Women’s final set to take centre stage as showpiece match at HSBC SVNS Perth
Australia’s dominant women’s rugby sevens team will take centre stage in Perth this week.
In a landmark move, the women’s final will be played after the men as the showpiece match of the three-day rugby festival at HBF Park.
And it’s fitting for Australia’s successful women’s team — led by household names Madi Levi and Charlotte Caslick — as they chase top spot on this season’s tour.
The Aussies currently sit second, behind New Zealand, two rounds into the season.
But for all their glory, victories in a home event have eluded them since 2018.
“It’s just awesome for women’s sport and women in rugby to have that final game and hopefully keep the crowd around,” women’s captain Isabella Nasser told The West Australian two days out from the event.
“It’s exciting that people want to stay and watch the females which is a big turn from what it has been in the past, we are the main event.
Camera IconAustralian captains Henry Hutchison and Isabella Nasser. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
“So whilst both finals will be epic, it’s awesome to have the final match being the female’s game.”
The hosts were upset by a history-making Irish side who knocked them off 19-14 in front of a sell-out Perth crowd. It was Ireland’s first victory at the global tournament.
“We fell short last year against Ireland, it was a fantastic battle and we had a really good tournament last year leading into the final, our main goal around our squad is to focus on our process and what we can do to perform better,” Nasser said.
Australia’s men also came second in Perth last time, losing a final to Argentina and they have face last year’s winners again in their opening match on Friday.
“We were proud of our efforts in Perth last year getting to the final is great but the teams change and the competition has changed a lot since then so it’s a bit of a new outlook on the season,” captain Henry Hutchinson told The West.
“It’s a bit of a revenge match, they were the last team we played here so it will be good to get one back on them.
“But the Argentinians have been hot for about two or three years now they are a really experienced team and we are expecting something pretty physical so we’ve done our homework and devised a plan that we think we can take them out on.”
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