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Cody Vai says ‘this is not it’ for All Blacks Sevens after Hong Kong triumph
All Blacks Sevens ace Cody Vai has vowed that “this is not it” for the New Zealanders this season after they claimed a drought-breaking Cup final title at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday.
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Reigning Series champions New Zealand claimed a hard-earned bronze medal at the season’s first event in Dubai last December but a lack of consistency has cost the Kiwis in the five events since.
New Zealand have missed the quarter-finals twice during the 2023/24 season, and other than the Hong Kong Sevens they’ve only made one other Cup final which was a defeat to Argentina in Vancouver.
But there are signs of promise, and with a first-ever Grand Final event in Madrid only a couple of months away, there’s every reason for New Zealand rugby fans to be excited as the SVNS Series nears its finale.
The All Blacks Sevens have successfully defended their crown at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium by going back-to-back after beating a tough French outfit 10-7 in a historic decider. With the Hong Kong Sevens potentially relocating to Kai Trek Sports Park from 2025, the New Zealanders have etched their names into the history books.
“It means a lot to us,” New Zealand’s Cody Vai told RugbyPass on the field after the epic finale at the Hong Kong Sevens.
“Hong Kong is one of the ones that we want to turn around and (we’ll) probably go up from there until the Olympics.
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“This is not it. This is part of the journey and the end journey is obviously the Olympics.”
About this time last year, when the All Blacks Sevens lifted the Hong Kong Sevens trophy, Cody Vai was the new kid on the SVNS Series block.
As a youngster with plenty of potential, Vai showed signs of promise and excellence as the All Blacks Sevens went on to claim Cup final glory. Now, a year on, Vai is a two-time champion at the spiritual home of the sport.
“I think it’s a bit more special,” Vai explained when asked if this was as special as last year’s victory.
“Some of the boys in this team right now have never won a Hong Kong. To win it with them is a better feeling because they’ve been in the team for a while and this was one of their goals and I’m happy to achieve it with them.
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“It’s all in the team. They’re making it easier for me. They do their job, I do my job and it’s teamwork.”
The All Blacks Sevens, who were sixth on the overall SVNS Series standings before the event in Hong Kong China, have moved up one place to fifth.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is like the “catches win matches" saying in cricket. If ABs were pragmatic and kicked for goal instead of hunting tries, I reckon they win that game with ease. Instead, nearly 6 months later; we have World Rugby's official mouthpiece celebrating their Almost Won the Rugby World Cup trophy. Fine Victory Gentleman! Well-earned!!
72 Go to comments“…the All Blacks nearly won…” is the only phrase you need to concern yourself with relative to this “journalistic” piece. Enjoy your Almost Won the World Cup victory…
72 Go to commentsAw common. Stop winging. There were no errors by officials. It is all recorded. Whose fault was the Cane red card? Or the Savea knock? Maybe the selectors who insisted on making a very average player their captain should be blamed. Something had to give way.
72 Go to commentsThe latest ‘Ireland are arrogant’ attack from one of the two most arrogant rugby nations on earth.
108 Go to commentsWaawaawaaaaaaaa
23 Go to commentsHow does this guy still have a job?
72 Go to commentsSorry bok you can't beat facts, we heard you all crowing how great you thought you were..lol ! We all watched the game, cheatsabeth cheating cost abs a try, only a penalty considering it was cynical and a professional foul, doesn't matter who wrote this because thats how it happened, but you go enjoy your gifting of the cup,
72 Go to commentsCan we talk about the context of how this particular journalist continues to make a living and gets published? Controversy for clicks. Shame on all of us for engaging with these irrelevant opinions.
72 Go to commentsAn astounding article !
72 Go to commentsFrance didn’t lose against New Zeland in 2011, but against Joubert…
72 Go to commentsHahahaha knew the “journalist” just by seeing the headline. Not wasting my time reading it as I know it's just another toxic manifestation of the boks living rent free in this babies head.
72 Go to commentsWhen you read those facts, you can say safely that the game was handed to the Springboks by the ruling mistakes made by the Referee and TMO. Perhaps that is why South Africans were/are so “noisey” about the win….this behaviour perhaps concealing that they realise luck played a big part in the result. Certainly not a good look for the IRB going forward…pretty shoddy sadly.
72 Go to commentsI must admit to being quite surprised by all the wine-ing and hand wringing from most AB pundits; commentators and the general analysis after a classic and engrossing final. I shudder to think how the pundits would’ve reacted if the AB’s where victors with 1 point on the day.. Most Bok fans pundits; fans and commentators take a loss on the chin; congratulate the winner and move on…and till now the NZ rugby fans where the same.. Naas Botha’s famous quote has never been more apt…. Cowboys don’t cry or make excuses.. STOP IT CRY-BABIES; …..YOU LOST.
72 Go to comments4 out of 8 beats 3 out of 10 cups. Maybe NZ are bad finishers???🤣🤣🤣
72 Go to commentsBokke bokke Bokke
1 Go to commentsThe main thing you need on your side to win a World Cup is luck. ABs had their fair share of it in the 2011 final. One score game in the SF vs Springboks in 2015 means there always things you can look at and say if this thing or that thing happened then SA would/should have won that game. Smith’s try being called back broke protocol, but it was the correct decision, so I don’t have a problem with that. If it was an SA try called back in the same circumstances I don’t think many ABS fans would have a problem with it. Cane’s shot was high, it was the classic thing NZ players have been doing, and getting carded for for years - Walking around bolt upright trying to put a big hit on someone. Stupid play by someone with a poor disciplinary record. The one that was a big problem for me was Etzebeth’s obstruction. The referee just choked on this occasion. Frustrating to have the TMO in his ear all night, apart from at this moment. Minimum yellow card for Etzebeth, but a very strong case for a penalty try also. Despite all that the ABs had the opportunity to be ahead with 3 minutes to play, so it’s hard to point fingers too much. Pollard makes that kick 99/100. JB and RM make it 50/100. That’s what it came down to in the end.
72 Go to commentsBOKS had a great side in 2011 and were in kicked out by a NZ ref and Nz were very lucky to win in final against France.
72 Go to commentsBarrett's try came from a forward pass, and perhaps the Bok game plan would have been different had the ABs remained with 15 on the pitch. We will never know. But if we are living in a world if what if's, then go back to the France v Bok game. France dominated the WC, and had they gotten past the boks, would have easily beaten the ABs in the Final
72 Go to commentsRehashed articles. But this piece does not do justice to how good the Boks had to be to win that tournament, and how immense some of their players were in that final. Peter Stef du Toit played one of the greatest games by a loose forward ever. All Blacks played well but not well enough and came up short. There are a million ‘if’s’ and none of the ‘if’s’ that don’t happen will win you a footy match.
72 Go to commentsSour grapes/ face it the allblacks aren't that good anymore LoL!!!
72 Go to comments