Round 1 HSBC SVNS Series, Dubai

[Burgs]

Every round of the HSBC SVNS series will be shown exclusive, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.

Starts 1300WST Tomorrow

Aus Women play Brazil 1322, Japan 1621 & Ireland 2051
Some genuine super stars of Women's 7's playing for Australia, do yourself a favour and watch!

Aus Men play Ireland 1428, Argentina 1836 & Spain 2306
With Dubai and Cape Town to be played before arriving in Perth in January, there will be a few players wanting to make their stake for Paris "Pre-Hooper".
While not as celebrated as the Women in Australia, some very good talent on display.

Australian teams named for first round of HSBC SVNS world series

Wed, Nov 29, 2023, 10:54 AM
by Rugby Australia

Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens squads have announced their teams for the first round of the global HSBC SVNS series this weekend in Dubai.

Australia’s Women’s team retains a strong and experienced 13-player squad, with exciting young Queenslander Kaitlin Shave named to make her long-awaited and well-deserved debut for the national team.

The side includes 11 players that delivered the squad’s unprecedented three trophies in 2022 (Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup and World Series).

Recently re-signed to Australia Sevens until 2026, superstar sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi will play a critical role in the side’s bid to win the Dubai title, while captain Charlotte Caslick and her Olympic gold medal-winning team-mate Sharni Smale (nee Williams) add their considerable influence to a side filled with star power.

John Manenti’s Men’s squad is notable for the return of Ben Dowling following a season with the NSW Waratahs, while development squad members Henry Palmer and Ben Dalton have been named. Last season’s rookies Dally Bird and Hayden Sargeant have maintained their places.

Nick Malouf returns as captain, with a host of experienced campaigners such as Maurice Longbottom, Dietrich Roache, James and Josh Turner rounding out the side.

Youngsters Tim Clements and Nathan Lawson will aim to build on their experience, and Matt Gonzalez will be hoping the injury problems of last season are well behind him.

Australia Women’s Sevens Head Coach, Tim Walsh: “The program has spent the best part of preseason training and playing around the world. The objective being to play more rugby, increase player and team rugby IQ, resilience, positional depth and team combinations.

“Tom Carter has challenged and physically extended the team to an elite level, whilst consistently having 85% of the squad at full training capacity. We also have the full squad available for selection and welcome Kaitlin Shave who will make her long-awaited debut with the Australian team.

“We are very fortunate to have experienced players in Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Smale leading the team during such an intense Olympic season – both have navigated the challenges of such seasons, and they know what to expect.

“Sevens continues to go from strength to strength and, in an Olympic year, the launch of the invigorated new format will only enhance the entertainment spectacle and world class product the HSBC World Sevens Series delivers.”

Australia Men’s Sevens Head Coach, John Manenti: “Finally we have arrived at the start line for a huge season. There has plenty of work done to put us in a strong position to perform.

“Consistency is what we are searching for throughout the season and our depth is starting to build nicely to put us in a position to do that.

“We know if we play with the physicality, skill & detail that we’ve put in during the preseason, we’ll be in good shape to get a result in Dubai.”

Australia Women’s Sevens team for Dubai SVNS:

2. Sharni Smale (nee Williams)

3. Faith Nathan

4. Dominique Du Toit

5. Teagan Levi

6. Madison Ashby

7. Charlotte Caslick (C)

8. Kaitlin Shave*

10. Bella Nasser

11. Demi Hayes

12. Maddison Levi

22. Bienne Terita

55. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea

65. Sariah Paki

*Denotes potential debut

Australia Men’s Sevens team for Dubai SVNS:

2. Ben Dowling

3. Henry Palmer*

4. Dietrich Roache

5. Tim Clements

7. Josh Turner

8. Dally Bird

9. Matt Gonzalez

10. Nick Malouf (C)

11. Maurice Longbottom

12. Nathan Lawson

13. Ben Dalton*

14. James Turner

25. Hayden Sargeant

*Denotes potential debut

[todd4]

Just watched replay of womens final. Great game. Aus 26 NZ 19

These 2 teams will probaly play for the gold medal at next years Olympics.

[Burgs]

Teagan, Terita time as Australia ends 41-game Kiwi winning streak with Dubai title
Sun, Dec 3, 2023, 11:37 PM
Nathan Williamson, RA

A game-turning shift from Teagan Levi has delivered Australia their fourth straight Dubai title with a 26-19 win over New Zealand in the final.

It extends Australia's winning streak in Dubai to 22 games as they start their 2023-24 Series on the perfect note, ending the Black Ferns' 41-game winning streak.

The final turned into a showcase of the future of the Sevens circuit as 20-year-olds Levi and Bienne Terita shone for the Aussies, doing enough to defeat the defending champions powered by a brilliant solo effort from 19-year-old Kiwi sensation Jorja Miller.

Terita, who started in place of Alysia Lefau-Fakaoisilea after her red card in the semi-final, calmed the nerves early with a great break in the first 15 seconds to score the opener.

Miller then took over the contest with no Sarah Hirini (knee) and Tyla Nathan-Wong (rest), scoring twice in the space of three minutes, including finishing off a perfect offload from Michaela Blyde to give New Zealand the lead.

As the Kiwis marched down the field with all the momentum before the break, Player of the Match Levi changed the game.

The 'pitbull' as coined by coach Tim Walsh muscled her way through the ruck to force the mistake from Miller, before beating two defenders and running 80 metres for the 14-12 lead at the break.

Levi and Terita combined after the break to extend the lead, only for Miller's third to level the scores with four minutes to go.

With the game on the line, leaders Demi Hayes and Charlotte Caslick set up the winner, combining to put flyer Maddison Levi in a one-on-one situation, where she proved too strong.

Her 11th of the weekend broke her own record from last year and proved the winner as Hayes and Madison Ashby combined to force the mistake that ultimately sealed the win.

“It’s amazing,” captain Charlotte Caslick said. “It was disappointing losing ‘Lys’ (Lefau-Fakaoisilea) for the Final because she’s so important to our team but it shows the depth we’ve been creating and ‘BB’ (Bienne Terita) stepped up and had a blinder.

“…We wanted to hold the ball as much as possible because we know when they touch it they are dangerous so that was key alongside the restarts.

“(Teagan Levi) is unbelievable. She’s had an amazing pre-season and we’re all getting to see the hard work she’s done this year.”

Women
Round 1- AUS 39 d BRA 0
Round 2- AUS 66 d JPN 0
Round 3- AUS 33 d IRE 5 (Ireland try in the last minute! Nearly a full Rounds lockout)
QF- AUS 32 d USA 5
SF- AUS 21 d FRA 14
Final- AUS 26 d NZL 19

Men
Round 1- IRE 19 d AUS 12
Round 2- ARG 31 d AUS 14
Round 3- AUS 25 d ESP7
QF- RSA 24 d AUS 7
7th Playoff- AUS 26 d USA 12

[Burgs]

This Women's Squad is seriously the goods and deserve to be widely celebrated.
During the commentary the bonus news came that several of these stars will be available for selection in the XV's post Olympics.
I would assume that to include-

Faith Nathan
Dominique Du Toit
Teagan Levi
Charlotte Caslick
Demi Hayes
Maddison Levi
Bienne Terita
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea

Sharni Smale (nee Williams) is looking fitter than ever and warrants consideration, but may be overlooked on age.
She may also consider retirement if a second Gold in Paris.