AUSSIE MEN ARE WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES CHAMPIONS

Aug 29 • Australia, General News, International, National, Sevens Rugby, Sevens World Series • 2345 Views • Comments Off on AUSSIE MEN ARE WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES CHAMPIONS

The Australian Men’s Sevens team has won the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the final round of the championship in Los Angeles, with a Bronze Medal proving enough to take the crown.

It is the first time the Australian Men’s team has ever won the World Rugby Sevens Series since its inception in 1999.

Australia is now the World Rugby Sevens Series Champions in both the Men’s and Women’s game after the Women’s team claimed their title in Canada in early May.

After defeat to the Flying Fijians in the Semi-Final, the Australians knew that they must beat Samoa in the Bronze Medal match to win the title.

The Samoans would start perfectly, scoring first after just three minutes – however, Australia went on to score the next three tries, with Corey Toole, Henry Paterson and Dietrich Roache all crossing.

Captain Nick Malouf fittingly claimed a crucial turnover with a minute remaining to secure the 21-7 victory.

“This reward is a reflection of the consistency that the boys have shown,” said coach John Manenti.

“All the boys – not just these boys, a lot of others contributed, and it’s been a pretty amazing run.

“It’s very special [to win the Men’s and Women’s titles] – obviously Chucky and I were involved with both programs, so it’s certainly nice to have the double.”

The Men’s championship push was set up with victory in the penultimate round of the World Series in London, clinched in dramatic fashion with a Golden Point victory over New Zealand in the Final.

The Aussies went into the season finale two points behind South Africa, however the Blitzboks failed to make it out of their pool – Australia, meanwhile, went through their pool undefeated.

A first-up clash with Japan saw the Australians come out on top 61-0, with Josh Turner and Matthew Rodriguez both scoring a double in the nine-try romp.

Fellow title-contenders Argentina were next, and the Aussie Men had to do it the hard way, coming back from a 5-14 halftime deficit – Maurice Longbottom scoring with one minute remaining to seal a crucial comeback victory.

Australia’s final pool match was against Spain to complete the action on the first day, and the Aussies would dominate again, scoring eight tries in a 54-0 win – Corey Toole, Dietrich Roache and Nathan Lawson all scoring two tries.

A Quarter Final match-up with Kenya opened the final day of the World Rugby Sevens Series, and it was another impressive performance from the Aussie Men, with Henry Paterson this time scoring two out of his team’s six tries on the way to a 40-14 victory.

Another title-contender, Fiji put a dent in Australia’s title hopes in the Semi-Final winning 29-10. Australia conceded tries from intercepts at the kick-offs to both halves, with the pressure of the Flying Fijians proving too strong in the end.

The Australians regrouped for the Bronze Medal match, producing an assured performance to claim a medal for the tournament, and their first ever Men’s World Rugby Sevens Series title.