Aussies show signs of sevens rugby resurgence after winning Plate
Green and gold full of new belief and appear to be closing gap on leading trio of South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand
The glory days of Australian sevens might be a distant memory for some and laughed off as pure myth by others but there were signs of life in the Green and Gold all weekend, and they lifted the Plate with a 21-17 victory over the United States.
Both teams played their part in some of the most entertaining games seen at Hong Kong Stadium and the Plate final ran true to form as both sides mixed up plenty of action and attrition.
The Americans led 12-7 at the half but a canny triple substitution by Australia coach Geraint John early in the second period ignited the Aussies - Shannon Walker crossing shortly after coming on. Cameron Clarke chimed in with a try and three conversions to give Australia breathing space, and even the flying Allan Fa'alava'au's late try was too little too late for the USA.
We just have to be a bit smarter in attack and a bit more creative. But we can work on that
John was quick to point to the healthy state of sevens rugby in Australia, a nation which last won the Hong Kong Sevens title in 1988, a time when Michael Keaton wasn't known as Birdman, he was known as Beetlejuice.
The Aussies came to Hong Kong in fourth place in the World Series standings and John believes the gap is closing on the leading trio of South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand.
"I thought we were pretty close [to those teams] this weekend," said John, whose team lost 14-5 to New Zealand in the group stages and 7-5 to South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals.
"I thought defensively the intensity was there. We just have to be a bit smarter in attack and a bit more creative. But we can work on that. I think those [top] teams won't want to play us next weekend [in Tokyo]."
