Jorja Miller strengthens MVP claim as New Zealand triumph in Vancouver

RugbyPass SVNS Series writers will review each tournament this season with their MVP votes. Finn Morton, Ben Smith, Joe Harvey and Nick Wasiliev weigh in with 3-2-1 votes towards the RugbyPass Men’s and Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard.

Jorja Miller has extended her lead at the top of the RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard with another standout weekend on the world’s premier sevens circuit, now 20 votes clear of Australia’s Maddison Levi in second.

Miller polled full votes yet again as the Black Ferns Sevens stormed home at Vancouver’s BC Place on Sunday, claiming their fourth title in five events. The 22-year-old was named the Player of the Final – again, also not for the first time this season.

New Zealand recorded pool stage wins over Great Britain, Japan and France, finishing day one with a +89 points differential. Their focus then shifted to a semi-final against the USA, who defeated the New Zealanders on the opening day of the season in Dubai.

Catch up on HSBC SVNS Series action on RugbyPass TV. You can create an account HERE.

Mahina Paul all but sealed the 19-12 win on Sunday, diving over for a try in the 12^th minute. But it was Miller magic that had the Black Ferns Sevens in a strong position earlier in the contest, with the reigning SVNS Player of the Year racing away for a double.

Miller was a difference-maker in the big dance as well, crossing for the second try of the Cup Final. With the ball in two hands, Miller sliced through a gap between Levi and Tia Hinds en route to the try line with less than two minutes to play before the break.

The Olympic gold medallist started the second term in style, running practically the entire length of the field, only to be tackled about two metres shy of the line. That effort ultimately set up Katelyn Vahaakolo, who placed the ball down with a smile.

Jayme Kolose and Alena Saili also made their mark on the scoreboard, with Stacey Waaka setting up the match-winning five-pointer in the dying stages. Australia crossed for three tries of their own, including a double to Levi.

Levi started the weekend in Vancouver with a double in Australia’s 38-24 win over Fiji, before crossing for a hat-trick against the USA. The try-scoring phenomenon received two votes from all four RugbyPass SVNS writers.

Kaelyn Thomas and Su Adegoke from the USA both received MVP votes for the first time this season, as did New Zealand’s Kolose. But there is still daylight between Miller and other MVP contenders, with a 20-vote gap separating first and second.

“The biggest thing for us is that you can never get complacent and there’s always things you can work on and get better at,” New Zealand captain Risi Pouri-Lane said after last weekend’s SVNS Vancouver title triumph.

“They make a big difference in the long run.”

Miller has played a starring role in New Zealand’s dominant SVNS Series campaign so far, with the women in black occupying top spot on the standings with 98 points. Australia are six points back on 92, while the USA rounds out the top three.

Vancouver was the second-last stop of the SNVS 1 season, before the new-look World Championships get underway next month. All eight teams from the first division will compete with four sides out of SVNS 2.

Next up, SVNS New York will be held at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 14 to 15.

RugbyPass SVNS Series MVP 3-2-1 votes – Vancouver

Finn Morton

Men: Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Tristan Lleyds (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain)

Women: Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia), Kaylen Thomas (USA)

Joe Harvey

Men: Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Tristan Lleyds (South Africa), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain)

Women: Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia), Kaylen Thomas (USA)

Ben Smith

Men: Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Tristan Lleyds (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain)

Women: Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia), Jaymie Kolose (New Zealand)

Nick Wasiliev

Men: Shilton van Wyk (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain), Terio Veilawa (Fiji)

Women: Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Maddison Levi (Australia), Su Adegoke (USA)

RugbyPass Women’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Jorja Miller (New Zealand) – 42 votes

Maddison Levi (Australia) – 22 votes

Kelsey Teneti (New Zealand) – 17 votes

Isabella Nasser (Australia) – 11 votes

Jazmin Felix-Hotham (New Zealand), Olivia Apps (Canada), Risi Pouri-Lane (New Zealand)  – 4 votes

Teagan Levi (Australia), Madison Ashby (Australia) – 3 votes

Mahina Paul (New Zealand), Kaylen Thomas (USA) – 2 votes

Hanako Utsumi (Japan), Reapi Ulunisau (Fiji), Maya Stewart (Australia), Tia Hinds (Australia), Jaymie Kolose (New Zealand), Su Adegoke (USA)  – 1 vote

RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP leaderboard

Shilton van Wyk (South Africa) – 21 points

Viwa Naduvalo (Fiji) – 19 votes

Luciano Gonzalez (Argentina), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa), Terio Veilawa (Fiji) – 9 votes

Akuila Rokolisoa (New Zealand) – 8 votes

Brady Rush (New Zealand), Tristan Lleyds (South Africa) – 6 votes

Dietrich Roache (Australia), Paulin Riva (France), Ricardo Duarttee (South Africa), Eduardo Lopez (Spain) – 4 votes

Donovan Don (South Africa), Wallace Charlie (Australia) – 3 votes

Nacani Boginisoko (Fiji), Kele Lasaqa (New Zealand) – 2 votes

Pilipo Bukayaro (Fiji), Ryan Oosthuizen (South Africa), Marcos Moneta (Argentina), Andy Timo (France), Rob Rush (New Zealand), Ben Dowling (Australia), Henry Hutchison (Australia), Jeremy Trevithick (Spain) – 1 vote