AUSTRALIA may have -suffered a heartbreaking loss after the siren to rival New Zealand in the Sydney sevens final yesterday, but the foundations are set for the young side to make a charge towards an Olympic medal. 
New coach Andy Friend took Australia nearly all the way in his first tournament, with only a try after regulation time by Kiwi sensation Rieko Ioane sinking the locals' hopes at a packed Allianz Stadium.
New Zealand won 27-24, with Ioane bagging a hat-trick of tries - including two in the last five minutes - but the Australian "Thunderbolts" could have easily claimed their first World Series win in seven years after leading 24-22 and with possession in the dying seconds.
Wallabies recruit Henry Speight took the ball into contact and was held up, giving New Zealand a vital turnover with just five seconds left on the clock.
The Kiwis spread it to the right wing where Australia's defence held firm, but two phases later they flung it back to the left where the flying Ioane, just 18, sprinted over to the -delight of his teammates and Kiwis in the crowd.
"They were gutted after that," Friend said.
"I told them they should be really proud of that performance. Two games, 34 minutes against New Zealand and we're three points behind them, but we've got to be better." Friend staunchly denied Australia lacked belief against its arch rival. He emphasised that the confidence in the team, which had been knocked out in the quarter--finals of the past three tournaments, had lifted -immensely.
"We've just got to keep -improving," he said.
"I think there's some special things ahead for this group." "It's really important (for the Olympics).
"I said last week ideally we want to be competing for a gold or silver medal in these competitions and to do that you know you can do it in seven months." It was the second time in two weeks that New Zealand had scored a try after the siren to win a world series final.
It -followed the Kiwis' victory over South Africa in Wellington last Sunday. But for Australia, the losing result was still a big step forward as it prepares for the Rio Olympic Games in   August.
The performance of rising 18-year-old star Henry Hutchison, who scored two tries in the decider, suggests Australia has unearthed a genuine weapon to support Cameron Clark.
And the tireless Lewis Holland, Australia's best player over the two days, reinforced the hard-working culture within the team that allowed it to claim gruelling wins over the more fancied England and South Africa line-ups.
RUGBY 7s FINAL AUSTRALIA 24 NEW ZEALAND 27at Allianz Stadium, Sydney