Perth Sevens
Aussies learn their fate as pools confirmed for Perth Sevens
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 10:26 AM
Nathan Williamson
Both Australian teams have received welcoming pools ahead of January's home event in Perth.
The Men have been drawn alongside Ireland, Great Britain and the USA in Pool B for the third leg of the World Series on January 26-28.
John Manenti's side dropped their opener game in Dubai against the Irish, going down 19-12. However, they enjoy a favourable record, winning all five match-ups in 2023.
They have had similar success against the combined Great Britain side, winning five of their six matches, including a 34-5 win last May in Twickenham.
As for the USA, they produced a convincing 26-12 win in Dubai to take seventh, headlined by a double to Nathan Lawson.
"The men's competition is tough, there are no soft games. Ireland have been consistently finishing in the top four, Great Britain gets better the more they play together, and the USA have a host of superstars, including Perry Baker returning for Perth," Manenti said after the draw.
"We can't wait to get to the West and continue to build towards the Olympics."
New Zealand finds themselves in the 'Pool of Death', drawn alongside Fiji, Samoa and France in Pool C whilst Series leaders Argentina are in Pool A along with Dubai winners South Africa, Canada and Spain.
Meanwhile, Tim Walsh's side will be in Pool A alongside Canada, Great Britain and Spain.
It will be the first time the Aussies face Canada since Dubai in 2022. On that day, the Australians produced a shutout 33-0 win on their way to the title.
As for Great Britain, the Australians have conceded just five points in their three encounters in the World Series.
This includes a 21-5 win in Hong Kong, with Charlotte Caslick and the Levi sisters scoring in the victory.
"We haven't played those teams in a while so we're excited. We know how strong they are, particularly Canada, who are quickly improving and definitely a team to watch out for," Walsh said.
After a nice break, we're fresh physically and mentally and ready to go after a good week and a half of training. Other than Demi being injured we're at a good fitness level, and we've got a really strong squad to pick a team from."
South Africa rounds out the pool, a team that they haven't faced since they won their way onto the World Series in 2023.
Cape Town runners up France will take on Fiji, Brazil and Spain in Pool B as defending Olympic champions New Zealand face USA, Ireland and Japan in Pool C.
Perth Sevens Pools
MEN'S
Pool A
Argentina, South Africa, Canada, Spain
Pool B
Australia, Ireland, Great Britain, USA
Pool C
Fiji, New Zealand, France, Samoa
WOMEN'S
Pool A
Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa
Pool B
France, Fiji, Brazil, Spain
Pool C
New Zealand, USA, Ireland, Japan
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 10:26 AM
Nathan Williamson
Both Australian teams have received welcoming pools ahead of January's home event in Perth.
The Men have been drawn alongside Ireland, Great Britain and the USA in Pool B for the third leg of the World Series on January 26-28.
John Manenti's side dropped their opener game in Dubai against the Irish, going down 19-12. However, they enjoy a favourable record, winning all five match-ups in 2023.
They have had similar success against the combined Great Britain side, winning five of their six matches, including a 34-5 win last May in Twickenham.
As for the USA, they produced a convincing 26-12 win in Dubai to take seventh, headlined by a double to Nathan Lawson.
"The men's competition is tough, there are no soft games. Ireland have been consistently finishing in the top four, Great Britain gets better the more they play together, and the USA have a host of superstars, including Perry Baker returning for Perth," Manenti said after the draw.
"We can't wait to get to the West and continue to build towards the Olympics."
New Zealand finds themselves in the 'Pool of Death', drawn alongside Fiji, Samoa and France in Pool C whilst Series leaders Argentina are in Pool A along with Dubai winners South Africa, Canada and Spain.
Meanwhile, Tim Walsh's side will be in Pool A alongside Canada, Great Britain and Spain.
It will be the first time the Aussies face Canada since Dubai in 2022. On that day, the Australians produced a shutout 33-0 win on their way to the title.
As for Great Britain, the Australians have conceded just five points in their three encounters in the World Series.
This includes a 21-5 win in Hong Kong, with Charlotte Caslick and the Levi sisters scoring in the victory.
"We haven't played those teams in a while so we're excited. We know how strong they are, particularly Canada, who are quickly improving and definitely a team to watch out for," Walsh said.
After a nice break, we're fresh physically and mentally and ready to go after a good week and a half of training. Other than Demi being injured we're at a good fitness level, and we've got a really strong squad to pick a team from."
South Africa rounds out the pool, a team that they haven't faced since they won their way onto the World Series in 2023.
Cape Town runners up France will take on Fiji, Brazil and Spain in Pool B as defending Olympic champions New Zealand face USA, Ireland and Japan in Pool C.
Perth Sevens Pools
MEN'S
Pool A
Argentina, South Africa, Canada, Spain
Pool B
Australia, Ireland, Great Britain, USA
Pool C
Fiji, New Zealand, France, Samoa
WOMEN'S
Pool A
Australia, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa
Pool B
France, Fiji, Brazil, Spain
Pool C
New Zealand, USA, Ireland, Japan