The tears said it all.
Australia’s women’s sevens team has been rocked not once but twice at the Stade de France in Paris, with Charlotte Caslick’s hopes of another Olympic medal dashed.
After being overrun by Canada in the biggest upset in Olympic sevens history 21-12, their North American cousins the United States rubbed salt into an already wounded Australian side by producing their own 14-12 come-from-behind victory to snatch the bronze medal.
A 95-metre solo effort from Alex Sedrick, who managed to get past three defenders – Sharni Smale, Teagan Levi and Tia Hinds – to score with no time left on the clock proved to be the agonising slow-motion car crash Tim Walsh’s side had to witness.
Even before the replacement scored the tears had already started. Bienne Terita’s heartache summed up this miserable afternoon for Australian rugby.
Her tears weren’t alone, as one by one the trailing defenders in pursuit slumped to the ground as for once Maddison Levi, who scored her second try only a minute early to hand Australia the lead, couldn’t run her opponent down.
Tia Hinds and her Australian teammates look dejected following a shattering day three at Stade de France on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Walsh, the 2016 gold medal-winning coach who was with the men in Tokyo, was left stunned on the sidelines. Three years of preparation, winning countless titles along the way, including the Commonwealth Games gold, World Cup and, most recently, the Madrid Sevens, blown up in smoke over four dreadful hours.
Where Australia was denied possession and taken to the cleaners at the breakdown in the second half after opening up a 12-0 lead over Canada, the women in gold struggled under the immense pressure of expectation against the USA.
Several times Australia had the chance to bury the USA but the pressure built bit by bit as passes were spilt and penalties given away.
In the end, the damn broke as three defenders were beaten on the opposition line.
All Walsh and his star captain Charlotte Caslick could do was rue the missed opportunities.
“It sucks but we gave it everything,” Caslick said. “We played our hearts out and I think that’s the beauty of Sevens and sport, that’s why we play it.
“It’s a game of moments and there’s a couple of things we’d like to take back but we can’t.
“The first game we played Canada back into the game. To their credit they fought to the end and the USA did the same.
“We more than anyone wanted to come home with a medal. To have this feeling we’re disappointed.”
Walsh, too, rued the missed moments.
“It can be a small margin, winning or not. Against some really good opposition, we played some good footy but didn’t execute when we could have or should have,” he said.
“They’re devastated. They’ve put a lot into it, everyone has. We came into this tournament to walk away without regret and every single one has done that.
“They’re going to be disappointed, but I’m proud of them.”
In bowing out, the curtains were also brought down on the careers of gold medallist Smale as well as Dominque du Toit.
Australia’s heartache was in stark contrast to the ecstasy on display half an hour later as the Black Ferns went back-to-back by beating Canada 19-12.
Much like Australia, the Blacks Ferns raced out of the blocks against Canada as co-captain Risi Pouri-Lane scored a long-range try but couldn’t keep their foot on their throat.
The Canadians found a way back into the contest when Portia Woodman-Wickliffe was shown a yellow card for high contact. She was later fortunate not to be shown a second for reckless contact in the air.
Despite initially failing to pounce, Chloe Daniels broke free to level up the score late in the first half. Then, in the blink of an eye, Alysha Corrigan had Canada’s second after making Sarah Hirini pay for running the ball out of her own half with time up in the first half.
But the Black Ferns once again came hard and came early as Michaela Blyde scored early in the second half before co-captain Hirini produced the match-defining play to break free of the strong Canadian defence.
Shortly after, the smiling assassin Stacey Waaka helped put Canada away late in the second half by scoring out wide.
New Zealand had the chance to score another late try but Jorja Miller – the new face of women’s sevens and the favourite to win the World Rugby sevens player of the year – widely opted to boot the ball into touch to seal a famous win and another gold for the mighty Black Ferns.
