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If Day 2 of the Singapore Sevens proved one thing -it’s that predictability doesn’t dampen excitement -the Singapore National Stadium was buzzing by midday, and the atmosphere only intensified as the minutes and hours ticked by.
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The quarter-finals involved the form teams and the results went to form too. Fiji beat New Zealand in what was maybe the hardest quarter to call -the Kiwis pushed the Fijians all the way, but just fell short in the end.
South Africa arrived in Singapore as one of the favourites but injuries maybe cost them, and although the Blitz Boks did enough in the quarters -they made hard work of their second half against Kenya -and it only left them with the daunting prospect of facing Fiji in the first semi-final.
England edged Samoa, and Australia made hard work of the improving Spanish to set up the second semi-final. But my sources told me the Aussies had been holding back and they would be a different prospect by their next game.
In the end I called both semi-finals right despite being tempted to back England in the second -maybe in part because I’d been at a barbecue with the Aussies during the week and been impressed by their attitude -I just felt they would go further in Singapore that previous legs.
The Aussies only recently parted company with a hugely popular coach in Andy Friend. His successor Tim Walsh is no stranger to Sevens, having coached the Australian Women’s team -but his understated manner when I spoke to him on at the Singapore launch last Wednesday -left me with the impression he might be the guy to take the Aussies up a level. It proved to be the case with Australia -as the Aussies put away an England team playing pretty well themselves.
When it came to the final -for me it was very much the head said Fiji, but the heart said Australia. Sadly, I can visualise the sinister pleasure on my old teammate Justin Harrison’s face as I declared my heart for the Aussies. It’s a shame emotion didn’t win for once, but I think the Aussies reached a new level under Tim Walsh, and they’ll be counting down the days to London and Paris.
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Success doesn’t arrive overnight, but this Australian outfit are going to be tasting a lot more of it in the months and years to come. There’s a lot to be said for attitude in sport -and that doesn’t just mean how you apply yourself in training -attitude’s also about when you mentally prepare yourself, notwithstanding the history or reputation of your opponents. It’s when you turn up believing you’ll win.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference
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