Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team faces a challenging position following a disappointing 21-12 defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the revamped Hong Kong Sevens on Friday. New Zealand established an early dominance, with Amanaki Nicole scoring two tries and Sofai Maka adding another, leading to a 21-0 advantage at one point in the first half.
Despite the setbacks, Australia managed to bounce back with two tries from Aden Ekanayake and Jayden Blake as New Zealand began to falter. However, Australian coach Liam Barry expressed his frustration, stating that his team’s inability to maintain possession contributed significantly to their loss. “Super disappointing,” he remarked, highlighting that they conceded three tries due to pressure and spent five minutes without the ball in the first half.
As the tournament progresses, Australia now faces a critical match against South Africa at 11:39 PM on Friday (AEDT). Barry acknowledged the need for his players to work hard and intensify their game, reflecting on their current sixth place in the tournament compared to New Zealand’s seventh.
Barry’s comments underscored a sense of urgency within the squad, as they must refine their strategies and increase their accuracy to succeed in forthcoming matches. While they displayed moments of promise during the game, their failure to convert opportunities proved costly.
The Hong Kong Sevens, a significant event in rugby, continues to attract attention, and former All Blacks player Barry emphasised the importance of improvement for his team moving forward. Fans remain hopeful for a turnaround as the tournament unfolds.