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RECAP: Series leaders Argentina lose twice on Hong Kong 7s opening day
HSBC SVNS series leaders Argentina lost twice on the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, while Los Angeles champions France beat Australia in the final minute to take the lead in a fiercely competitive Pool A.
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Los Pumas Sevens came into the weekend with the chance to become the men’s SVNS 2024 League Winners if they maintained their 20-point lead, but fell to a 14-10 loss to the USA and were shut out 22-0 at the hands of New Zealand.
Currently bottom of Pool B, Argentina will need to beat Great Britain in their final game to keep their hopes alive.
France went top of Pool A after narrowly beating Australia 19-14 in the final game of the day, while Fiji made a statement with their 45-5 win over Canada after a loss to Australia.
Meanwhile, a resurgent South Africa went two from two to go top of Pool C.
"It remains impactful even when Antoine isn't there…"
– Jonathan Laugel, with Liam Heagney 🎙️ in Hong Kong, after a dramatic French comeback beats Australia 19-14. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s #France7 @FranceRugby
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Pool A – France take an early lead
Victories over Canada and Australia took France to the Pool A summit at the end of day one in Hong Kong, Nelson Epée finding space on the right wing in the dying moments of the game in a tight affair with Australia.
Earlier in the day they beat Canada by 31-0 as Aaron Grandidier, who scored a record-equalling 11 tries in Hong Kong last year, crossed for a brace.
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Fifth seed Australia had overcome third seed Fiji in a tight 12-0 win in their opening game as Michael Hooper made his HSBC SVNS series bow, James Turner and Henry Hutchison with the scores in an arm-wrestle contest.
But Fiji aren’t out of contention just yet, boosting their chance of quarter-final rugby with a comprehensive 45-5 win over a young Canada side, with France to face on Saturday.
Pool B – Argentina falter
Argentina were stalled by a Perry Baker double in their Pool B opener as the USA held on in the second half to win 14-10.
The speedster scored in the first minute, but it was his second where his pace was on full display, intercepting Argentina’s attack to go the full length of the pitch to take USA into the break 14-7 ahead, the American defence holding on for the victory.
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New Zealand’s Hong Kong title defence started with a comeback 12-7 win over LA finalists Great Britain, recovering from a seven-point deficit at the break.
Ross McCann put GB ahead but couldn’t register a point in the second half as Brady Rush score and Tepaea Cook Savage both scored.
"You have got to remain objective…"
– Gareth Baber, with Liam Heagney 🎙️ in Hong Kong, on Fiji hammering Canada after an opening loss to Australia. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s @fijirugby
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 5, 2024
Their form continued into their crucial clash with Argentina, holding the series leaders scoreless in a 22-0 victory. Fehi Fineanganofo opened the scoring, but a second was denied when Moses Leo opted to pass infield despite having crossed the try-line, Santiago Vera Feld impressively scrambling in defence.
Leo had another chance from the five-metre scrum but dropped a certain score as he dived over in the corner for a shaky end to the opening half.
Argentina, however, couldn’t find the break they needed to get into the game, with three second-half scores from the All Blacks Sevens sealing their perfect record on the opening day.
Kevon Williams scored his 100th try on the sevens circuit as the USA beat Great Britain 26-14 to close out the day’s Pool B action. GB had the edge at the break with a two-point lead, but the US scored two unanswered tries to set up a pool decider with New Zealand in their final game.
Pool C – Blitzboks go two from two
Six-man South Africa held on to start their Hong Kong weekend with a statement 22-17 win over second-seed Ireland.
With new man Philip Snyman in as head coach, the Blitzboks led 17-0 at half-time, Ryan Oosthuizen’s try after the break extending their lead to 22, before Justin Geldud’s red reversed the momentum.
Bryan Mollen and Niall Comerford both wasted no time in crossing for Ireland but they ran out of time to complete the comeback.
The Blitzboks made it two from two in their second game against Spain, substitute Shaun Williams scoring a brace in a 24-10 victory.
Williams came on late in the first half but scored before the break to take South Africa into a 12-7 lead. Tobias Sainz-Trapaga hit back for Spain in the second to draw within two, but Williams, who intercepted a long Spanish pass, scored to help his side close in on a quarter-final spot.
Meanwhile, Spain continued their form from Los Angeles as they came back from seven points down at half-time to beat Samoa 17-14. Ireland also got back to winning ways against the Pacific Islanders with a 12-7 win.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments