebecca Tavo tries; Tobie McGann conversion) def England 10

USA 19 France 0

New Zealand 33 Canada 12

South Africa 15 Spain 7

Semi finals

AUSTRALIA 19 (Rebecca Tavo, Bo de la Cruz, Tricia Brown tries; Tobie McGann, Tricia Brown conversions) def South Africa 10

New Zealand 14 USA 12

Final

AUSTRALIA 15 (Nicole Beck, Debby Hodgkinson, Shelly Matcham tries) def New Zealand 10.

233

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Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Rugby Sevens, International

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Australia Defeat South Africa In Womens Sevens

March 8th 2009 01:47

Australia has advanced to the final of the first ever Rugby World Cup Sevens for women with a 19-10 victory over South Africa in a semi final in Dubai this morning.

The Australians scored twice in the final two minutes, through Bo de la Cruz and Tricia Brown, to overhaul a South African side that snatched the lead early in the second half.

Australia will now play New Zealand in the decider after the Kiwis downed USA 14-12 in the first semi final.

Rebecca Tavo opened the scoring for the Australians with a try after two minutes, converted by Tobie McGann.

South Africa replied through Saloma Booysen to reduce the deficit to two points at halftime.

A try to flyer Phumeza Gadu two minutes after the interval sent the South Africans ahead 10-7.

However, a clever offload from Shelly Matcham to put de la Cruz across and another final pass from Matcham for the match-sealing try to Brown saw the second seeded Australians close out the victory.

Earlier in the day Australia defeated top seeds England 17-10 in the quarter finals.

The final will kick off at 3amSydney time.

SEMI FINAL

AUSTRALIA 19 (Rebecca Tavo, Bo de la Cruz, Tricia Brown tries; Tobie McGann, Tricia Brown conversions) def SOUTH AFRICA 10.

QUARTER FINAL

AUSTRALIA 17 (Tobie McGann, Nicole Beck, Rebecca Tavo tries; Tobie McGann conversion

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Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Rugby Sevens, International

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Samoa Defeat Australia In Rugby World Cup Sevens

March 7th 2009 07:34

Australia has suffered a disappointing 19-0 loss to Samoa in their final pool match at the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in Dubai.

“Samoa defended well, they are extremely experienced and our young blokes couldn’t match the physicality more than anything,” Michael O’Connor, the Australian Sevens Coach said.

Even though Australia was out muscled by Samoa they still had plenty of possession throughout the game but was unable to capitalise on the opportunities they had to convert.

Despite finishing second in their pool, this loss puts Australia out of the race for the prestigious World Cup crown.

“We don’t have the points for and against to make the top eight so we will now play in the second half of the 24-team draw and play the likes of France, USA and Canada,” O’Connor said.

Australia will next play the USA in the Quarter Final of the Plate competition later today at 12.20pm local time (7.20pm Sydney time).

Samoa 19 (Uale Mai, Ofisa Treviranus, Morgan Salesa tries; Lolo Lui, Morgan Salesa conversions) defeated Australia 0.

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Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Rugby Sevens, International

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Ireland Defeat Australia In World Cup Sevens

March 7th 2009 04:49

The Australian Men’s team has lost the second of its three Pool D matches at the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, going down 24-21 to Ireland after conceding a try inside the final minute.

Australia opened its campaign yesterday with a 24-12 victory over Portugal.

However, the loss to Ireland leaves the Australians needing to win their final preliminary match early tomorrow morning (Sydney time) to have a chance of staying in the race for the World Cup title.

The Australians made a nightmare start, conceding two tries in the opening two minutes.

After turning over the kickoff, Australia fell behind when Felix Jones crossed for Ireland’s first try at the 22 second mark.

Paul Marshall scored the second for Ireland to give them a 12-0 advantage and when Brian Carney also joined the try scorer’s list on three minutes, Australia was trailing 17-0.

Henry Vanderglas scored a late first half try and Richard Kingi’s conversion reduced the halftime deficit to 17-7.

