Fierce Rivalry Fuels Aussie Women’s Rugby Sevens Squad’s Madrid Quest
(BBC Rugby Union, May 2023) As the women’s HSBC SVNS Series heads to its decisive Madrid Grand Final, the longstanding rivalry between rugby sevens powerhouses Australia and New Zealand is once again set to take center stage.
The two nations have dominated the SVNS circuit in recent years, with the Black Ferns Sevens emerging victorious seven times and the Australians claiming three overall titles. This historic trans-Tasman tussle has consistently produced some of the most thrilling rugby union gameplay on the global stage.
Ahead of this weekend’s winner-take-all tournament in the Spanish capital, Aussie captain Charlotte Caslick made no secret of her squad’s desire to “cross with New Zealand in the final” and extract a measure of revenge after their defeat in the Singapore final earlier this month.
Australia’s Teagan Levi, who bagged a brace in her side’s commanding 33-14 triumph over Ireland on Friday, underscored the importance of this SVNS Madrid showpiece as a vital precursor to the Paris Olympics.
“We want to go out there and win all the games but we definitely want to win this one and get a roll on leading into the Olympics,” said the in-form winger.
Despite the absence of key personnel like Caslick and the season-ending injury to vice-captain Madison Ashby, Tim Walsh’s resilient Australian outfit has showcased the depth of their rugby union talent. Emerging stars like Faith Nathan, Tia Hinds, and Isabella Nasser have all made significant contributions, while the Levi sisters have been in scintillating form.
With the Grand Final tussle between the trans-Tasman rivals looming large, rugby union enthusiasts worldwide will be eager to tune in to the live and free RugbyPass TV coverage to witness the latest instalment of this storied sporting rivalry.
đź”— Source
