Walsh wants a golden finish to his women's tenure

Sun, Apr 8, 2018, 4:44 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
The Aussie Women's Sevens side have been put through their paces by the men from Caloundra Lighthouse as they continue preparations for their Commonwealth Games campaign on the Gold Coast.

As Tim Walsh's time at the helm of the Australian Women's Sevens side reaches a crescendo, there is little internal talk of his imminent departure.

Walsh wouldn't have it any other way.

It is, in fact, a testament to the team first culture which engulfs this champion side.

No individual is bigger than the collective and that includes the coach, who reflected on his time in charge ahead of his final tournament.

"The way that this group operates - no one is bigger than the team and nothing is really a problem," Walsh told RUGBY.com.au.

"We just move on and we're pretty sure when these girls finish Comm Games and go to Japan I'll be the one reaching for the tissues, not them.Walsh's time at the helm of the Australian Women's Sevens side is coming to an end. Photo: Rugby AU Media"I'll be emotional after the event but they have a purpose on and off the field and now, so do I.

"The last six years with this group - five as head coach - have been the most memorable of my life.

"To grow with this group and have success is very special.

"It's been a special part of my life and to see them grow as a team and to see the program expand, it's nice to look back on, but they have a lot more achieve in their careers."

As his finale as coach nears, Walsh's eyes are firmly on Friday's Commonwealth Games opener.

It's the first time Women's Sevens have featured at the Commonwealth Games and in that sense the tournament is similar to their triumphant Rio campaign.

That is where the similarities end, though, as Walsh highlighted.

"We learnt things in Rio," he said.


"Things that we could take with us to evolve.

"There are things that are very different here as well.

"In Rio the even was right at the start, we're right at the end here, it's at home, all different things.

"You learn lessons, you review it and then things evolve over the past couple of years.

"Eight of the players haven't been there as well but we've got a good standing from an experience point of view."

Having not conceded a point in their undefeated run to the Sydney 7s title, one would think there is very little to improve upon.The Aussie Women were triumphant in Sydney. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyTo the untrained eye they played near perfect rugby but Walsh is having none of that as they fine tune their preparations on the Sunshine Coast.

"If you break our game down and look at it, there were certainly massive areas of improvement," Walsh said of their Sydney performance.

"If one thing had gone the other way or bounced the ball that way it could have been a totally different result.

"Those stats are nice but if you do look at it properly but there is still so much to work on.

"This group have a lot more in them in everything.

"From physicality to strategies in which they play, they're an incredible bunch but they have a long way to go."Walsh's next challenge is replicating success with the Aussie Men. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyAny hint of improvement will make the Australians incredibly hard to stop on the Gold Coast, as they enter the tournament as red hot favourites.

Should they be the last team standing, Walsh admits he will be shedding more tears than most.

It will be the end of a remarkably successful stint in charge - a record he is eager to replicate when he takes charge of the Aussie Men's side.

"I don't think it will hit me until it finishes," Walsh said.

"When we spoke about (his departure) as a group it was emotional and there were a few tears for about five minutes.

"But then we were out training and we were straight into it in Sydney, where we played awesome.

"Hopefully we can replicate that on the Gold Coast."

The Commonwealth Games Sevens tournament kicks off on Friday April 13, running until Sunday April 15.
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