Germany make SVNS team history with feat not seen in more than 1,550 days

Germany made team history with a remarkable 52-0 blitz of Uruguay on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to see them through to the quarters at HSBC SVNS Valladolid. The Germans finished third in Pool B after falling to SVNS giants New Zealand and Argentina on day one.

But there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate, with the team carrying the ‘Wolfpack’ nickname having scored at least 40 points in a SVNS match for the first time in more than 1,500 days. They last achieved that feat at the Seville Sevens in 2022, beating Jamaica 40-5 on January 29.

The Germans, who punched their ticket to the SVNS World Championship as a qualifier out of the second-tier SVNS 2, also finished just shy of their all-time points record. Their biggest-ever win was an emphatic 66-0 triumph over Jamaica at the Vancouver Sevens in 2021.

Henry Smeed was first to strike at Estadio Jose Zorilla in Valladolid, touching down for the opening points in the second minute. Makonnen Amekuedi then crossed for what ended up being the first of his three tries, including another just before the half-time huddle.

Max Roddick, Anton Gleitze (double) and Philip Gleitze all helped pile on the points, with Germany backing up those efforts in defence as well. The German players walked down the tunnel and then grouped together for a huddle, carrying a clear sense of pride and confidence.

“We played them a lot this season obviously in SVNS 2. They’ve always been super close games, I think we’ve won two, lost two so it was knew it was going to be a fight,” Roddick told RugbyPass in Valladolid.

“First game of day two is always tough, the body’s a bit sore; mentally trying to get up for it. Everything went out way and it was the perfect performance really.”

Germany had shown some promising signs against two SVNS heavyweights on day one, starting with a 26-17 defeat to Argentina. Bennet Veil and Amekuedi (double) were the try-scorers for Germany, who briefly went down to six men after a first-half yellow card.

The All Blacks Sevens were up next for Germany, and it was a fairly clinical performance from the traditional SVNS powerhouse. New Zealand crossed for five tries during the 21-point win, having led 21-7 at half-time.

“Yesterday was tough, playing New Zealand and [Argentina], tough games,” Roddick reflected.

“If you’d tole me I could play against New Zealand and Argentina in the World Series last year I would’ve bitten your hand off so on that sense, really enjoyed it.

“We competed at that’s what’s important but I think the Argentina game particularly, felt maybe we could have got a result there. We played pretty well, a few thing’s didn’t go our way, missed a few opportunities.

“Definitely made a step forward from Hong Kong [Sevens] and hopefully keep pushing on to Bordeaux.”

Germany will continue to challenge for a top eight spot on the World Championship standings, which will determine the sides that compete in the first division next season. There’s still time to surge up the ladder, with the season finale taking place next weekend in Bordeaux.

While that win over the Uruguayans was nothing short of impressive, Germany still needed other results to go their way to make the quarters. But with Kenya beating Great Britain, and France getting the job done against the USA, Germany were left to fight for ninth.

But the top eight World Championship dream is still alive.

It’s all to play for in Bordeaux on June 5 to 7.

“It’s been everyone’s goal for the last 15 years. Some of the older boys have been around in seven, eight, nine close calls trying to qualify for the World Series.

“We’re desperate to qualify. We’re still in it and we’ve got to push through, get the best results we can at the end of this tournament and then still all to play for in Bordeaux.”