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‘We want more’: Spain make first-ever SVNS semi-final with win over Fiji
For the first time ever, the Spanish men’s side has qualified for the Cup semi-finals at a SVNS Series event after surprising Fiji 21-19 at Los Angeles’ Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday.
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Before this, Spain had played in 11 quarter-finals on the international sevens circuit but had been beaten in every single one. But in their 12th attempt, the Spaniards have made history.
After stunning Ireland 19-14 earlier on Day Two at SVNS LAX, Spain treated the American crowd to another sensational upset with a spot in the Cup semi-finals up for grabs.
Fiji struck first through Ponepati Loganimasi and ended up running up a 19-nil half-time lead. But a yellow card to Pilipo Bukayaro and a red to Terio Tamani swung the match in Spain’s favour.
What a show 😍
Pol Pla secures the winning try for @ferugby in the last 2 minutes 🇪🇸#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSLAX pic.twitter.com/lPbXhYVZH8
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) March 3, 2024
Spain were given a revival in the second term with a penalty try, and Pol Pla scored a decisive second-half double. All this happened in the space of three minutes.
Time was up on the clock and Fiji threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but in the end it was Spain’s night. Players were crying tears of joy as they walked up the tunnel after the nail-biting two-point history-making victory.
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But they’re not done yet.
“I am feeling very, very emotional because this group has trained too hard, too much, and the work is paying off,” Spain’s Francisco Cosculluela told RugbyPass.
“We are very happy, very happy.
“We want more, we want more. We want to go to the final, we want to win the semi so we’re not done yet. Not done yet.
“Always dreamed of that and always watching them on the TV when I was little, and now I’m here in LA against them (Fiji) and win the semi-final. Very happy, very happy for the team.”
“First time we’ve got to the semi-finals so it’s history for us,” he added.
“We’re very happy but we want more, we want more.”
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It was a moment that will ripple throughout history as a milestone match for Spanish rugby moving forward. They’ve shown both at SVNS LAX and the season as a whole that they’re not a team to be taken lightly.
Comments on RugbyPass
Yeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to comments