Rugby
Women’s Rugby Sevens – a halftime report
With Dubai, Sydney, and Las Vegas in the history books and history-making Japan fast approaching, it’s time to take stock of the first three rounds of the HBSC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2016-17.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as the four highest ranked teams will take their place at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 alongside New Zealand, Canada, Spain, and the United States, the nations that have already qualified. Right now, Olympic champions Australia, Fiji, Russia, and France are holding those sought-after spots, though England is in striking distance and Ireland is on an upward curve. The historic, first-ever tournament in Kitakyushu this weekend at brand new Mikuni World Stadium is sure to be packed with passionate performances (and fans!) as the contenders push for crucial points in Round 4 of the 6-round Series.
Round 1: Dubai, December 1-2, 2016
The anticipation and excitement leading up to the fifth HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series was unprecedented. The sport’s Olympic Games debut in Rio had sent a tidal wave of interest and enthusiasm across the planet unlike ever before.
Fans watching at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai and around the world were not disappointed. The trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand was alive and well, with the two Southern Hemisphere powerhouses battling it out once again. After Australia not only took the 2015-16 Women’s Sevens Series crown but also Olympic gold, New Zealand took revenge with a crushing 17-5 victory.
Russia claimed the bronze medal with a 19-14 victory over a youthful England side and Alena Mikhaltsova – who leads the DHL Performance Tracker – capping an impressive weekend. The first Challenge Trophy final – formerly known as the Bowl – saw Ireland edge out Spain 14-12.
Round 2: Sydney – February 3-4, 2017
The 2017 Sydney Sevens was the first of three new stops on the 2016-17 Women’s Series and a rare opportunity for a current Olympic and series champion to play on home soil, not to mention get back on top after a demoralizing loss to New Zealand in Dubai. The Australian “golden girls” shouldered a heavy burden: could they become the first to win their home tournament in series history?
No, it wasn’t meant to be. Australia fell to Canada in the semi-finals and was knocked out by New Zealand 19-0 in the battle for bronze.
Rather than another Southern Hemisphere duel, the Canada and the United States went head to head in a North American gold medal clash that surprised everyone. Though Naya Tapper scored a hat-trick for USA and was named HSBC Player of the Final, Canada ultimately lifted the trophy after a nail-biting 21-17 victory. The Rugby world relished as Canada shocked the tournament and USA completed an amazing turnaround from their 11th place finish in Dubai.
Brazil also celebrated a surprise win over England for the Challenge Trophy, while invited team Papua New Guinea saw stand-out player Joanne Lagona earn a place in the tournament dream team.
Round 3: Las Vegas – March 3-4, 2017
After Houston and Atlanta in previous years, Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas became the third home of a women’s series event in the USA – and the first to combine both the men’s and women’s series events.
Though the hosts stumbled out of the start, they fought back to reach their second consecutive semi-final along with Canada, New Zealand and Australia. But another North American Cup Final was not meant to be as both teams fell in the semis and once again the world watched Australia and New Zealand line up for a final match. The Black Ferns continued to display their recent dominance over Aussies in a 28-5 win.
Canada edged out their southern neighbors in the bronze medal, while Fiji finished fifth for a third successive tournament, reminding everyone that they remain a threat.
DHL Impact Player
From Alena Mikhaltsova’s tremendous 23 tackles in Dubai to Lucy Mulhall’s colossal 38 carries in Las Vegas, we’ve seen some great things on the pitch in the first half of the 2016-17 Series. And we’re tracking these performances live in order to celebrate those players who truly impact the game. The woman who chalks up the most tackles, breaks, offloads, and carriers will be rewarded with the DHL Impact Player Series Award.
At the halfway point, Alena Mikhaltsova tops the DHL Performance Tracker – a spot she has held and defended from Day 1 in Dubai. The Russian number four made an impressive 23 tackles alongside 3 line breaks, 9 offloads and 20 carries over six games in Round 1 to help her side claim the bronze medal over England. With a total of 55 points, she beat out England’s Natasha Brennan (54) and Ireland’s Lucy Mulhall (52), who had the most carriers with 28. New Zealand’s Michaela Blyde topped the line breaks list with 12, while England’s Jo Watmore was responsible for 15 offloads over the two-day tournament.
In Sydney, Mikhaltsova delivered another powerful performance, despite playing only five games on Russia’s road to a seventh-place finish. The scrum half was all over the field, reaching double digits in nearly all categories with 18 tackles, 10 breaks, 8 offloads and 29 carries to score a total of 65 points – 10 more than in Dubai. Mulhall jumped from third to second place after an eye-popping offensive performance with 38 carries and a respectful 15 tackles on defense. Blyde continued to break the most lines for a total of 20 across two tournaments, while Watmore leads the offload count at 21.
Mikhaltsova and Mulhall remained atop the DHL Performance Tracker after Las Vegas, a tournament that saw Fiji’s Tima Ravisa leap onto the leaderboard for the first time to grab fourth place, while teammate Rusila Nagasau (fifth) and New Zealand’s Kelly Brazier (third) moved steadily up the table.
Though Mikhaltsova has built a comfortable lead and established herself as the impact player to beat, Ireland is on the upswing, which could mean more playing time for Mulhall. And with New Zealand always final contender and Fiji a constant threat, there’s no telling who will top the table after the final match is played in France on June 25.
Keep your eyes peeled on @DHLRugby for updates and check the latest results on the DHL Series Performance Tracker.
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