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Another bottom-two finish for Ireland men on HSBC SVNS Series

Ireland's Mark Roche (C) catches the ball during the pool C HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series men's rugby match between Argentina and Ireland at the Cape Town stadium in Cape Town on December 7, 2024. (Photo by Rodger Bosch / AFP) (Photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

Ireland’s men’s side have finished in the bottom two for the second time in as many HSBC SVNS Series events this season after another tough weekend. The Irish finished second-last at the first stop of the campaign in Dubai and they’re dealt a similar fate at SVNS Cape Town.

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Following a tough loss to Australia on the second day of play at DHL Stadium, Ireland were left scraping it out with Uruguay in a bid to avoid the wooden spoon. But with the men in green down on cattle with only one sub providing rest and reprieve, it was always going to be tough.

Catch up on the action from the HSBC SVNS Series live on RugbyPass TV, which you can sign up for HERE.

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Paris Olympian Mark Roche crawled over for Ireland’s one and only try of the contest as they came from behind to level the score at 7-all. The match went to golden point, with Guillermo Lijtenstein’s effort in the 18th minute securing a second-last finish for the Uruguayans.

Ireland finished last and will go into the new year as the lowest-ranked side on the overall men’s standings. They’ll have another four more events to turn their season around as they fight to avoid a relegation playoff by qualifying for the World Championship event in Los Angeles.

The event in Cape Town was always going to be a tough one, but a new format made it even more difficult for all teams involved. The 12 men’s and women’s teams were spread across four pools instead of three, with the top-ranked side in each group qualifying for the final four.

To make the semi-finals, teams basically needed to go undefeated throughout their two pool stage fixtures, but Ireland were beaten 36-7 first up by hosts South Africa. Having been drawn in a pool of death, the Irish also went down to last season’s League Winners Argentina 29-7.

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Ireland showed plenty of fight and character in their ninth-place semi-final against Australia but it wasn’t to be in the end. James Turner scored the opener for the Aussies, but Bryan Mollen’s effort in the seventh minute saw the Irish lead 7-5 at the half-time break.

Australia’s Michael Icely was sent to the sin bin during the second term but last season’s SVNS Cape Town Cup finalists still managed to have the only point-scoring say in that period. Hayden Sargeant scored in the 12th minute, with the Aussies going on to win a thriller 12-7.

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As a reminder, Ireland only had one replacement during that contest, and it was a man once believed to be retired. Harry McNulty, who has been hosting several SVNS Series shows that are now available on RugbyPass TV, came off the pine in the sixth minute.

Ireland’s efforts must be recognised.

But the SVNS show also went on. With a Lucas Lacamp hat-trick inspiring the USA to a much-needed 26-14 win over Uruguay in the other ninth-place semi-final, the stage was set for a battle to avoid last place.

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The Irish hadn’t faced the newly promoted Uruguayans so far this season, with the Uruguayans earning promotion off the HSBC Challenger Series in 2024. Uruguay had suffered a shocking 70-7 loss to Fiji on the opening day of play, but they showed against Ireland they’re a quality side.

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I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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