Australia win Oceania 7s

Soon to be familiar faces - Australia's next generation wins the Oceania 7s

Australia’s rising stars claimed their regional title, beating arch rivals New Zealand in the final.

Neither side were playing their superstars but a few of Australia’s youngsters showed enough physicality to suggest that several will soon be playing in the World Series.

They drew first blood through Mosby and when McGregor strolled over the line with 30 seconds to play in the first term a 14-0 lead had opened up.

A rock solid defensive line and similarly improved work at the breakdown forced the Ferns into uncharacteristic handling errors and from those, Australia capitalised.

New Zealand did their fair share of capitalising as well - scoring a pair of tries either side of half time to set up the grandstand finish all the neutral Fijians fans were hoping for.

But through some awful refereeing the Australian defence held firm and forced another mistake, booting the ball into touch to record a breakthrough win.

The two teams may have been composed of rising stars, but they were far too strong for the rest of the teams in the tournament. Both reached the final without conceding a point – even to fellow World Series team Fiji, who fell 27-0 to New Zealand in the pool phase and 29-0 to Australia in the semi-finals.

Fiji still recovered to take third with a strong 33-5 win over Papua New Guinea to cheer the home crowd in Suva.

The other headline from the tournament was the international debut of Nauru who predictably struggled on Day One, but in the plate competition they made Cook Islands work hard for their 19-0 win in the semis, and in the 7thplace playoff scored their first international try in a 21-7 loss to New Caledonia.

Results

Pool AAustralia 31-0 Papua New Guinea; Australia 45-0 Samoa; Australia 58-0 Nauru; Papua New Guinea 19-17 Samoa; Papua New Guinea 36-0 Nauru; Samoa 55-0 Nauru

Pool BCook Islands 37-7 New Caledonia; Fiji 21-7 Cook Islands; Fiji 46-5 New Caledonia; New Zealand 27-0 Fiji; New Zealand 31-0 Cook Islands; New Zealand 45-0 New Caledonia

Plate Semi FinalSamoa 45-5 New Caledonia; Cook Islands 19-0 Nauru

Semi-FinalAustralia 29-0 Fiji; New Zealand 31-0 Papua New Guinea

7th Place MatchNauru 7-21 New Caledonia

5th Place MatchCook Islands 5-10 Samoa

3rd Place MatchPapua New Guinea 5-33 Fiji

FinalAustralia 14-10 New Zealand

Squads

Australia:1. Lily Dick, Griffith University; 2. Rhiannon Byers, University of New England;3. Kennedy Cherrington, Macquarie University;4. Sariah Paki, Macquarie University;5. Cassie Staples, University of New England;6. Page McGregor, Macquarie University;7. Jakiya Whitfeld, University of Sydney;8. Laura Waldie, Griffith University;9. Madison Higgins-Ashby, Macquarie University; 10. Hagiga Mosby, University of Queensland;11. Eva Karpani, University of Adelaide;12. Mahalia Murphy, University of Adelaide;

Cook Is:Vaine Greig (Captain); Larissa Richardson (Vice Captain); Margarette Nena; Maggie Leota; Saphire Abraham; Elizabeth Pera; Chrystal Leota; Lydia Quedley-Turua; Apii Nicholls; Amina Koiatu; Taria Arere; Wairakau Greig

Fiji:Litia Naiqato; Vasiti Solikoviti; Asinate Savu; Ema Adi Vataloga; Naina Baleca; Sereana Nagatalevu; Mereula Toroti; Merewalesi Rokovono; Litiana Lawedrau; Luisa Tisolo; Ana Maria Naimasi; Roela Radiniyavuni

Nauru:Debao Ashleigh Tanna; Jeremiah Dearly; Akua Eidadu Andellina; Sigrid Jeremiah; Cain Julinda; Detenamo Lovelite Krissa; Denuga Mesha'h; Jones Rosa Mystique; Ika Shania; Akua Thrixeena; Reweru Vicky-Rose; Cain Zena Eseta; Mau Zia Kazia

New Caledonia:Felicite Case; Emmanuelle Wadrenges; Drone Wesiene; Nonalee Saliua; Eva Barny; Lindsey Moto; Lysiane Moto; Katouchka Pagatele; Cassandra Sope

New Zealand:Shakira Baker (Waikato); Kendall Buckingham (Southland); Huia Harding (Waikato); Talei Kidd (Auckland); Rina Paraone (Waikato); Mahina Paul (Bay of Plenty); Chey Reti (Waikato); Leanna Ryan (Waikato); Kennedy Simon (Waikato); Susana Sotutu (Auckland); Grace Steinmetz (Canterbury); Terina Te Tamaki (Waikato); Janna Vaughan (Manawatu)

Papua New Guinea:From: Geua Larry, Marie Biyama, Taiva Lavai, Cassandra Sampson, Joanne Lagona, Chelsea Garesa, Michaelyne Arumbi, Kymlie Rapilla, Fatima Rama, Gwen Pokana, Yolanda Gittins, Marlugu Dixon, Gemma Schnaubelt, Anika Butler, Melanie Kawa, Coach: Paul Tietjens, Team Manager: Ann Mooney, Physio: Hendriella Vilosi.

Samoa:Tiana Tooa Jones; Filigaotaua Matia Leifi; Lomi Peniamina; Faalua Lefulefu Ioe; Saelua Vanessa Leaula; Suititi Miczel Ailaoa; Soteria Pulumu; Ogeata Moeai; Precious-Helina Paulo Fuiono; Victoria Tausiva Lauina; Elisapeta Leti; Perise Tumutumu