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New Zealand Sevens chase Vancouver double as both teams make their final
New Zealand have taken a big step towards a SVNS Vancouver double with both the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens overcoming some menacing challenges in their semi-finals on Sunday afternoon.
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While both teams won the overall series title at the end of last season, their quest to do the same in 2023/24 didn’t quite get off to an idyllic start.
The Black Ferns Sevens had their 41-game unbeaten run brought to an end by arch-rivals Australia in the Dubai final a few months ago, and semi-final and quarter-final exits followed at the next two events in Cape Town and Perth.
But the women in black looked like a vastly improved outfit during a practically perfect run in Vancouver which included a +101 points differential after just three matches in pool play.
Check out Ciofani on her way to the try line 😮💨#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @FranceRugby https://t.co/q7gNURTzHb pic.twitter.com/6pxZAj1su0
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
New Zealand blitzed Spain 36-nil in their quarter-final on Saturday, and they managed to silence a usually vocal Vancouver crowd with a win over hosts Canada on Day Three.
“It feels bloody good,” New Zealand’s Jorja Miller told RugbyPass. “We’ve had a bit of a different season this year, riding that rollercoaster, all the ups and downs.
“We’re really happy, happy with how the tournament’s gone and happy to get back into the big dance.
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“We’ve lost a lot of experienced players but the depth that we have means that the younger girls get to step up and really utilise this stage.”
New Zealand will come up against France in the Cup final later on Sunday after Les Bleus Women’s Sevens defeated SVNS Series front-runners Australia in a shock semi-final upset.
France will be no either beats, either, and they’ve shown that against New Zealand this season. They go the better of the Kiwis in the Cape Town semi-finals in December.
But Miller said that winning here at BC Place Stadium would “be pretty epic” as they look to get their SVNS Series campaign back on track about four months out from the Olympics.
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It’s a very similar story for the New Zealand men’s side who are also looking to bounce back from some adversity and tough results this season.
The All Blacks Sevens failed to make it out of their pool at SVNS Perth last month but that’s well and truly in the past now. New Zealand beat Fiji and Antoine Dupont’s France on their way to their first Cup final of the season.
“We looked back at all the other tournaments and saw what we did wrong so now that some of the players are coming back like they never had a break,” New Zealand’s Cody Vai told this website after the All Blacks Sevens’ 28-26 win over France.
“It was always our goal, This one is our comeback season, this one, especially this Vancouver one going onto LA.
“You open the door ever so slightly and Rokolisoa will burst through it all day long” 💥#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @nz_sevens https://t.co/AGLwknFdVr pic.twitter.com/BJjnRKzuNw
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
“The boys always had the faith and especially some of the boys who are not here, they always get us pumped, especially (for) these kind of tournaments to come back and play hard.”
Starting well against France was always going to be important with Les Bleus Sevens riding a confidence wave after an unbeaten run in this tournament.
SVNS Series debutant Antoine Dupont was the hero on Saturday evening with a last-play try breaking Irish hearts in a tense quarter-final.
So, when push came to shove, the New Zealanders needed to shoot out of the blocks – and that’s what they did. Vai scored the opening points in the 2nd minute.
Akuila Rokolisoa crossed for a double and veteran Scott Curry also added to the score as New Zealand ran up a big lead towards the end of the contest.
“Very important, especially (against) those kind of teams. They’re one of the best in the world,” Vai said.
“To start well like that, that’s the only momentum we need and to keep playing hard against them is amazing.”
The All Blacks Sevens will face men’s SVNS Series leaders Argentina in the last game at SVNS Vancouver on Sunday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Seeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
3 Go to commentsGreat win for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
1 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
8 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
8 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
8 Go to comments