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Quarter-final thrillers: Blitzboks score late winner, Argentina beat Fiji
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Regular season champions South Africa scored a last-minute winner to qualify for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens semi-finals, with Siviwe Soyizwapi crossing for the last-gasp try in a 26-22 win against SVNS 2 qualifiers Kenya.
After two days of play at the fan favourite event, the first stop of the World Championship Series is set for an exciting finish at Kai Tak Sports Park. South Africa will take on one of their fiercest rivals in the semi-finals, with New Zealand progressing to the final four.
Spain are also through to a Hong Kong Sevens semi-final for the first time, set to face defending champions Argentina for a spot in the big dance. Australia and Fiji were beaten in the final two matches on day two, meaning they’re instead left to fight for fifth place.
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The All Blacks Sevens won back-to-back titles in Hong Kong across the 2023 and 2024 events, and they’re now in with a chance of replicating those trophy-winning heroics this weekend. New Zealand had to overcome a tough French outfit to secure their place in the last four.
France captain Paulin Riva was shown a yellow card during the first half, with the New Zealanders making the most of their one-man advantage. SVNS Series rookie Sam Clarke opened the scoring in the fifth minute, throwing a dummy before breaking through the defensive line to score.
Akuila Rokolsioa extended New Zealand’s advantage with another effort just before the break, but the conversion failed to hit the mark. The All Blacks Sevens took a 12-0 lead into half-time, but there was still plenty of drama still to unfold.
France hit back through Liam Delamare midway through the half, before Brady Rush effectively cancelled out that effort soon after. Riva was shown a second yellow with less than two minutes remaining, which of course equals a red.
Gregoire Arfeuil ran in for a consolation try in the final play of the match, but the All Blacks Sevens had done enough to progress. The New Zealanders will take on South Africa on Sunday, who won four of six events during the SVNS regular season.
South Africa struck first through Selvyn Davids in their quarter-final, but Kenya fought their way into the lead later on. John Ohoth Okeyo and Denis Abukuse added five points each to Kenya’s score, who are one of four World Championship qualifiers out of the second division.
The Blitzboks still managed to take a 14-12 lead into the break after a try to Donavan Don, before Kenya ran in to unanswered tries to start the second term. Davids was also shown a yellow card, but the Blitzboks continued to fight.
Quewin Nortje gave the Blitzboks a chance with a moment of individual brilliance; kicking the ball ahead twice before regathering for the score. In the final play of the match, Davids passed the ball onto Tristan Leyds, who set up Soyizwapi for the match-winner.
On the other side of the draw, Spain are through to the semi-finals at the Hong Kong Sevens for the first time after beating Australia 19-5. It was all Spain during the first half, as they dominated both the possession and territory battles.
Pol Pla was stopped just shy of the try line with less than three minutes remaining in the half, as Spain searched for the opening points of the contest. That first five pointer was eventually scored by try-machine Jeremy Trevithick.
Australia played with a majority of possession during the remainder of the half, but they weren’t able to get out of their own half. Instead, Spain stood tall in defence as they took a hard-earned 7-0 lead into half-time.
Aden Ekanyake ran in for Australia’s first in the 10th minute, before Tobias Sainz-Trapaga won a footrace to hit back for Spain. Manu Moreno sealed the win with a runaway effort in the final minute, with Spain making history at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Spain will take on defending tournament champions Argentina on Sunday, who claimed their first-ever Hong Kong Sevens crown 13 months ago. Los Pumas Sevens built off a clinical first-half performance, while ill discipline was a talking point for Fiji.
Santiago Alvarez and Marcos Moneta helped Argentina race out to a strong lead during the first term, before Fiji hit back through Apete Narogo. But Alvarez helped the Argentinians extend their advantage to 10-points.
Fiji began to fight their way back, with Joseva Talacolo racing away to score after a superb flick pass set up the try-scorer. But then, Fiji went down to six men for the rest of the match after Akuila Dranivotua was shown a red card in the ninth minute.
But still, Fiji scored next.
Viwa Naduvalo, who is the co-leader in the race for the inaugural RugbyPass Men’s SVNS Series MVP, levelled the contest with an effort in the 10th minute. That set up a grandstand finish, with thousands watching on at the state-of-the-art venue.
Moneta linked up with a couple of teammates to give Argentina the lead in the final minute, with Fiji’s brave defnece only holding Los Pumas Sevens out for so long. An error off the restart gave Fiji one last chance with time up on the clock.
In the final play of the match, Fiji set up for an attacking scrum inside their own 22. But a counter-ruck saw Argentina turn over the ball, with playmaker Joaquin Pellandini ensuring the ball went into touch.
Argentina beat Fiji 24-17 in a thriller.
Men’s semi-finals at Hong Kong Sevens
New Zealand vs South Africa at 2:00 pm on Sunday
Spain vs Argentina at 2:23 pm on Sunday
Women’s semi-finals at Hong Kong Sevens
Canada vs New Zealand at 1:14 pm on Sunday
France vs Australia at 1:37 pm on Sunday
