Aussie Sevens teams into World Cup semis

Sat, Sep 10, 2022, 11:31 PM
AAP
by AAP
The Sevens sides have cruised to the semi-finals. Photo: Getty Images
The Sevens sides have cruised to the semi-finals. Photo: Getty Images

Faith Nathan has continued her dazzling World Cup try-scoring exploits, with her double blowing away England and powering Australia's all-conquering women's sevens team into the semi-finals in Cape Town.

They'll be joined on Sunday by their fellow world series winners, who have made the last-four of the men's event with a harder-earned 14-5 victory over France.  

Catch the Rugby Sevens World Cup LIVE on Kayo and BEIN Sports

Saturday's wins have only enhanced the tantalising prospect of double World Cup glory in South Africa on Sunday, when the three-day tournament concludes.

But it's the Aussie women who look best placed to complete a triple crown of international triumphs after their Commonwealth Games and world series wins, following their 35-5 crushing of England.

Their 22-year-old flyer Nathan just can't seem to stop scoring.

After her five-try tour de force in the 48-0 win over Madagascar on Friday - a record tally in a World Cup sevens match - she went over for a couple more, proving just too electric for her English markers while also using her lightning speed to good effect in defence.

But captain Chalotte Caslick was the one pulling all the strings, after her searing individual try opened Australia's account in the first minute and she then sent Nathan clear down the left wing for the second after five minutes.

Madison Ashby smashed her way through for a third soon before halftime with Australia in a commanding 21-0 lead at the break.

Emma Uren gave England a flicker of hope with the first try in the second half but Nathan ended any chance by racing round her chasers on the right edge for her seventh try of the tournament, before Teagan Levi wrapped it up with the Aussies' fifth try of the match.

Caslick's team will be hot favourites to advance to the final as they play the USA, 10-7 winners over Canada, in the semis.

There's the looming prospect, too, of a final showdown against reigning champs New Zealand, who hammered Ireland 28-0 in their quarter-final and will next play France in the last-four.  

The men were involved in a much tougher affair, with a first-half try from Henry Paterson giving them a 7-0 halftime lead, before the French struck back with a well-worked score for Paulin Riva which reduced the deficit to just two.

But a bit of individual magic from Maurice Longbottom was enough to wrap up their win and book a daunting semi-final date at the Cape Town Stadium with Olympic champions Fiji.

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