Rugby
AAP 6y

Australia women make history claiming Sydney Sevens title

Rugby, World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia will do their best to pick apart their history-making World Series performance with an eye to further domination in April's Commonwealth Games.

The Olympic sevens champions breezed into the final and destroyed defending world champions New Zealand 31-0 to complete an Allianz Stadium romp in which they never conceded a point in six games.

The feat has never been achieved in either a men's or women's World Series since the first men's tournament was staged in 1987.

And Australia's win, which followed a similarly dominant round one title in Dubai, puts them 10 points clear of Canada, Russia and New Zealand on the series ladder on 40 points.

It means Australia are in the box seat to repeat their 2016 world championship, with just three rounds to play and only 20 points on offer for the winner.

Australian coach Tim Walsh said the team would reflect on their historic weekend, but only for a few days before focus turns to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (April 4-15). The next round of the women's Sevens is in Kitakyushu, Japan, on April 21-22.

"Winning two from two (World Series legs) and playing some of the best rugby and clearly with the best defence we've ever had ranks pretty highly," he said.

"We'll celebrate tonight and then get back to work on Wednesday."

Improving on such a dominant display will be hard, but the perfectionist said it was possible as he eyes his final tournament in charge of the side.

Walsh will step down as coach after the Commonwealth Games as part of a transition process aimed at the 2020 Olympics.

"With every play we have there is an option and you always hear bigger, faster, stronger," the coach said.

"But we're (trying to be) smarter, faster, stronger so we always have these options.

"Either myself or the girls (will be pointing out where improvements can be made)."

Rio gold medallist Shannon Parry said the win rivalled their Olympic success, but that the Commonwealth Games had the potential to provide another magical moment.

"To have family and friends in the crowd, to play on home soil, we don't get to see that too often," she said.

"(But) Comm Games, home soil - you don't need much else to get yourselves up for that to be honest."

^ Back to Top ^