Last-ditch tackle saves All Blacks Sevens, Great Britain seal shock win

Kele Lasaqa was the hero in a tense 21-17 win over Australia, with the All Blacks Sevens replacement making an incredible try-saving tackle with time up on the clock. That results followed an unbelievable upset for Great Britain, who shocked HSBC SVNS Series contenders Spain.

Australia’s women’s side had beaten Paris Olympics silver medallists Canada 24-17, before Great Britain and Spain took the field for their Pool B clash. GB have fielded a new-look side at the Dubai Sevens, but the squad held on for a famous four-point win over one of the circuit’s top sides.

Teenager Rory McHaffie and Matt Davidson scored first-half tries, before Spain hit back just before the break through Tobias Sainz-Trapaga. Jeremy Trevithick made it a one-score game with less than two minutes to play, and Spain had a chance to steal it in the final play.

The ball was spread wide right as Spain looked to make their way upfield, but a knock-on brought an end to the match, as GB players began to celebrate. Those on the bench began to hug one another, while one on-field player dropped to the ground.

“The graft and heart we showed in that game. I think you can win a game of sevens on energy and effort and all the technical stuff you pick up as we go. We haven’t had that much time together as a squad,” Damien Hoyland said post-game on the SVNS Series broadcast.

“At the end there, we just showed a lot of graft and heart. When you’re emptying yourselves on the field and you get the result, it really does mean the world.

“Credit to the boys, quite a few debuts today and everyone’s playing their hearts out.”

In the second round of pool action, New Zealand and Australia looked to keep their winning starts to the season alive. The All Blacks Sevens had beaten Great Britain by seven earlier on day one, before Australia defeated Spain 14-7.

Brady Rush broke a tackle en route to the try line in the second minute, before playmaker Akuila Rokolisoa extended New Zealand’s lead with an effort shortly after. Before the break, Sofai Natoa-Tipo helped make the score 21-0 in favour of the All Blacks Sevens.

Australia were down by a big score at the break, but they weren’t out. Captain Henry Hutchison helped the Australians fight their way back into the contest with a try in the eighth minute, before Dietrich Roache ran in for a score a few minutes later.

Ben Dalton made it a one-score game with less than two minutes to play, and the No. 10 almost stood tall as a hero for Australia in the final play – coming incredibly close to scoring a try that would’ve snapped a losing streak against their arch-rival.

Lasaqa got under the ball while turning Dalton around, with the All Blacks Sevens ace also using his knee to prevent the try. Dalton appeared quite confident after standing up, but the TMO ruled out the attempt with a definitive ‘no try’ call.

“I actually didn’t watch the last bit of that game,” Rob Rush said post-game.

“I actually had my head down. I was just saying, ‘I trust the boys, I trust the boys’. I should have said, ‘I trust the TMO, I trust the TMO’.

“It was good that the boys could finish real hearty like that. It was mean.”