Australia Rallies From 14-0 to Win Rugby Sevens Title

When Australia trailed South Africa 14-0 after just three minutes in last weekend's rugby sevens final, most teams would have panicked.

Instead, the Australians saw an opportunity. "We weren't really that worried," player James Turner told ABC Sport. "We knew we just needed to get the ball."

What happened next in Valladolid, Spain, was nothing short of remarkable. Turner sparked the comeback himself, beating three defenders to score late in the first half. Three more Australian players crossed the line, and suddenly they led 26-14 with three minutes remaining.

The drama wasn't over. Turner received a red card for accidental contact during a tackle. South Africa scored with 30 seconds left. Then they appeared to score again after the final siren, which would have forced overtime.

But officials reviewed the play and spotted a forward pass. The try was disallowed. Australia had won their first tournament on the World Rugby circuit in four years.

The victory capped an unbeaten weekend for the Australian men, who also beat South Africa in earlier pool play. The women's team won their division too, defeating the USA 27-14 in their final.

Australia hadn't swept both men's and women's titles at the same tournament since 2018. Now both teams head into this weekend's championship finale in Bordeaux with momentum on their side.

The Bright Side

The Australian men jumped from sixth to third place in World Championship standings after their Valladolid triumph. They trail only South Africa and Argentina heading into the final round.

Turner credits the team's resilience to their love of pressure situations. "We thrive in it," he explained. Their 26 unanswered points against the tournament favorites proved it.

The competition remains wide open. Spain, who beat Australia in Hong Kong, waits in their pool. Every match feels like a championship game now.

Turner wouldn't want it any other way. "Everyone in our competition can win it, and that is sort of what makes it a bit more exciting," he said. "Every game is sort of a grand final."

The stress keeps building as Bordeaux approaches, but this Australian team has learned to turn pressure into fuel.