Australia Sevens star Demi Hayes believes last Sunday's win is one of the most exciting in her career as she reflected on the final chaotic minutes of the two-point win over New Zealand.
Hayes and Charlotte Caslick were the only other players left in the Australian side with over 20 caps after Maddison Levi (thumb) and Faith Nathan (concussion) were ruled out on the final day.
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However, the young squad rallied for a famous Final victory against their trans-Tasman rivals, their first on home soil since 2018.
"I think it was one of the most exciting wins I've ever been a part of with this team," Hayes told Rugby.com.au as the team prepared to return home from WA.
I think the fact that our younger and inexperienced girls came on and made such a big difference, it was their second, third and fourth tournament so to see them excel at get the win, it felt amazing."
Hayes was quick to settle the side after the injuries, praising their ability to overcome adversity whilst staying calm.
"I think we've been quite good at practising certain scenarios at training if things like, you know, a yellow card or an injury occurs," she notes.
"In moments like that, we know that we're able to step up but to see those girls actually perform to, you know, some of their best, I think is pretty amazing. I think we just kept it really calm."
The calmness came in handy late when a last-second error nearly led to disaster.
With a two-point lead thanks to a missed Black Ferns conversion, Australia won the restart back and Hayes and Caslick sought to control the game and ensure NZ didn't touch it again.
As the hooter sounded a spilled pass by Mackenzie Davis led to a scramble, with Davis recovering to dive on the ball, absorbing the contact of the defenders to hold out the game.
"I saw that we were up by two and we had about 20 seconds to go," Hayes recalled. "So, I carried it hard and told Mackenzie to latch (to) me to make sure that we secured that ball.
"We'd practised how to manage the clock and play out the game and Mackenzie knew her role and then I think Charlotte was in a position to kick it out and then pass it to Mackenzie and she panicked. We were very, very calm until that last little moment and then she grabbed it in goal and we were all so, so excited.
"I think Mackenzie was a little bit sad that she didn't quite know what was happening with all the emotions going on but it was a big sigh of relief after that final whistle.
"...It'll make Mackenzie a better player for making that mistake but at the end of the day when the siren goes and knock on, as long as we're securing the ball, it's the end of the game. So, it wasn't the worst thing that she did for us."
Hayes also was quick to credit Heidi Dennis for her performance, named Player of the Final.
Dennis was thrust into the starting side after Levi and Nathan's injury and proved the difference with a double.
"I love Heidi and she's such a beautiful person," Hayes remarked.
"She doesn't often show too much confidence or dominance physically or mentally before the game, she's very nervous and inexperienced but I said to her when we ran on the field to back herself and go have some fun.
"I think that was super evident in that first moment that she palmed off the New Zealand girl and went to score. As soon as she did that, I knew she was in the game and she was ready to fire.
"She just has such an amount of aggression and she's such a good footy player. I was so proud of her and she 100% deserved to win that Player of the Final.
