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Argentina crowned SVNS Series League winners for the first time
Argentina have been crowned the men’s SVNS Series League winners for the first time ever after overcoming a valiant South Africa outfit in a thrilling match at Singapore’s National Stadium.
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Los Pumas Sevens had an opportunity to secure the prestigious title on Saturday evening in a crunch contest with Series heavyweights Ireland but ended up losing that quarter-final 21-5.
The Irish moved on to the SVNS Singapore semi-finals but the Argies remained in the box seat to claim the crown. Argentina would have another chance to make history against South Africa.
It’s true the fifth-place playoff isn’t usually the game of the weekend, but thousands in attendance at the Singaporean venue couldn’t look away if they tried as two Titans clashed.
THEY’VE DONE IT 🇦🇷
Such an emotional reaction as Argentina and head coach Santiago Gómez Cora celebrate their nation’s first ever #HSBCSVNS league title 🏆#HSBCSVNSSGP pic.twitter.com/JPOjGMPrlk
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 5, 2024
Argentina needed to win but that looked somewhat unlikely at one stage as South Africa ran up a strong lead, but Los Pumas Sevens – as they have all season – stood up when it mattered.
Agustin Fraga got the Argies back into the contest with an 11th-minute try, but Tobias Wade was the hero. The playmaker crossed under the sticks for the title-winning score in the final minute.
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For Argentina Sevens legend Gaston Revol, who played his 100th international tournament earlier this season in Cape Town, “it’s been such a long time” coming on the Series.
“So many moments, good and bad moments. The journey was really difficult,” Gaston told RugbyPass and a couple of other reporters.
“We kept on trying, kept on training, kept on believing in this team and I think we have the prize that we deserve.
“It’s incredible to be here at this moment. Here and in every other tournament at my age, I’m 37 years old and I’m still here with these guys, these great players.
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“They are the ones that made the major difference on the field.”
Argentina were practically unstoppable during the first half of the season with Los Pumas Sevens going winning three finals on the bounce from four appearances in Cup final deciders.
They famously broke the pool after winning the title in Cape Town, celebrated with hundreds of Argentina fans at Perth’s HBF Park, and got the better of New Zealand in Vancouver’s big dance.
But after losing to Ireland in the Los Angeles quarter-finals and then failing to make it out of the group stage at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, it all came down to Singapore.
Ireland’s Harry McNulty was out signing autographs and taking selfies with supporters on Sunday with South Africa in a commanding position over Argentina in the decisive fixture.
Tiaan Pretorius scored in the second minute and Siviwe Soyizwapi added another shortly after as the Blitzboks took control. But as the game went on, more and more passes went to the ground.
Argentina rallied at half-time and ultimately made their opponents – who beat them in the Dubai final way back in December – pay.
“That was tough,” Gaston said when asked about the half-time huddle.
“But this is our team – this is us. In the difficult moments, we get together and do things like winning the match.
“(At half-time) one of the guys said in the (huddle) that we could, that we have to trust and we did that,” he added. “We started to believe.”
Catch up on all the latest SVNS Series action from the 2023/24 season on RugbyPass TV. SVNS Singapore is live and free to watch, all you need to do is sign up HERE.
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Comments on RugbyPass
‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
7 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to comments