Key contests: Six pool matches to watch at SVNS Bordeaux

Ripples were sent across the HSBC SVNS world following a colossal weekend of surprise results in Spain – but it ultimately proved only a stage setter for finding a winner this weekend in Bordeaux.

With the women’s competition set for a massive winner-takes-all scenario between Australia and New Zealand and a three-way race opening up in the men’s competition, the stage is set for a thrilling final weekend of action in the HSBC SVNS World Championship.

RugbyPass dives into six pool matches that will decide the makeup of finals, and also who makes it into the World Series, and who does not.

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

France vs New Zealand – Women’s Pool A

Starting in Pool A, the Black Ferns 7s will be on the comeback trail after their shock semi-final loss to Australia, with the chance to win the Championship on the line this weekend.

While they will likely be favourites to win Pool A in Bordeaux, they will have one major banana skin in the pool stages: host nation France.

While the men’s side is likely out of contention, the Les Bleus women’s side currently sits in fourth on the ladder, and only needs one major win over the likes of Australia, New Zealand or the United States to put themselves in line for a podium finish.

While the side did endure a disappointing result in Spain, expect the hosts to turn up and fire in front of home fans.

Kenya vs Great Britain – Men’s Pool A

South Africa and Fiji will likely be the big clash in the context of the table in Pool A, even with the Fijians 12 points behind the Blitzboks and likely an outsider to pull a Championship win.

However, the other big clash of Pool A is critical in the context of World Series qualification, as Kenya look to finally confirm their promotion to the World Series – something that will be all but confirmed if they defeat Great Britain this weekend.

The Shujaa will also be looking over their shoulder at Uruguay, the United States and Germany, who have the opportunity to leapfrog them into the top eight if they pull a major scalp in their respective pools. Win this, and they have likely done enough for a top-eight finish.

For Team GB, it’s pretty simple: win everything, and they stay. Lose, and they get relegated.

Fiji vs Brazil – Women’s Pool B

Australia will likely be heavy favourites to top Pool B, with Japan, Fiji and Brazil all sides sitting in the middle-to-bottom half of the Championship table.

However, these fixtures likely loom as critical ones for the islanders and for the Brazilians, with both sitting on either side of the top eight World Series qualification.

With Great Britain likely out of the race unless they can pull several massive upsets, Brazil will be tussling with Spain to take their place in the World Series, and a top-eight finish will go a long way to achieving that.

For Fiji, who are currently sitting in seventh above Spain, a top-eight finish will likely be enough to see them hold onto their World Series spot, which they can achieve if they win this fixture.

Australia vs Spain – Men’s Pool B

At the top of Pool B, an exciting clash looms between the Spain SVNS champions Australia and the side who finished in sixth last weekend, Spain.

With the Spanish sitting just behind Fiji, it is unlikely they will be mounting a late charge for the Championship, especially if South Africa and Argentina perform well.

However, the last time the sides did battle, it was the Spanish who upended the Australians’ strong pool form in Vancouver, ultimately going on to make the final where they lost to South Africa.

With the series in the balance, a Spanish victory here would likely kill off the Aussies’ Championship hopes – and maybe even cause more disruptions if they can replicate their form in Canada and get on a roll.

Spain vs Great Britain – Women’s Pool C

Similar to Kenya facing off with Great Britain in the men’s competition, the upcoming fixture between these two sides looms as a critical one for World Series qualification.

The situation is similar to Team GB for the women as it is for the men: they need to win everything if they are to have any hope of not getting relegated.

Spain, however, who have built and built ever since finishing in second in SVNS 2, have Brazil and South Africa still sitting within striking distance of overtaking them into the top eight.

The Blazeboks can make the quarter finals if they defeat Argentina, as can Brazil if they defeat Fiji. However, if Spain cracks the top eight in any way, that will likely be enough for them to see off their fellow SVNS 2 challengers and be promoted to the World Series.

A victory over Great Britain would be enough to do that, and mark an historic day in Spanish women’s rugby.

Argentina vs New Zealand – Men’s Pool C

Lastly, the Pumas 7s have given themselves a fighting chance of potentially staging a miracle comeback and winning the Championship, which would be poetic given South Africa denied them a finals podium finish last year.

While the clash against hosts France will be a spicy affair, it will be the match against New Zealand that will ultimately decide who will top Pool C.

The All Blacks Sevens have fallen off the pace since Perth, with disappointing finishes in Vancouver and New York followed by finishing in fourth and fifth during the World Championship.

However, the side still has plenty of firepower and are more than capable of disrupting the Pumas finals hopes with a win here – and should they do so, it has the potential to open up the entire table, especially if Australia and South Africa push deep into the tournament.