Rio Olympics 2016: Sevens sledge fired up Australian women

A sledge prior to this morning's gold medal women's sevens match has come back to bite the New Zealand side.

Kiwi coach Sean Horan claimed: "The Australians don't like pressure, they don't like the physical side," and the Australians used that comment as motivation to overcome a slow start and secure the gold medal in Rio.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian coach Tim Walsh wrote the comment on the Aussie team's dressing room whiteboard to fire up his side.

It proved a masterstroke as the Australians overcame a fast start by the New Zealanders to ease away to a comfortable 24-17 win.

The Australians were hot favourites to win gold in Rio having had the measure of the New Zealanders in recent times. Their side is a melting pot of sporting talent brought together from different backgrounds with the sole purpose of winning Olympic gold.

After it was confirmed that sevens would become an Olympic sport in 2016 the ARU held a series of national talent searches across the country, where interested players were encouraged to come and try out. Girls from athletics, basketball, hockey, touch and rugby league backgrounds were brought together.

In the end that athleticism and the added motivation proved the difference between silver and gold.