Australia’s all-conquering women’s rugby sevens team have made it into the final of the World Cup in Cape Town but the men have been eliminated in the last-four.
Co-captain Charlotte Caslick continued her masterful form with two tries in Sunday morning’s 17-7 victory over USA in the semi-finals.
It put her team on the verge of a unique ‘triple crown’ of world series, Commonwealth Games and World Cup crowns in the same season as they got ready to face holders New Zealand in the final later on Sunday (Monday morning AEST).
But the world series-winning Australian men were handed a lesson in their semi-final by Olympic champions Fiji, who scored six tries in their 38-14 victory.
Caslick, who had also orchestrated the women’s quarter-final 35-5 victory over England on Saturday, was again instrumental in a much more testing win over the Americans.
A couple of superb breaks from the 2016 Olympic champ Caslick either side of halftime enabled Australia to open up a 12-0 lead.
And although the US hit back with a try through Nicole Heavirland to make for a nervy finale, the Commonwealth champs sealed the deal thanks to another stunning break from Alysia Lefau-Fakaosileani.
But the Aussies will face a hugely impressive New Zealand, who defeated France 38-7 in the other semi with a brilliant six-try demonstration.
The chances of an Aussie World Cup double were extinguished almost as soon as the irrepressible Fijians had swept into a 12-0 lead in the first five minutes in the men’s semi-final.
A couple of tries from Nick Malouf and Josh Turner wasn’t enough to stop the Pacific islanders sweeping through to a final against New Zealand, who defeated Ireland 17-10.
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