(Reuters) – Australia’s ladies sealed their third rugby sevens World Series title in Langford, Canada on Sunday, capping the occasion with a last-gasp 21-17 win over returning powerhouse New Zealand.
With New Zealand’s “Black Ferns” lacking the 4 earlier occasions because of COVID-19 considerations, Australia claimed their fourth gold medal of the collection at Langford to wrap up the championship forward of the Toulouse finale later this month.
Australia went into the Langford closing in opposition to the Black Ferns with the Series received however have been decided to log out with a win over the Olympic champions, stated coach Tim Walsh.
“It has been so good to have NZ again on the circuit,” he stated.
“We each love the aggressive encounters and the challenges we impose on one another.
“To win the World Series is a outstanding and memorable expertise for all concerned, and to do it with an distinctive win exhibiting resilience and character multiplies the feelings.”
Playing their first World Series occasion in over two years, the Cory Sweeney-coached Black Ferns got here inside seconds of successful the gold medal in Canada however misplaced captain Sarah Hirini with a minute left when crew mate Portia Woodman put an inadvertent elbow into the skipper’s face.
Hirini got here off with blood streaming and New Zealand conceded a string of breakdown penalties, paving the way in which for Australia’s Lily Dick to attain the match-winning strive.
“I felt so dangerous doing that to Sarah, stated Woodman of the elbow.
“I feel she stated, ‘Because it was you it wasn’t so dangerous’, however I felt terrible.”
All 9 World Series have been received by both Australia or six-times champions New Zealand.
The rivalry will proceed on the July-August Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
