Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Murray Wenzel

Magnificent seven: Levi on record rugby pace

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.

The twin wins confirmed a 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 and the triple-Olympian has one so far in Paris.

Levi, who played AFLW for Gold Coast just nine weeks before her sevens debut in Tokyo, scored three times in that disappointing campaign.

Scorer of 69 world series tries this year, Levi's said to cross the line with every second touch.

On Sunday she bested that, rarely tackled as she finished off good work from playmaker Charlotte Caslick and speedsters Faith Nathan, Tia Hinds, Bienne Terita and bench spark Dominque du Toit.

Levi's younger sister Teagan was among Australia's best too, laying 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 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 Australia in any competition.

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

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.

"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," Walsh stressed.

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

Ireland were impressive in a 38-0 thumping of South Africa but lost 21-12 to Great Britain.

New Zealand brushed aside a Canadian challenge in the final game of the night to also secure two opening day wins, sitting atop Pool A.

The unbeaten United States and France will play for top spot in Pool C late on Monday (AEST).

The French women are yet to have a point scored against them as they look to unite the two rugby sevens titles after the success of the French men.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.