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Ireland and Great Britain prepare to clash in meaningful Singapore semi
Ireland and Great Britain are just two wins away from a potentially season-defining result after overcoming tough opposition on Saturday to progress through to the Singapore semi-finals.
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With just one more day of play left in the SVNS regular season, the Irish have a chance of claiming the League Winners title while Great Britain are hoping to secure a place in the Series’ Grand Final.
Either one of these outcomes will become a reality or neither of them will with the two neighbouring northern hemisphere nations set to go head-to-head in a blockbuster knockout clash on Sunday.
The Irish started their quest for Cup final glory with a win over GB in their first match, but losses to the USA and Fiji saw the men in green finish third in Pool C, but it was enough to progress.
Ireland qualified for the Cup quarters as one of the top-two ranked third-placed sides in pool play and they certainly made the most of their redeeming opportunity with a 21-5 win over Argentina.
Los Pumas Sevens have been the form men’s team on the SVNS Series all season, which has included three triumphs in four finals appearances, and they would’ve secured the League title with a win.
But the Irish aren’t getting ahead of themselves as they still need to win the tournament and hope that Argentina finish no higher than sixth on a mammoth day three at SVNS SGP.
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“It feels pretty good. We know that’s there but we don’t want to focus too much on that because if goes down to what Argentina do,” Ireland’s Mark Roche told RugbyPass
“We’re just gonna go out and play a semi-final, get to the final hopefully and do it from there.
“There was a lot of courage, bravery, just getting out, getting physical, being smart about what we do on the field in defence and attack,” he added.
“Hopefully everything comes together.”
Ireland may have beaten Great Britain in pool play but this is a team fighting for a place in the top eight which would both secure them a spot in Madrid’s Grand Final and in next year’s Series.
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Great Britain, who finished as the runners-up behind France in the Los Angeles leg of the Series earlier this season, came up against their familiar foe in a one-sided quarter-final on Saturday.
Jordan Sepho gave France the lead with a try in the second minute but to the surprise of many, Great Britain took control by piling on 35 unanswered points to book their ticket to the next round.
Morgan Williams, Robbie Fergusson, Harry Glover, Max McFarland and Will Homer all scored tries, while Kaleem Barreto kicked five conversions on what could be a famous night for GB Sevens.
“We went into Hong Kong saying that we had a little title race with the USA and the bottom is really where it’s at, at the moment,” Barreto told this website.
“To be honest, coming into Singapore the goal isn’t necessarily to be in that top eight, although that would be sweet… for us, it’s just about backing (up) game on game.
“We had probably a slower build-up (this season) probably just having little contact time compared to pretty much everyone on the Series,” he added.
“We knew we’d be building and progressing… we knew we had it in us, just not at the start.
“I guess it is annoying to be at this stage because we really do think we belong in that top eight, top five to go forward. We’re showing it now.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
As 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 💙
5 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…
1 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.
5 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.
5 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 commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
3 Go to comments