The Australian Women's Sevens side has had the last laugh in 2025, winning the Cape Town Sevens with a determined 26-12 victory over New Zealand.
In sweltering conditions in Cape Town, the Aussie Women, hungry for revenge after their Dubai winning streak was broken last week, hit the ground running with commanding victories over France and Japan as well as overcoming a determined Canada to top Pool B.
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Powering over the USA in the semi-final, the Aussies found themselves against their old rival once again; however, this time, the Australian Women took their chances, scoring four tries and opening up a gap the Kiwis couldn't chase down.
The Men, coming off their own trans-Tasman defeat to the Kiwis in the Final, endured a difficult opening day, going down heavily to Argentina, followed by a close loss to Spain and France.
Following a loss to New Zealand in their fifth-placed play-off, they finished a disappointing weekend on a positive note with a victory over Spain in the seventh-placed play-off.
With both sides coming into the match having never lost a pool game in Cape Town, the Aussie Women proved triumphant, starting their campaign in ruthless fashion against France.
The Aussies made things difficult for themselves early on, with Teagan Levi failing three consecutive restarts; however, the French struggled to capitalise with errors of their own and fell apart at the breakdown, with Heidi Dennis, Kahli Henwood and Madi Levi all grabbing tries from long-range counterattack.
A French knock-on at halftime saw Isabella Nasser nab the Aussies' fourth, with Madison Ashby scoring her first try on her return to Sevens early in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
Valentine Lothoz was sent to the bin for hair-pulling on Bienne Terita, adding further misery for the French, with Nasser scoring her second. Terita got her revenge with a try off several penalties in the final minute, with France unable to capitalise after the siren.
Argentina came into this clash having won their last five matches against Australia, and they put a disappointing opening weekend in Dubai firmly behind them.
The South Americans dominated possession early on, scoring off Santiago Mare, with the Aussies struggling both for possession and capitalising with the ball in hand. The four-time Cape Town finalists' pressure stifled the breakdown, with Marcos Moneta pouncing on a kick through to give them a two-try lead at halftime.
Luciano Gonzalez provided a crucial score after the break, seeing the floodgates open as Matteo Graziano followed shortly afterwards.
The Australians' woes with errors and lack of possession continued, and when Gonzalez nabbed his second and the Argentines' fifth, the match was beyond doubt with two minutes to play. An error off the lineout from the Australians saw Graziano nab his second to put the icing on the cake.
The Canadians drew first blood through Kennedi Stevenson; however, the Aussies struck back immediately through a long-range effort from Madison Ashby.
From that moment, the Aussies took control, with Faith Nathan scoring two tries before halftime.
Asia Hogan-Rochester pulled one back for the visitors after halftime, but Isabella Nasser returned fire in quick succession. Carmen Izyk would get the last laugh after full-time, but the Aussies did enough to pick up their ninth straight win over Canada, sitting at the top of their pool with a match in hand.
Spain hit the ground running, with Anton Legorburu Anso scoring inside the first 30 seconds to have the Aussie Men behind early.
However, Dietrich Roache struck back just as quickly to claim the lead, before Eduardo Lopez returned fire, with Jayden Blake being shown a yellow card. Despite being a man down, the Aussies struck immediately through James McGregor, with the scores level at halftime.
After both sides were denied tries early in the second half, Roache finally broke the deadlock with a long-range effort. Spain bounced back through Roberto Ponce, converting the try to grab a valuable two-point lead, with a crucial knock-on off the restart proving the difference.
The Aussie Women have topped Pool B in Cape Town, overcoming Japan to post their third win.
Tries to Faith Nathan, Maddison Levi and Kahli Henwood saw the Women take an imposing 17-0 lead at halftime, with Levi, Heidi Dennis and Ruby Nicholas adding to the tally in the second half to put the match beyond doubt.
Mayu Yoshino provided a consolation try for Japan after the siren, but the Aussie Women have cruised through to the semis.
The men have lost their three pool matches to finish bottom of Pool B, with France opening up a lead in the first half thanks to a double from Liam Delamare and a third to Jordan Sepho.
William Cartwright would score at halftime to give the Aussies hope, but tries to Diego Miranda and Enahemo Artaud put the match beyond doubt, with Dietrich Roache scoring a consolation try at fulltime.
The Men will now head into a fifth-placed semi-final against fellow Dubai finalist, New Zealand.
In a surprise reunion of the Dubai final, the New Zealand pressure proved effective in the early stages, with Scott Gregory and Jayden Keelan getting the Kiwis ahead early.
However, the Aussies regathered with a patient buildup, with returning star Ben Dowling picking up their first try. However, Keelan continued his strong form with his second try, the Kiwis going back to a 14-point lead at halftime.
