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Dave Rennie explains Noah Hotham omission and possible Carter switch
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Australia’s SVNS hoodoo
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If there’s one bogey tournament Australia would love to take out this SVNS Series, it’s Singapore.
Yet, as always, there are two familiar foes ready to stall any Aussie momentum – Fiji and New Zealand.
Since the inaugural tournament in 2002, the Aussie men have racked up five semi-final appearances and a lone Cup Final but have never won gold at the National Stadium.
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It’s hardly fair to lump in the Aussie women who finished runners-up in last year’s inaugural women’s tournament but the fact remains Singapore silverware has eluded all comers from Down Under.
2026 again looks a daunting task with Liam Barry’s side drawn in Pool B alongside Argentina, France and New Zealand, while Tim Walsh’s charges must navigate a tricky Pool A featuring Fiji, Japan and the USA.
However, with a new year comes new expectations and these Australian squads are primed to break new ground as eyes turn to their home Series leg in February.
Bella Nasser’s women bounced back from silver in Dubai with a Cape Town title while Henry Hutchison’s men were a try away from gold in Dubai last year.
Victory in Singapore this month would send Australian fans and media into a frenzy ahead the Perth SVNS – but their Pacific neighbours have other ideas.
Defending champions Fiji (five titles) and New Zealand (four titles) have dominated the men’s honour roll while the Black Ferns Sevens didn’t miss a beat in last year’s 31-21 inaugural women’s decider.
The All Blacks Sevens certainly enjoy beating the Aussies in Singapore – most recently in a hard-fought 2024 Cup Semi Final — while Fiji inflicted their most agonising defeat of all in the 2018 decider.
The Trans-Tasman rivalry is running hotter than ever this Series with Australia and New Zealand contesting three of the four Cup Finals so far and Fiji sitting second and sixth on the men’s and women’s ladders respectively.
