‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry; For anyone who calls Australia or New Zealand home, you know how intense, passionate and hotly contested all sporting rivalries are between neighboring countries. It can be rugby, football, cricket and many more, but they have extra fire when they play.
In the world of rugby sevens, the rivalry between the two countries is historically unlike any other. New Zealand has won the women’s SVNS series seven times and Australia has won the overall title three times.
England, Canada and the USA each made their mark with second-place finishes once, and France also claimed a runner-up finish in 2021/22 but it was during COVID that New Zealand joined late in the season.
‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry.
But, as the record books show, New Zealand and Australia have a habit of occupying the top two spots on the women’s circuit. The SVNS series looks a little different this season with the Grand Final in Madrid, with these two teams likely to challenge again.
Captain Charlotte Caslick told World Rugby earlier this week that the Australians were hoping to “go to the final with New Zealand”. The Black Ferns beat Australia in the sevens final in Singapore to win the league title so it would be nice to get one back.
After scoring a double in Australia’s 33-14 win over Ireland at Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid on Friday, Teagan Levy spoke about the importance of the event ahead of the Paris Olympics and the rivalry with the Black Ferns Sevens.
‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry.
The Aussies will welcome the opportunity to play against the Kiwis again.
“We want to go there and win all the games but we definitely want to win this one and lead into the Olympics,” Levy told RugbyPass.
“We’ll take it game by game and see how we go and hopefully we can get a good lead into the Olympics.
‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry.
“There’s always a rivalry between us and New Zealand and they knock us out so if we do our job and do what’s best for us,” he continued.
“We’ll take it game by game and see how we go and hopefully we can get a good lead into the Olympics.
“There’s always a rivalry between us and New Zealand and they knock us out so if we do our job and do what’s best for us,” he continued.
Australia finished second in the SVNS Series standings at the end of the regular season, but still had everything to play for in the winner-take-all tournament in the Madrid leg to determine the overall champion.
Captain Kaslik did not join the Aussies when they traveled to Singapore in early May, but after being named to return to the Spanish capital, the Olympic gold medalist led by example with some devastating hits in defence.
The rest of Australia’s squad also looked solid, with Tim Walsh’s side getting the job done with a commanding win over SVNS Perth winners Ireland. Teagan Levy doubles and so does older sister Madison.
“We wanted to start that strong.. Australia’s Teagan Levy. unfortunately we let them get away with two tries but in the end to come out 33-14, that was pretty good,” Teagan Levy said.
‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry.
But what has been more impressive is how the younger members of the squad have performed this season. Whether it was without Kaslic in Singapore or vice-captain Maddison Ashby suffering a knee injury in May, others have stepped up.
The Levy sisters have been outstanding this season, Faith Nathan has scored for fun, the pair of Tia Hinds and Isabella Nasser are both enjoying career best seasons and Ruby Nicholas has been reliable off the bench.
‘We’ll get them’: Australia’s Teagan Levy discusses intense SVNS rivalry.
When you consider that captain Demi Hayes suffered a knee injury in Cape Town last December, it’s truly incredible how the rest of the squad have been leading up to the Olympics.
“We always say if a person is not there to work, someone will step in and do the work for them.
We are all working as a team to achieve our individual goals.” for Australia’s Teagan Levy
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