Australia lift Oceania title

It was a fitting end to an intriguing day of rugby that saw the World Champions, New Zealand, bundled out at the semi-final stage by a rampant Fijiana outfit determined to build on their strong finish at Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow earlier this year.

New Zealand, featuring just five players involved in that World Cup winning squad and some fresh faced teenagers, rallied to beat Samoa to finish third.

Ella Green was the hero for Australia in the final – scoring all of her team’s four tries.

It was a far more nervous Fiji team in the final – compared to that which so skilfully brought about the end of New Zealand in the semi-final – and Australia capitalised with two first half tries to take a 10-0 half time lead.

The big game experience of Australia shone through in the first half as they simply starved Fiji of possession and cut space to reduce Fiji’s attacking opportunities. A third try at the beginning of the second half gave Australia what appeared to be a match winning 15-0 lead – however Fiji responded with two quick tries to close the gap to 15-10 and the crowd were on their feet for the final 3 minutes. But Ella Green, who had a commanding tournament – finishing as both the leading try scorer and leading point scorer - crossed in the dying minutes to put the match beyond doubt.

“That’s a great launching pad for the IRB Sevens World Series” said Australia’s coach Tim Walsh after the win. “I was particularly pleased with the squad as a whole over the past two days – the girls who came off the bench had an impact which was pleasing”.

Contemplating the selection dilemma that lies ahead for the new coach as he prepares for the Sevens World Series, Walsh appeared happy with the predicament. “We brought a young developmental team here to Noosa – and when you win a tournament like this girls put their hand up for selection for the big tournaments. We’ll take another young team to the Asia-Pacific Sevens in China and then get ready for the opening tournament of the World Series”.

Walsh, like his New Zealand counterpart Sean Horan, was impressed with the improvement of the Pacific Island teams – and Fiji in particular - at this tournament. “The improvement of Fiji from last year’s Oceania Champs is incredible” said Walsh. “They’re playing much more like we expect Fiji teams to play – they’re fit and their big and they are better skilled. It’s great for Oceania and it makes our region so much more interesting – it’s great for the Women’s game” he added.

Fijiana coach Timoci Wainiqolo was happy with the statement his team made at the 2013 Oceania Championship and is looking ahead to Fiji’s first appearance at a Women’s Sevens World Series tournament in Dubai later this year. “Dubai will be tough – not only with the Oceania teams but all the best teams from around the world -but we will also be tough. We need more tournaments against teams like this so the girls build their belief, because as we showed this weekend, they can match it with the best”.

In the final itself, Wainiqolu lamented the slow start of his young team. “That was a slow start for us – not a proper start – and we lacked energy at the beginning of the match”.

In the first semi Final Australia were always in control against a physical but fatigued Manu Sina outfit. Emilee Cheery scored two of the Aussie’s 6 tries as they ran out comfortable 30-0 winners after a 15-0 half time lead.

Not so comfortable was the second semi-final between New Zealand and Fiji – with the Pacific Islanders recording a famous 17-10 win over the World Champions to book a place in the final against Australia . Both teams played-out an entertaining match in the final game of Day 1 – a match won by New Zealand. 26-12 – and the semi-final lived up to all expectations. It was a classic game of Sevens rugby. Two first half tries gave the Pacific Islanders a 12-0 half time lead but an early second half try to Shiray Tane brought the kiwis right back into the match. The resolve of the Fijians was impressive though and a try to Litia Naiqato extended Fiji’s lead to 17-5 with 3 minutes remaining. In a thrilling final stanza, Fiji held out and despite a late try to New Zealand Captain Sarah Goss, Fiji booked a place in their first Oceania Sevens Final.

“The girls played with their heart and for their country” said Fiji’s coach Timoci Wainiqolo after the semi final. “I told the girls last night after the pool rounds that they are the same as New Zealand and Australia – believe in your heart and do it for your country and you can beat them – and that’s what they did”.

New Zealand finished the tournament on a high with a 47-5 win over Samoa to finish in third place. Michaela Blyde crossed for an incredible 5 tries in the playoff.

Thanks to www.oceaniarugby.com for updates and reports