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New Zealand claim another SVNS double with both teams winning Cup finals
New Zealand have claimed a famous double on the SVNS Series for the second time in as many events with the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens taking out Cup final glory in Singapore on Sunday evening.
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Both Kiwi teams emerged victorious at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens early last month, and after a few weeks back in New Zealand, they’ve come back and done it again by overcoming tough opposition in two great deciders.
The Black Ferns Sevens lined up alongside arch-rivals Australia before making their way out onto the field at Singapore’s National Stadium. While this may come as a surprise, this was only their second meeting in a Cup final this season (Dubai in December).
New Zealand had been hit hard across the three-day event with Olympic gold medallists Tyla King and Shiray Kaka both suffering injuries, but the depth in the squad showed as they beat the Aussies to claim the SVNS Series League title.
Another Blyde masterclass 👏
A hat-trick in the final 😎#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSSGP | @nz_sevens https://t.co/XYIsp9QKF7 pic.twitter.com/ww56E7bx8N
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 5, 2024
Michaela Blyde stood out with a decisive hat-trick, and veterans Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Stacey Waaka also added to the score as the Kiwis ran away with a dominant 31-21 win. But the Player of the Final was rightfully Jorja Miller.
Miller weaved through Australia’s defensive line to create several try-scoring opportunities, and the 20-year-old was also lethal on the other side of the ball with some nonsense hits in defence and some game-changing work at the breakdown.
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“It definitely feels pretty good. We always want to go to battle with the Aussies in the final,” Miller told RugbyPass.
“To go out there, get the win, have a pretty decent performance, I’m pretty happy.
“To go into Madrid with confidence and knowing that we’ve built from the start of the season off the back of LA, Vancouver into here.
“We’re gonna go home, put some work in and hopefully bring it out in Madrid.”
The Black Ferns Sevens were recognised as the inaugural League winners on the new-look SVNS Series before making their way off the field into the stands ahead of the next game.
In the final match of the tournament, the All Blacks Sevens looked to deny Ireland what would’ve been their first-ever Cup final triumph on the Series. Ireland had looked good coming into the final, too, having beaten Argentina and Great Britain.
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2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Leory Carter, who returned from injury for the Singapore leg of the Series, opened the scoring inside the first minute which saw the men in black get off to an idyllic start.
Fehi Fineanganofo added to New Zealand’s advantage four minutes later, but it was far from game over. Ireland hit back through Gavin Mullin before All Blacks Sevens skipper Dylan Collier delivered a big blow with a try in the 13th minute.
Ireland’s Harry McNulty sliced through New Zealand’s defensive line to help make it a three-point game with not long left. It was tense – you could feel the nervousness around the venue.
The awareness 🤩
The finish 😱#HSBCCVNS | #HSBCSVNSSGP | @nz_sevens https://t.co/DV8Q49RtyP pic.twitter.com/gIOfW6LBup
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 5, 2024
All Blacks Sevens ace Cody Vai knocked the ball on with about 30 seconds to go which gave the Irish an attacking scrum and one last roll of the dice. They threw everything at the Kiwis but a penalty at the breakdown sealed it 17-14.
Andrew Knewstubb kicked the ball high into the grandstands at the Singapore stadium as the New Zealanders began to celebrate their achievements but the impressive of the program to claim yet another men’s and women’s double.
“Me and my mate Andrew Knewstubb, we’re sick of sitting home and watching all the boys win so when we came back we made it a goal for ourselves to make sure that we didn’t do all that hard work for nothing,” New Zealand’s Tone Ng Shiu told this website.
“It’s good to be winning and to be with the boys. It’s so good.
“We just focus on ourselves, you know? The here and now,” he added.
“We won Singapore. Obviously, we’ll acknowledge (Series League winners Argentina) because they’ve been the most continent in the Series but we’re just enjoying the moment.”
Catch up on all the latest SVNS Series action from the 2023/24 season on RugbyPass TV. SVNS Singapore is free to watch, all you need to do is sign up HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs 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.
2 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 💙
7 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…
4 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.
7 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 comments