Swiss Women's 7s National Team takes 6th place in European Championship Div A

June 13-14, 2015, Kaunas (LTU) – The Swiss Women’s 7s National Team played in the Rugby Europe 7s Division a Championship in Kaunas on the weekend of June 13-14, 2015. The first four teams of this tournament qualified for a place in the European Olympic Qualification tournament in July in Lisbon, so there was a lot to play for in this Division A tournament. Belgium, Sweden, Finland, and Roumania took the first 4 spots, thereby qualifying for the European Olympic Qualification Tournament, with Switzerland narrowly missing out with a 6th place finish.

Results for Switzerland:

GEO 0 - 20 SUI
ROU 10 - 12 SUI
SUI 17 - 12 NOR
SUI 7 - 12 FIN
SUI 12 - 10 CZE
POL 34 - 0 SUI

Final Ranking:
Switzerland: 6th Place

REPORT BY HEAD COACH PETRA TRETTER:

It was to proof if the Swiss Team could profit from the intense preparation in kind of three tournaments in a row. For sure it had a huge impact on the spirit in the team which was very good and relaxed, and also on the procedure around every game which was clear and well known for all players and staff.

The 3 goals of day one were clear communicated, so time to start with the first game on Saturday vs. Georgia, who the Swiss Cadre Team and the Development Team played in Stanislas, and which both Teams have beaten. A presserful defense led Georgia making mistakes and loosing the ball. A a pressureful attack was bringing the opposition in troubles and as expected the Swiss played superior. The result was 20 points to 0 and the Swiss were able to gain a lot of self confidence for the next game vs. Romania and reached to first goal of the day to win the game.

Romania is one of the Teams that made a huge step up since the last few years, it is a quick and agil Team. They have beaten us last year by 4 to 2 tries. To play them as a second game of the day was a good initial position. The well attuned Team made a thriller out of the game. Romania scored the first try in the second half of the game and a few minutes later Switzerland reached the Romania Team on a weak side and equalized the score but with a convertion to 5 to 7 for the Swiss Team. A minute later Romania found a gap in the Swiss defense line and scored again but could not convert. There were 45 seconds left after the restart kick. The Swiss Team catched this ball attacked on the left side got tackled there, had a great support in the ruck situation and passed the ball out to the right wing who used the overlap and scored in the very last second. There was no convertion needed. The signal for the end of the game was made and after the convertion kick the Referee whistled the end of the game. The joy was outstanding. To beat Romania is not just an easy thing to do since they became 3rd last year at the Championship. Well done Switzerland.

Another interesting game, to win it was the third goal of the day, was the match vs. Norway. The third goal was to beat the nordish Team. It looked like the Swiss Team wanted to repeat the thrill of the prior game. Although the game was well fought by the Swiss, it showed some technical mancos in defense but thanks to great back tackles after a break through the line Switzerland could prevent more than one successful attack of Norway. Norway played much better then the last year, scored the first try and led the game a few minutes before halftime with 7 points. With a great combination out to the wing, with a fantastic try the score could be equalized to 7 vs. 7. Norway made more pressure, Switzerland as well, both scored another try and shortly before the end of the game the board showed a stand of 12 vs.12 points. The official buzzer signal went already off, but the last action was still going. And the last action ment again a pass out to the wing using the overlap and scoring a fantastic try for the end result of 17 to 12 for Switzerland. Those two games showed how close loosing and winning are and that everything is possible in Sevens, also for the Swiss National Team. They became first of the group C and second in the whole ranking and very happy about their performance on day one. 

In the games of the quater finals the games are physically much more demanding and therefore thougher to win, but the possibility to reach one of the four first places were still intact and that became the goal of the second day. The most important match is always the next one and that was against another nordic Team. Finland reached the 6th place in the ranking at the ECS last year in Bergen. A strong opposition and that was visible from the first minute on the pitch. Eventhough the Swiss Team scored first due to hard fighting, confusing the Finnish defense line and using the possibility to score the first points. Finland fought back, equalized the score and had, this time unfortunately, the more thrilling game and the luck on their side. They scored again to the result of 7 vs.12 for them. Only a few seconds left to hit back after the re-start kick for the Swiss Team. They started a shivering last action, but this time it ended only a few meters before the tryline. Sad and disapointed the dream to be one of the Teams in Portugal had to be given up. 

Second game was against the Czech Republic to reach a spot in the semi finals for the 5th - 8th ranking. Still an open bill from the encounter at the ECS in their home country two years ago when they have beaten us with a better and more agil game. and therefore a very tide game. Both Teams played solid Sevens Rugby, they were even up also in tries with 2 vs. 2, but the better success in conversion made the difference like many little things in Rugby can make a huge impact. The Swiss Team had great one on one situations with striking hand offs and a general better game. The result was pro Switzerland with 12 to 10 points but a dislocated finger.

Another last game was deciding over winning the fith ranking and the plate trophy or reaching the 6th ranking. Not enough physical strength, maybe also a bit dissapointment due to en injury in the prior game, Poland let the Swiss Team almost no chance. Every Swiss player was fighting hard, tackling tough, running after the quick Polish players, but there were no means anymore, no magic impact, no thrill that could have made the final result of 34 points to 0 for Switzerland any better. A bitter pill at the end, that didn’t adequately reflected the all in all good performance of the Swiss Team who became 6th in this European Championship. 3 places better than last year and the proof that three preparation tournaments where elementary.

Thanks to a great coaching team work, superb captain work, outstanding physio and manager work and a huge extra step both technically and mentally of the Team, although it did not send us to Portugal to fight for the Olympic qualification, it let us back with a high motivated group of players. If the work with the Development Team continues, new talents will be discovered, more young players will be prepared and ready to play for the Cadre Team and it will be a promissing future for the SWISS WOMEN’S SEVENS RUGBY TEAM.

Players Cadre Team: Captain: DUSS Esther, AEBISCHER Kirstin, ANDREY Kim, BOSSHARD, Rahel, CASPARIS Carole, FUX Selina, HAYMOZ Simone, JACKMAN Viola, MANI Ramona, PAGNOT Claire, STAMM Aida, ULLMANN Fabienne.

Coaching Crew: TRETTER Petra - Headcoach, STUART Chris - Technical Coach, POKORNY Daniela - Managerin, MUNSTERMAN Cynthia - Physio