As the HSBC Sevens World Series looks ahead to its second and third rounds in Dubai and Cape Town, it's worth taking a look at a team that, despite winning, and winning a lot, seems to get overlooked ... Australia.
The Aussies were all party in Los Angeles in August, watching South Africa run into a couple of brick walls and then taking 3rd to clinch a World Series title that few thought they'd get. And yet while all the talk is about New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji ... even Samoa ... Australia is playing some exciting, attractive, and winning Rugby 7s.
They showcased all of that in Hong Kong, winning at the storied venue for the first time in the modern World Series era. How the Aussies did it is, predictably different.
(Always looking for an angle. Mike Lee KLC fotos for World Rugby.)
It's Not What They Don't Have
Australia doesn't have out-and-out speed, and while their shifty guys are shifty, they aren't the shiftiest. What they have is grit and desire, and something that approximates speed—acceleration. Central to that is James Turner, who goes from zero to 100% in about two steps and if there's something in his way he doesn't really worry about it. Australia fans can forget that he was born across the Tasman in New Zealand, and everyone can forget that he's nowhere near the biggest man on the field, because he doesn't remember, either.
LA Sevens is February 25-26 and Tickets will be on sale soon!
There are big men on the Wallabies, though. Henry Paterson and Nathan Lawson are long-striding giants who thunder in a way that few 7s teams can replicate. It's OK, though, because their work rate is supremely high, and Coach John Manenti knows how to rotate his big guys and keep them fresh.
Add to that the unbreakable Nick Malouf as captain, the scrappy, alert halfback Maurice Longbottom, and the unstoppable Dietrich Roach who literally got an award for how hard he works, and what you've got is a team that never, ever gives up.
Smart Thinking
They don't give up on tackles, and they showed that against Ireland in the Hong Kong 7s Quarterfinals, France in the Semifinals, and Fiji in the Final. Down two yellow cards against France they could have packed it in and let a try in. No thanks, mate, that's not their way.
(Malouf goes in to score 7s. Mike Lee KLC fotos for World Rugby.)
But they do have a little trick up their sleeves. Think about where the penalties occur—the rucks, right? Well Australia handles penalties in the ruck in a relatively unique way, and it harkens to the country's history with Rugby League. In Rugby League, when you're tackled, the defense retreats and you get back up to roll the ball back with your foot for a teammate to take and run or (more usually) pass. That's what the Australians do with penalties. The ball is usually on the ground when a penalty is called in the ruck, and the nearest player just rolls the ball back with his foot, picks it up, and goes.
It's perfect legal; it's a kick through the mark, and it's the quickest of quick taps. No one else really does this.
