Team first approach for Australian Sevens despite Levi's record-setting pace

Mon, Jul 29, 2024, 2:24 AM
AW
by AAP and Nathan Williamson
Maddison Levi is on the verge of an Olympic record. Photo: Getty Images
Maddison Levi is on the verge of an Olympic record. Photo: Getty Images

Australia's rugby sevens "cheat code" Maddison Levi is on track to break records after a magnificent seven-try haul in two wins to begin the side's Paris campaign.

Levi scored four times in a 34-5 defeat of South Africa before she was benched after notching a hat-trick in a 36-5 win over Great Britain on Sunday.

Watch every Rugby Sevens match from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ad-free, live and on demand in 4K on Stan Sport and live on Nine and 9Now.

The twin wins saw Australia confirm their quarter-final spot ahead of a final pool game against Ireland on Monday.

The most tries in any Olympic campaign is 10, with New Zealand's Portia Woodman hitting double figures in the sport's Games debut in Rio, won by Australia.

Woodman scored five more in Tokyo to sit atop the Games aggregate, but the triple Olympian didn't cross the line in New Zealand's first game in Paris, crossing in their second.

There was adversity against Great Britain too when Teagan Levi was yellow-carded for a professional foul and the Australians went down 5-0.

But Tim Walsh's side didn't panic, winning possession then getting the ball out wide to Maddison Levi, who broke a tackle and raced 65m to score.

Walsh stressed that there was more to it than just throwing the ball to Levi.

"Maddi has a role and that's to finish ... it isn't the 'Maddi show', it's the 'Aussie sevens women's show' and she's a beneficiary," he said.

"It takes an army to allow Maddi to do those kinds of things, but she's pretty handy."

Sister Teagan was among the side's best on Sunday too, laying some thunderous tackles, converting from the sideline and scoring a try in each game in her Olympic debut.

"She is awesome, she is our little cheat code out there," Teagan said of her sister. 

"I am lucky to have her on my side. I would hate to be against her. She is such an amazing athlete, but if the people inside her don't do their job, then she doesn't get the balls outside.

"It is pretty special to play an Olympics, but by your sister's side is also very special."

Australia will potentially play the rest of the tournament without Kaitlin Shave, who injured her knee in one of her first involvements against South Africa.

Injury reserve Kahli Henwood has been drafted in to replace her, the rookie's Olympic debut also her first for Australian in any competition.

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