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'Misfits, a bunch of weirdos': Australia knock New Zealand out of Hong Kong Sevens

New Zealands Akuila Rokolisoa (C) fends off Australias Stuart Dunbar (R) on the second day of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament on November 5, 2022. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia’s world series men’s sevens champions may be a bunch of “misfits and weirdos”, as one of their players puts it with a smile – but they also appear to becoming serial winners.

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On Saturday, they roared into the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens while consigning New Zealand’s rugby men to an unprecedented early exit.

The Australians found their best form in a winner-takes-all pool stage match, running in four tries to beat their trans-Tasman rivals 24-17 and book a last-eight date with Ireland.

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It meant a ragged-looking New Zealand outfit failed to reach the knock-out stages of the sevens circuit’s premier tournament for the first time and it was only the second time in 21 years they’d failed to make the quarter-finals of a world series event.

Australia, who sealed the last world series in August in Los Angeles, had to deliver their best after they’d earlier lost their other group match 22-17 to Samoa, the tournament’s surprise packets who’d also hammered New Zealand on Friday.

It raised the unexpected prospect of the two group favourites having to face what was effectively a knock-out tie in the day’s final match at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Coach John Manenti’s Aussies started brightly as Jimmy ‘The Jet’ Turner burst on to the ball for a fine opening try in the first minute.

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After Moses Leo had put the All Blacks back in it, a Dietrich Roache snipe down the right wing restored the Australians’ control before some individual magic from Maurice Longbottom saw him shuffle, feint and power his way to a third try.

The New Zealanders’ fate was effectively sealed straight after the break with Nathan Lawson’s interception score, with late tries from Sione Molia and Leroy Carter not camouflaging another sub-par performance.

But for the Australians, it was another example of the team’s togetherness to rebound from the Samoa loss.

“Against Samoa, we just didn’t really stick to the structure, but it was a pretty big game against the Kiwis so we just stuck to what we said we’d fix, and it paid off,” said the lively Turner.

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“We all love each other, we’re a bunch of misfits, a bunch of weirdos, but we just come together! Even five minutes after the Samoa loss, we were over it, smiling about it.”

His ‘misfits’ comments referred to how Manenti, faced with budget cuts, found unlikely players from Sydney club rugby and fringe Super Rugby talents for his Australian men’s sevens project.

Now, they’re looking real threats for the Olympic title in France two years hence.

Earlier on Saturday, Samoa had followed up their 24-0 win over New Zealand with their narrow win over Australia, for whom Henry Hutchison, Henry Paterson and Darby Lancaster all scored tries.

Five-time defending champions Fiji still looked the team to beat as they topped their group unbeaten to set up a blockbuster quarter-final with South Africa’s ‘Blitzboks’, who scraped through despite losing to France.

The other quarter-finals will feature Samoa against Argentina and the unbeaten French versus the USA.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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