An injection of fresh legs proved effective for Australia, with James McGregor pulling one try back early in the second half. A high tackle penalty gave the Kiwis the chance to put the match beyond doubt; however, the Aussies weathered the storm, then drew level thanks to a Josh Turner try.
However, a great long-range effort from Sofai Notoa-Tipo saw the Kiwis regain the lead with 40 seconds to go, leaving Australia needing a try as the siren blared.
Sam Clarke found himself in the sin bin for the Kiwis due to ill-discipline; however, with a one-man advantage and the try line open, Ben Dalton knocked the ball on to see a crucial opportunity slip through the Aussie Men's fingers. They will now play for the seventh-placed play-off against Spain, who went down 29-10 to Great Britain.
After an extended period of US attack that lasted most of the first half, the Aussies were rewarded for strong defence with a break from Heidi Dennis, scoring the first points of the afternoon.
A near 80-metre effort from Madi Levi saw the Aussies extend the lead even further, making their slim moments with possession count. The star would nab her second and Australia's third on halftime, thanks to some sublime footwork from Mackenzie Davis.
The USA struggled to take their chances early in the second half, until a brilliant intercept from Kaylen Thomas gave the Eagles a sniff at a comeback. However, some stifling Aussie defence saw the USA capitulate, with Alex Sedrick sent to the bin. Madi Levi would grab her third shortly afterwards, putting the result beyond doubt.
A try to Bienne Terita and a fourth to Madi Levi iced the result, with the Aussies now set for a Dubai rematch against New Zealand in the final.
The Aussie Men have finished off a disappointing weekend in Cape Town on a positive note, defeating Spain to finish in seventh.
Aden Ekanayake drew first blood before the Spanish struck back quickly through Jeremy Trevithick. Ekanayake nabbed his second from a penalty to reclaim the lead - before a crucial cleanout saw Jayden Blake nab a third for the Aussies on halftime.
Spain struck back early in the second half through Eduardo Lopez, but some great hands from William Cartwright saw debutant Beau Morrison score a critical try. Trevithick would score one final try for the Spanish scored in the corner, but a missed conversion put the result beyond doubt.
The Aussie Women are back on top!
The side hit the ground running, scoring inside the first minute in a frenetic start to the final through Heidi Dennis, with a solid restart seeing the Aussies maintain the pressure and Teagan Levi score their second.
Two high tackles by the Aussies saw the Kiwis in a good position, and Kelsey Teneti scored, only for a forward pass to be called. After a frenetic period, Bella Nasser capitalised on half-time, giving the Aussies a 19-0 lead at halftime.
The Aussies maintained the pace, holding off a strong attack before Madi Levi produced another long-range effort to score Australia's fourth, and a critical score after halftime.
Teneti would not be denied after a persistent attacking play, giving New Zealand their fourth try. Stacey Waaka followed up a minute later, giving the women in black a sniff to win. However, the Aussies held on long enough to get sweet revenge for Dubai.
2. Amahli Hala – 3 events
3. Faith Nathan – 33 events
4. Mackenzie Davis – 7 events
5. Teagan Levi – 26 events
6. Madison Ashby (c) – 26 events
10. Isabella Nasser (c) – 18 events
12. Maddison Levi – 27 events
13. Heidi Dennis – 7 events
14. Bridget Clark – 7 events
15. Kahli Henwood – 7 events
22. Bienne Terita – 17 events
23. Ruby Nicholas – 11 events
28. Kiiahla Duff – 7 events
1. Henry Hutchison (c) – 60 events
2. Ben Dowling – 21 events
3. James McGregor – 3 events
4. Dietrich Roache – 29 events
7. Josh Turner – 38 events
9. Will Cartwright – 1 event
10. Ben Dalton – 10 events
13. Jayden Blake – 7 events
22. Beau Morrison* – debut
23. Aden Ekanayake – 8 events
24. Ethan McFarland – 1 event
33. Harry Wilson – 1 event
77. Wallace Charlie – 2 events
*Denotes possible debut
- Saturday, December 6: Australia v France (7:22 pm AEDT)
- Saturday, December 6: Australia v Canada (10:38 pm AEDT)
- Sunday, December 7: Australia v Japan (2:04 am AEDT)
FINALS
- Sunday, December 7: Australia v USA (9:00pm AEDT) - SEMI FINAL
- Sunday, December 8: Australia Women v New Zealand Women (1:10 am AEDT) - FINAL
- Saturday, December 6: Australia v Argentina (9:00pm AEDT)
- Sunday, December 7: Australia v Spain (12:16am AEDT)
- Sunday, December 7: Australia v France (3:57am AEDT)
FINALS
- Sunday, December 7: Australia v New Zealand (7:44 pm AEDT) - FIFTH-PLACED SEMI-FINAL
- Sunday, December 7: Australia Men v Spain Men (10:50 pm AEDT) - SEVENTH-PLACED PLAY-OFF
