Infotainment Factory: Aussie sevens champs burst pool in celebration chaos

Australia's champion women's sevens team celebrated its Cape Town title with a wild pool party after beating France 29-26 in a thrilling final on Monday (AEDT).

The victory made it two tournament wins from two for Tim Walsh's classy outfit, who also claimed gold medals at the opening leg of the 2023-24 SVNS series in Dubai last weekend.

Organisers then invited the Aussies and the victorious Argentina men's team to hop in the sideline pool to splash around and lap up their success.

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Aussie women win Cape Town Sevens, destroy pool

But the pool burst with all the excitement, flooding the sidelines and sending photographers scurrying for cover.

Injured Aussie star Demi Hayes - who missed the final after hurting her knee - even got in on the action, piggybacking a teammate to safety on the medal dais while wearing a leg brace.

"Everybody out of the pool!" Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney implored in between fits of laughter.

"That's a first, we've never seen that, ever. In fact, we've never had an Argentina win in Cape Town and an Aussie women win and we've never had a 2000 litre swimming pool burst its walls."

Australia had led 22-0 at one stage in the final but superstar Maddison Levi was sent off for a high tackle and France came roaring back.

"It was just a really gutsy effort," captain Charlotte Caslick said.

"Obviously finishing the game with only six players – we played France last week and also had a red card, so to do that two weeks in a row, just super brave from the girls and I'm so proud of them. We had Dem in the back of our mind out there and we're hoping to get some positive results from her scans later.

"We love coming to Cape Town, to win here, and to go back to back as well – we haven't done that for a really long time, so it's set our season up really well."

The Australian women were the first Olympic winners in 2016 but missed out in Tokyo.

Australia celebrate. Photo: Mike Lee/KLC Fotos

France upset New Zealand, the defending two-time Cape Town champions, in the semis to reach their first final since January.

Then they were overwhelmed, initially, by Australia, who forced ruck turnovers.

Tries by Levi - a pair - Faith Nathan and Sharni Smale gave Australia a 22-0 lead after six minutes.

Australia's Isabella Nasser and Teagan Levi celebrate a try. Photo: Mike Lee/KLC Fotos

France rallied in extra time with a pair of Anne-Cecile Ciofani tries to close to 22-14 and a bonus of starting the new half with an extra player.

Levi was red carded for a shoulder hit to the head of Camille Grassineau.

Australia also conceded a red card against France in the Dubai semis and prevailed.

France closed to 22-19 with a try by captain Carla Neisen from Caroline Drouin's cross-field kick, but Kaitlin Shave secured victory for Australia by beating Ciofani and scoring between the posts with a minute left.

The French came within three again after Joanna Grisez's converted try but the restart kick went too deep to contest and Australia celebrated.

It was also a strong tournament for Australia's men, who exceeded expectations to claim silver after losing 45-12 to Argentina in the final.

Australia's Ben Dowling attacks at Cape Town Stadium. Photo: Mike Lee/KLC Fotos

The Aussies stunned hosts and Dubai champs South Africa 28-0 in the quarter-finals before outclassing Fiji 24-7 in the semis.

John Manenti's side had finished a disappointing seventh in Dubai.

"This week was about taking a step forward from last week – I think we did that. We beat South Africa in South Africa for the first time and then rolled a hot Fiji side. We'll work towards Perth and going one better," Manenti said.

The next leg in Perth runs from January 26-28.

The Argentina men blew Australia away a week after reaching their first Dubai final.

In this calendar year and including last season, Argentina has appeared in eight of 10 finals, more than any other team.

Their progress since winning the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021 signals they are gunning for a medal upgrade in Paris at the end of this series.

The final became one sided after Australia captain Nick Malouf was sinbinned.

By halftime Argentina was up 28-0.

German Schulz scored from an intercept, Santiago Mare scooped up a kind bounce, and Marcos Moneta went over followed by Matias Osadczuk.

Australia sent on Dietrich Roache who set up one try and scored another to make it 28-12, but Argentina's class came through with three more tries - a second for Osadczuk from a step and fend, then Tomas Elizalde after he toed on a loose pass, and finally captain Santiago Alvarez from an overlap.

The Aussie men now equal fifth on the 2023-24 standings.