PACIFIC GAMES: On a wet and windy night in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the Australian rugby sevens women's Team has claimed the silver medal at the Pacific Games.
The Team headed into the gold medal match against Fiji as favourites, after they claimed six wins from six round matches, including a 26-7 win over Fiji.
However in tough conditions the Australians were unable to beat the powerful Fijian team who lifted their intensity to take the close encounter 12-10.
Head Coach Tim Walsh was disappointed with the loss, however there were many positives to take from the Pacific Games experience.
“It was a game there to be won, we can make all the excuses in the world and say we had eight players on debut but reality is that we should have walked off the field winners,” he said.
“We’re disappointed but taking the positives from it, the girls coming here getting international exposure in a game environment. They’re going to learn a lot from it.”
Walsh said the Team's execution in attack let them down.
“In attack we turned the ball over, they were very quick to get in there and pilfer,” he said.
“Defensively I thought we were outstanding.. getting in their passing channels and really really desperate to stop them.”
Making her international debut, Tanisha Stanton said the wet conditions should have suited the Team.
“In hindsight really it should have been in our benefit. We don’t play that much of an offloading game as Fiji do, so it should have been better for us” she said.
Stanton said it was fantastic to play against Fiji, who are part of the rugby sevens World Series.
“It’s been an absolutely great experience and great opportunity for me as a new player trying to crack that top team to get some experience on the field, especially against Fiji. I need to be competing against teams like that.
“I enjoyed my experience here. It’s not the result we were looking for as a team but I’m so proud of the girls they all stepped up. It was just an honour and a privilege to play.”
From the eight debutants in the Team at the Pacific Games, Walsh expects some players to join the Australian Team in the World Series competition next year.
“Out of here there’s got to be a couple of players who will step up in the World Series and then you never know a couple for 2016 (Rio Olympics),” he said.
“They’re very inexperienced and some are very young so looking forward again to 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2020 Olympics.”
Annie Kearney
olympics.com.au
