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Argentina claim third gold medal at London Sevens
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium with Argentina defeating Fiji to claim their third cup title of the season.
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Both finalists squeezed their semi-final opponents earlier in the day with Fiji beating Series champions New Zealand by 19-17 to make the final.
The All Blacks Sevens started fast with some punishing defence which led to a turnover try to Akuila Rokolisoa inside the first two minutes.
Another try to Dylan Collier gave them 12-0 lead with New Zealand looking dangerous. A third was on offer for Sam Dickson but a Waisea Nacuqu tackle dislodged the ball over the line.
It proved to be pivotal as Fiji stormed back to take a 14-12 lead before a Regan Ware try looked to have sealed it for New Zealand.
A turnover with sixty seconds to play gave Fiji one last chance. After a long break the Fijians received a penalty which saw a quick tap from Viwa Naduvalo to dive over and take the win.
In the other semi-final Argentina withstood a strong challenge from Samoa to win 10-7.
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Despite Fiji scoring first in the final, a red card to Josese Batirerega for a lifting tackle on Luciano Gonzalez drastically altered proceedings.
With an extra man Argentina were not to be denied their third gold of Series with a 35-14 victory.
German Schulz scored the first by splitting Fiji up the middle after a number of phases before speedster Marcos Moneta scored in similar fashion from a messy scrum.
Fiji were able to level scores at 14-all by half-time but the man advantage proved too much.
Rodrigo Isgro booted a long raking kick downfield for Moneta to chase, which the flying No 13 managed to pull in.
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A last-ditch tackle nearly saved the day but a Moneta offload back to Isgro gave Argentina a 21-14 lead.
Moneta set up Isgro again for his second try before scoring a double himself after many passes.
Argentina’s third gold after wins in Hamilton and Vancouver sealed second place for the Series, while Fiji claimed third overall.
In the bronze final of the London leg Samoa came away with their first win in a medal match in 10 attempts with a 24-19 win over New Zealand.
New Zealand being crowned 2023 Series champions, Australia claiming the final Paris 2024 Summer Olympics spot and Canada retaining core status with a passionate victory over Kenya in the 2024 Play-off.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments