THERE were some tense moments as she watched the dying seconds from the bench, but in the end Jakiya Whitfeld was able to celebrate another World Rugby Sevens Series gold medal triumph with her Australian team-mates.
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Things did not look good for the Bathurst talent and her team-mates as Ireland zipped out to 12-0 lead in the final played in Seville, Spain, on Sunday.
But Australia got on the board just before half-time, went on to lock it up at 12-all and then as extra-time looked almost certain, Faith Nathan crossed after the siren to seal a thrilling 17-12 win.
While Whitfeld was not actually used off the bench for the decider, that she still saw game time in Seville, celebrated on the podium, then posed for selfies with a gold medal around her neck was a bonus.
Having been part of the squad that finished with bronze a week earlier in the third round of the World Rugby Sevens Series in Malaga, Whitfeld was initially listed as a player who would be rested for Seville.
But she came off the bench in game one as Australia downed Belgium 38-0 and began their run to a third gold medal in four rounds of the series.
The Australians beat Spain 26-7, fell 12-10 in a tense game against France, hit back to crush Russia 41-0 in the quarter-final then accounted for team USA in the semi-finals 21-19.
Whitfeld was then selected on the bench for the final.
It means the former premiership winning Bathurst Bulldog now has 14 World Seven Series matches to her credit, the 20-year-old one of the emerging talents within the Australian squad.
The next round of the women's World Rugby Sevens Series will be played in Langford, Canada, from April 30-May 1, but there are also bigger things on the horizon for Whitfeld.
With the Commonwealth Games and Sevens World Cup on later this year, the Bathurst talent and her team-mates will continue to work hard on improving their skills and combinations.
"I think we were a little disappointed with how we went in Malaga, so we're happy to come away with the win," Australian captain Demi Hayes said.
"We'll be asking the group for a bit more consistency next tournament, but what more can you get than a win?"
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