Pic: @Aussie7s twitter
Day 2 kicks off in Langford, Canada with the AUS v RUS Cup 1/4 final match.
Pic: @NeilMDavidson twitter
Starting VII vs Russia in the Cup Q-F: Parry, Turner, Williams, Caslick, Green, Quirk, Tonegato.
The first of the quarter-final clashes sees Australia, imperious and dominant on day one with three victories, scoring 17 tries in the process, taking on Russia, who despite two tight losses from their three Pool games yesterday, will be desperate for victory in order to keep their hopes of a top four finish and Olympic qualification alive.
Australia start right where they left off yesterday in the Canadian sunshine. After excellent pressure turns over Russia's lineout, the ball is spread wide and Ellia Green can't be stopped and she sprints down the sideline to record her eighth try of the weekend so far. What a start for the women in gold.
AUS 5 RUS 0
Half way through the half and Russia are ahead! After good possession play, interspersed with some brutal tackles, Mariia Titova slips through the line and is in under the sticks. A minute left and Australia come again, but Russia are tenacious and there is no way through. Time expires and Russia deservedly lead at the break.
At Oranges it is RUS 7 AUS 5
Can Australia start the second half as they did the first? No. Great pressure from Russia and uncharacteristic errors from Australia gives Russia the chance to extend their lead and it'sNadezda Kudinova who takes that chance, with a quick tap and sprint to the line. Upset very much on the cards now!
RUS 12 AUS 5
Pic: @MollyMReynolds twitter
Australia desperate to respond, but Russia are forcing mistakes and turnovers and the clock is ticking away. Three minutes to go and Russia pour forward in search of a killer blow, and that could be it! Alena Bogacheva breaks two tackles and touches down under the posts. Australia must score twice now!
RUS 17 AUS 5
It's desperation mode for the women in gold, and with a minute to go they are probing in search of the first of the two tries needed. They shift it wide and Ellia Green is just held short by a superb tackle. The ball is rycycled well and Shannon Parry is in! Game on! The hooter goes as Australia kick off. They gain posession and are on the attack, but a last ditch tackle and a penalty spells the end of this breathtaking game!
RUS 17 AUS 12.
First 1/4 Final of the day saw Australia beaten by Russia 17 points to 12.
Australia captain Sharni Williams reacts to Cup quarter-final defeat to Russia: "We’re so disappointed, we tried to hit back from the disappointment of Atlanta but we’re back where we were. It’s pretty tough, but we gotta get back and recover and bounce back like us Aussies do. We missed a few tackles and around the ruck area we were bumped off the ball. Our ball security and sealer wasn’t physical enough and they took advantage."
We are off to the Plate and Russia progress to the SF of the Cup.
Final will be Russia v NZL after RUS beats FRA 14-12 and NZL beat ENG by 24-14.
Meanwhile we compete in the Plate SF against the Septics.
Starting VII v USA: Parry, Williams, Dalton, Caslick, Green, Quirk, Tonegato
Australia, obviously disappointed to be competing for only the Plate, start the game in complete control but are unable to create much of an opening in the resolute US defence. And just like that they find themselves behind! USA turn it over in midfield, and Victoria Folayan later Lauren Doyle touches down.
USA 5 AUS 0
Confidence flowing through the USA team now, and their lead is soon doubled as Folayan turns scorer, shrugging off three tackles and falling over the line. A minute to go before the break and Australia look to build from deep, but the Eagles force the penalty and are on the attack withLauren Doyle, yet again in down the sideline. What a half from the women in white!
USA 15 AUS 0
Folayan is flying! The second half begins with a fantastic step and go, before she sprints away from two despairing dives to record her second try of the game. The Eagles' defence is on fire, and Australia can't get the ball over half way, before a turnover once again frees the runner, the ball is recycled and it's Folayan again who touches down for her hat-trick.
USA 29 AUS 0
That's what they can do! Finally Australia show their class, and it's the superstar Ellia Green who takes the ball in her stride and motors away down the line for the consolation score.
Pic: World Rugby Blog
The arrears are reduced further by Charlotte Caslick, who sells a dummy and races away to score as the hooter sounds. Too little too late but two wonderful tries nonetheless.
Too little too late. AUS 10- USA 29.
After stumbling against USA in the Plate SSF, We end up playing Fiji in the 7th vs 8th Contest.
Pic: @Aussie7s twitter
Starting VII v Fiji in the 7th/8th Place Play-Off: Parry, Williams, Dalton, Caslick, Etheridge, Green, Quirk
Australia start brightly and Chloe Dalton makes a superb break, but she's hauled down from behind and Fiji recover to clear. It's Fiji's turn to attack and the stout defence of Australia stands firm and we remain scoreless... until Ellia Green gets her hands on the ball. A deft step inside creates the gap and she will not be caught, touching down after a 70 metre sprint.
Two minutes to the break in a game of back and forth action with both teams competing ferociously at the breakdown. Australia look to build from deep, but Fiji turn it over and are stopped just shy of the try line. Time expires as Ellia Green dances forward, and from the ensuing break down, the pass finds Sharni Williams, who is all alone on the wing to score.
Fiji with all the possession for the opening two minutes of the second period, but Australia are well organised and repel the threat before turning the ball over. Three minutes to go and the game is all being played in the midfield, with Fiji unable to find the key to unlock the Aussie defence.
It is oranges there and AUS lead FIJ by 10-0.
And just like that Australia look to have tied it up. Tiana Penitani comes off the bench and makes an instant impact, using her fresh legs to race away from Lavenia Tinai and touch down under the sticks.
17-0 now with only 3 min to go.
Fiji are reduced to six and Australia can see this out with a lovely try for Nicole Beck.
Nicole Beck adds icing on the cake just before the siren to take the final score to 22-0.
The Olympic Qualification Series
We take 8 points from this tournament to take our series total to 56 points (third place overall).
Canada lose the Bowl Final to take 10 points and move on to second place in the series on 58 Points.
NZL are already on 60 points so their lead will be consolidated regardless of the outcome of the Cup Final. They will either end up on 78 or 80 points.
France is currently in 4th place on 38 points, and they gain 14 points from the 3rd/4th playoff to end up on 52 points. This leaves them remaining in 4th place but they have significantly closed the gap between 3rd and 4th on the series table.
1 NZL - 80
2 CAN - 58
3 AUS - 56
4 FRA - 52
5 ENG - 48
6 USA - 48
7 RUS - 46
8 FIJ - 24
9 BRA - 19
10 SPA - 12
11 CHI - 7
12 SAF - 6
Ellia Green is the Top Try Scorer of the Tournament with 10 Meat Pies
Portia Woodman NZL comes in second on 9 tries.
NZL beat RUS in the Final 29 - 10.
NZL extend unbeaten run to 36 games.
Only the London and Amsterdam tournaments left to go this year.
Note: Additional Commentary from
http://www.worldrugby.org/womens-sevens-series/live-blog/17
