Australia And New Zealand Women Face-Off For Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Semifinal

The two leading womens teams of the HSBC SVNS Series, who were also the 2023 finalists in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, are set to play in a highly-anticipated women’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Semifinal.

The match will be played at 13:17 on Sunday, April 7th 2024 (Hong Kong time)  –  Feature Photo Credit: Mike Lee/ World Rugby

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Semifinal – Aus vs NZ

This, as has been well documented, will be the last-ever Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium, and only the second year the women have played in this iconic venue. New Zealand had bragging rights in 2023, beating Australia in the final, but this weekend lost to France in their final pool match which set up this mouthwatering semifinal in 2024.

There are lots of milestones being passed in Hong Kong too.

Photo Credit: Mike Lee/ World Rugby – Michaela Blyde

Ever-threatening NZ player Michaela Blyde earned her 50th cap this weekend in Hong Kong and told us after the French pool match loss, “It’s only the second time we have got to play in Hong Kong, and honestly I wish there was more. The women’s game has just been growing so fast and Im grateful to have another opportunity in Hong Kong.

This stadium and this crowd are absolutely insane so we are stoked to be a part of the atmosphere.”

The Australian women’s captain, Charlotte Caslick, whose team completed three pool wins but were made to work for them and battled over Japan in their quarterfinal win, said; “We have been a little bit rusty and our skills execution hasn’t been the best. Our restart receptions have been letting us down a little bit.

We have held our composure so far and we have had to use the squad depth which is great for the girls to get an opportunity but we are missing some key players due to injury or suspension.”

Caslick reached 300 HSBC SVNS matches on Saturday in Hong Kong and on earning the chance of winning in Hong Kong, one of the superstars of women’s rugby, said; “It would be so important to win. It is obviously the last one at this stadium so it would be a really memorable experience to be able to win this one.

I guess moving forward into Paris and the Olympics we want to keep building momentum and the more wins we can get under our belts the better.”

Photo Credit: Mike Lee/ World Rugby

Australian teammate and lethal try scorer Madi Levi agreed that the team had not played their best. “I think the exciting thing is, we are not playing our best footy but we are still working as it’s an effort game and getting the results. I think it proves we love to play for each other and to defend until the final whistle has gone and it shows a lot of confidence.”

Sunday is the third day of action and it takes a toll on these athletes. “We pride ourselves on being such a good running team for circumstances like this and on a hard field like this – it takes its toll on the body by day 3.

You feel a lot more tired than usual. I guess that is why we have so much depth in our team and can swap and change when needed, but we can only take it game by game and focus on that, and the end result will come,” said Levi.

Blyde re-affirmed there was a strong ambition to win in this stadium one last time. “We are here to win. France was a clinical team and we have not played them in a pool in a long time so it was good for some of the girls to experience that kind of pressure game. We didn’t adapt fast enough so it was good learning for the knockout games. This is a good opportunity for us to be tested physically and mentally.”

You can see all of the results from Hong Kong here.

Enjoying The Little Moments

Charlotte Caslick added that enjoying the occasion was an important part of playing. “It’s a massive focus for us to enjoy the journey to get there, We all sacrifice a lot and work really hard but the outcome at the end of the day is never really guaranteed.

We have to enjoy the journey and it is something this group is really good at doing and we celebrate the milestones along the way. We are enjoying the season so far but we would like to get back to the form we had last season and I think we are back up to that.”

Role Models For Future Rugby Stars

Levi has shot to fame in the Sevens game and said it was fantastic to see so many young fans out in Hong Kong. “It’s super important, and I say all of the time that I once was a young girl aspiring to be here, and I can show that by working hard you could play for your country. I love interacting with  the crowd and meeting young fans to give them something to strive for.”

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Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Week 2024

• Grey Weather Didn’t Stop A Colourful Second Day At The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 & Melrose Claymores Get Off To A Raucous Start.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Captains Salute Hong Kong Stadium.
• Max Woodward – What Makes Playing In Hong Kong So Special.