After the break the Australians were dominant with Luke Morahan and Damon Murphy scoring tries and Kingi converting both to put the Australians ahead 21-17 with four minutes remaining.

The Australians negotiated three of those minutes with solid defence but with less than 60 seconds remaining Gary Brown scored for Ireland and the Tom Gleeson conversion gave his side a three point margin they held to the finish.

IRELAND 24 (Felix Jones, Paul Marshall, Brian Carney, Gary Brown tries; Tom Gleeson 2 conversions) def AUSTRALIA 21 (Henry Vanderglas, Luke Morahan, Damon Murphy tries; Richard Kingi 3 conversions).

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Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Rugby Sevens, International

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Australia Defeat Portugal In Rugby World Cup Sevens

March 6th 2009 07:21

The Australian Men’s Sevens team has had a solid start to their Rugby World Cup Sevens campaign by downing Portugal 24-12 in their first Pool match in Dubai.

“We feel relieved more than anything,” the Australian Sevens Coach Michael O’Connor said.

“Portugal is a good side; the last time we played them under 12 months ago they beat us quite comfortably in London. They have done very well in recent tournaments and it was never going to be an easy game for us,” O’Connor added.

In the first half Australia gave away a lot of penalties therefore they didn’t have many possessions and had to do a lot of tackling.

“The players showed a lot of commitment and courage in defence. They really didn’t have much form in the first half,” O’Connor, a former Wallaby said.

Richard Kingi put the first points on the board for Australia by scoring a try and a conversion before half time.

At the break the score was 7-0 to Australia.

The Australian Women’s Sevens team, who start their inaugural World Cup campaign later today (6pm Sydney time), were at the Aussie men’s match to support them.

In the second half, Australia extended their lead by scoring three tries and a conversion. Portugal dug deep and put a few points on the board but this was not enough to overcome Australia, who won 24-12.

The Aussie side backs up at 2.40pm on 6 March [9.40pm AEST] against Ireland, and 6.44pm [1.44am, 7 Mar, AEST] later that evening for the final match of the pool against Samoa.

“We just watched Ireland play Samoa. Samoa won 35-5. Ireland is not on the IRB Sevens World Series full-time but they have some big and very quick players,” O’Connor said.

“Our big game is tomorrow night against Samoa.

Over the next two days 50,000 spectators are expected to come and watch the Sevens World Cup action in Dubai.

Australia 24 (Richard Kingi, Henry Vanderglas, Damon Murphy and Brian Sefanaia tries; Richard Kingi con, William Bishop con) defeated Portugal 12.

ARU

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Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Rugby Sevens, International

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Rugby World Cup Sevens Assists Bid For Olympic Inclusion

March 5th 2009 12:56

International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset believes the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, starting tonight, could have a significant impact on the game’s bid for re-inclusion to the Olympic Games.

According to Lapasset, who is also RugbyWorldCup chairman, the success of the Sevens in Dubai looms as an important platform for the code as it seeks re-entry to the Olympic movement after contesting five Games between 1900 and 1924.

He also acknowledges the importance of the women’s tournament being staged for the first time at a Rugby World Cup Sevens.

“It is very important,” he said. “Rugby is not just for the men, it is also for the women at the high level of performance.

“We have received good support from the new Unions that we have in women's Sevens . . . here we have Uganda, Brazil, China and Thailand. That is very important in terms of Rugby developing around the world.

“What is very important about major Rugby, in the women’s game in particular, is its universality and that is a very good image. We hope that will be a positive for the Olympic campaign.”

Lapasset, however, would not be drawn on Rugby’s prospects of winning inclusion for the 2016 Olympics, with the IOC to make a decision on any new sports later this year.

“That is very difficult because all the top sports are doing very well for this Olympic campaign,” he said.

“But . . . what is Rugby? Rugby is modern sport. It is very good for the young fan. It is very fast, quick, sharp, short, dynamic.

“That is very important in terms of the value we can bring to the Olympics.”