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Australian coach’s praise for ‘quality player’ Marcos Moneta after Perth final
There might not be a better player on the SVNS Series than Argentina’s Marcos Moneta. In a competition that boasts so much star power and world-class skill, it’s tough to look past the Argentine.
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Moneta, 23, was part of Argentina’s historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics a few years ago, and he’s continued to play a leading role in their rise to SVNS Series stardom.
Argentina sits atop the SVNS Series men’s standings and Moneta is a big reason why. Los Pumas Sevens won Cup finals in Cape Town and Perth, with Moneta receiving Player of the Final honours after the decider in Australia on Sunday.
The Argentine, who was nominated for World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2023, scored eight tries in Perth including a double in the emphatic win over hosts Australia in the final.
A champion’s performance! 🏆
Marcos Moneta is the @HSBC_Sport Player of the Final!#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER | @lospumas7arg pic.twitter.com/MB5cdvcGe5
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
Moneta is a fan favourite among the Los Pumas Sevens’ fans, with the sevens superstar seen giving passionate supporters his socks about 20 minutes after they lifted the trophy.
But Moneta is also well-respected by players and coaches from rival teams. After losing the final on home soil, Australia coach John Manenti was still full of praise for Moneta.
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“Him and (the United States’) Perry (Baker) are probably the fastest two on the circuit,” Manenti told reporters on Sunday.
“He gets pace and he’s deadly but he’s got Argentinian soccer skills too, he can kick, he can grubber.
“He’s a quality player.
“Great for Darby (Lancaster) and (Henry) Palms to have to mark him and they’ll be better for the experience, as they were probably in a better game two against Perry Baker.
“They’re good learners and unfortunately you can’t get experience without being out there… you can look at vision but if he’s not the best finisher in the world I don’t know who is.”
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Australia are a very good sevens team. They got their 2023/24 season off to a slow start in Dubai, but back-to-back Cup finals in Cape Town and Perth has them up there with the best.
But Argentina are a class above.
Los Pumas Sevens were either running around or through the Australian defensive line in the Perth final, but it’s not like the Aussies were making it easy for them. Argentina are just that good.
Moneta stole the show with a double but other players, including Luciano Gonzalez, Rodrigo Isgro and the powerful German Schulz only add to their incredible squad across the park.
“They’ve got (Luciano) Gonzalez who is a wrecking ball in the midfield,” Manenti added. “We were throwing the kitchen sink and him and he kept staying on his feet.
“They’ve got quality players but we’ll just keep working and improving and collectively we’ll mow them down slowly and slowly.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
140 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
140 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
140 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
140 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
140 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
140 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
140 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
140 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
140 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
140 Go to commentsHo hum.
140 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
140 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
140 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
140 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
140 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
140 Go to comments