- Australia’s rugby sevens team faced a shocking defeat against Canada
- The women’s team was anticipated to be a strong contender for the gold
- However, they were ousted in the semi-final in Paris
Emotions ran high for Australia’s rugby sevens women as they suffered a surprising defeat to Canada during the Olympic Games.
The Australians appeared unstoppable leading up to the semi-final match against the Canadians in France.
They seemed destined to advance to the final as Madison Levi scored with her first touch of the game, followed by another try shortly after.
However, a stunning long-range try from Charity Williams just before halftime caught Tim Walsh’s team off guard, and they quickly conceded once more after mistakes from the restart, culminating in Piper Logan’s decisive try from the scrum.
Canada maintained possession in the final minutes, continuing their impressive run after previously defeating the hosts, France, in the quarter-finals.
The reigning Olympic champions, Australia, had just clinched the world series final in Spain two months prior and seemed on course for a likely showdown against defending champions New Zealand for a second gold.
Instead, they now face the United States for the bronze medal, left in disbelief as they sat on the ground in the sweltering Paris heat, bewildered by the turn of events.
Several Australian players were visibly emotional, coming to terms with their unexpected exit. They are now set to compete for the bronze medal against the US later this evening local time.
Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team eliminated from Olympic semi-finals
The women’s team were expected to challenge for gold in Paris
‘It’s hard to believe how close we came,’ Levi shared with Eurosport.
‘We tried our best but couldn’t achieve what we aimed for in the end.’
When acknowledged for her individual performance, Levi remarked: ‘It’s great to score, but it’s heartbreaking to walk away without that gold medal. Individual success pales in comparison to the team’s success.’
Australia shocked by underdog Canada
Team member Charlotte Caslick stated, ‘There was a lot of pressure and expectation on us.’
She added: ‘Canada is a strong team, but we could have done better. We hope to conclude the tournament positively.’
