A candid Tim Walsh admits he was in a “hole” following Australia’s final day capitulation at the Paris Olympics, but the champion coach says his side won’t be defined by their failure to bring home a medal.
After taking home the inaugural Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens at the Rio Games, Australia’s women’s side looked certain to set up a clash with the Black Ferns in the final at the Stade de France after a flawless opening two days in Paris.
But after opening up a 12-0 lead over Canada, Charlotte Caslick’s side left the door ajar when they conceded on the stroke of half-time and never recovered.
Shell-shocked and spooked, the gold medal favourites never got a foothold in the second half as their dreams were dashed in seven helter-skelter minutes.
More pain was on the way as Alex Sedrick shrugged away a couple of defenders on her line to run almost 100 metres to score a match-winning try in the bronze medal match just hours later.
Charlotte Caslick and Kahli Henwood react after losing to Canada in the Olympic semi-finals of the rugby sevens on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
As Australia’s women dropped to the floor, Walsh, the cool, calm and experienced coach, looked like a ghost ran straight through him.
“A few people have said that,” Walsh tells The Roar on the eve of the Perth Sevens. “I mean, I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
“It’s not about me though. The responsibility you have to the team, to the organisation, and to each individual player, I like to put myself in their shoes and I know what they’re going to be feeling and I take responsibility for it. That’s where that look comes from.”
As most of his team enjoyed a well-earned holiday, Walsh immediately returned to work after their heartbreak in the city of love.
“No, I mean, drinking never really helps,” he says.
“I was in a hole, and I was reviewing and analysing, and then sort of going through different stages of the campaign. But again, knowing that I had to sit in that.
“But it didn’t take long to then pop out the other side and just get really motivated and figure out the future.
“I didn’t go on holiday for probably six weeks post that, because I had all the reviewing to do, and just taking care of the players and the team, and getting comfortable that we’re all set for the future, before having some time off.
“And it was very important for my family. The toll of sevens, and the travel, and the Olympics, it’s a very selfish life as a head coach or an athlete. So, redirecting that time back to where it’s really important with family, so I had to get my head sorted and get the program in a good place, and then switch off and enjoy the life and enjoy the future.”
Teagan Levi and Maddison Levi are comforted by family after their Olympic heartbreak. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
So how does Walsh feel about those agonising seconds before half-time against Canada, which seemingly spooked the previously unbreakable side that had swept everyone and everything before them?
“I wouldn’t say shell-shocked, because it’s a pretty volatile game and you know that anything can happen if you’re not on,” he says.
“But I think the way we looked at it and reviewed it is that everything in the first six minutes and 30 seconds in the semi-final went to script.
“The whole season was to script, the planning and even planning for injuries kind of stuff. But I think we just got a little bit ahead of ourselves and at 12-0 we thought the game was won because we were doing it easy – but you can’t do that in sevens and that’s a little bit complacent.
“We started to think about the gold medal game and then even at that half-time, when 95 per cent of the time we would have scored in their 22 but it went the other way. We were quite slow off the mark to stop it happening, and then just get a little bit tense and felt the pressure, and that was just that maturity of the team.”
Walsh isn’t wrong, despite Australia fielding a world-class side with several game-breakers, the experienced coach had lost several first-team regulars in the months before arriving in Paris.
The loss of Madison Ashby denied Australia a second playmaking ace alongside Caslick, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea’s physicality and experience were missed, while Demi Hayes was halfway through her ACL comeback.
Throw in the loss of Kaitlin Shave at the start of the tournament and suddenly Australia was vulnerable.
Even the Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan, both well and truly recognised on the international stage, were still in their early twenties.
“It’s a pretty exciting future, particularly the next few years, because of what you just said, we’ve got a very young team, but a very experienced team, which is a good combo for the future,” Walsh says.
“And we’ve got a really strong pathway program; Top Gun is small, but it’s strong.”
Australia’s women’s sevens coach Tim Walsh believes the best is still to come for his side. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
In many ways Australia’s run since winning gold in Brazil has resembled the mixed fortunes of Ireland’s men’s 15-a-side team, who have bombed at World Cups but succeeded at every other team.
“It’s not all about the Olympics,” Walsh says. “It’s one tournament. As I said, it’s the journey. It’s the getting better each day, it’s the World Series, it’s everything this wonderful game has to offer.”
Walsh admits you “can’t deny the disappointment” of the Parisian setback, but believes the character of the team and the program is reflected in how they have responded, with Australia bouncing back to win the first leg of the World Series tour in Dubai last November.
“It wasn’t unexpected either,” he said. “It’s almost an easy thing when you lose is how you bounce back.
“And like, they’re a great crew, they’re a great program. There’s only one way they’re going to go, and I think that’ll continue.
“Dubai statistically was one of our best tournaments ever. And then Cape Town went to a four-round tournament, and we did get a little bit complacent.”
Australia celebrates after defeating New Zealand on day two of the HSBC SVNS at The Sevens Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Dubai. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)
Like usual, Australia arrives in Perth – the third stage of the World Series tournament – as favourites.
There’s also a case of unfinished business after Australia was surprised by Ireland in the final 12 months ago.
“We’re always looking forward as opposed to looking back, but I think that’s one that got away from us,” Walsh said. “It would have been a three in a row, which would have been nice.
“Perth put on a show last year. The girls, coaches, everyone loves playing at home. It’s the one time a year we get to put on a show and enjoy ourselves, so we really want to go out there and express ourselves and enjoy it. So we’re very, very pumped.”
