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Hong Kong Sevens 2023: holders Australia hope to feel the love once again
- Champions in Hong Kong in November for the first time in 34 years, Australia are chasing a repeat – and to close in on World Series leaders New Zealand
- After the ‘very surreal experience’ of beating Fiji, ‘who own the place’, coach John Manenti urges his players to make some more history
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A photo went viral after Australia beat Fiji in the final of last November’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, showing green-and-gold coach John Manenti looking on in apparent disbelief as his players raised their trophy.
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Talk about capturing the moment. Manenti’s side had just scored a try at the very death to win the Cup final 20-17, and his face summed up the feeling all around Hong Kong Stadium at the time.
The Australians, who had not won the Hong Kong tournament since 1988, had just dethroned the Fijians, who had looked set to claim an unprecedented sixth title in a row.
Times have changed, and Manenti has Australia back to playing the free-flowing style that helped cement their legend when sevens rugby was in its formative years.
“It was amazing and a very surreal experience – to think it had been 1988 since we had won, and we had beaten Fiji, who own the place,” Manenti said.
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