1
'That killed us': The Ireland verdict on latest 7s semi-final loss
Frustration was writ large over the face of Terry Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of his team’s second successive HSBC SVNS semi-final loss to France.
ADVERTISEMENT
Five weeks ago in Los Angeles, the French narrowly won the last-four match 24-26. In Hong Kong, though, there was no tight finish as the Irish lost out 10-26, their second score only coming from the defiant Kennedy with the game’s final play.
What cost his team on a humid Sunday in the Far East was a lack of composure just before the interval. A converted Varian Pasquet try had been followed by Zac Ward getting an unconverted try back and with Jordan Sepho then yellow-carded, the invitation was there for Ireland to pounce for the lead.
However, they instead lost their bearings against the French six, Stephen Parez bursting through the defence to score a converted try in front of the South Stand fanatics to make 5-12.
The semi-final result was then put to bed by two quick-fire second-half tries from Antoine Zeghdar and Joachim Trouabal, leaving Ireland playing for the consolation they eventually grabbed through Kennedy racing onto a kick through to the corner.
MEN’S SEMI-FINAL RESULTS: The Hong Kong 7s final will be contested by France and New Zealand later on Sunday – New Zealand 26 Australia 7, Ireland 10 France 26. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s
– Catch all the action live on RugbyPass TV https://t.co/bZfv9FfAyd pic.twitter.com/8p5w31LZIP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 7, 2024
“We’ll always play to the end,” he told RugbyPass. “We are probably one of the best if not the best at staying in games. That’s what was so disappointing about that one – it was over with a few minutes to go but we will keep fighting until the end as always.”
What was mentioned in the stadium tunnel debrief about what had gone wrong? “Our kick-offs really let us down. They dominated the air on both sides of the ball. That cost us; we gave a couple of really easy scores.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Once we got it through phases we were defending really well, and the couple of times we had the ball we scored, but we just gave them too much easy ball off kick-offs.
“It [kick-offs] has been good for us so it is pretty disappointing, but France are a big team. They are good in the air so it is a strength of theirs and something we need to work on.
“We were never really in that,” he added concerning the scoreboard compared to the two-point gap on the American west coast at the start of March. “We had a chance when we came back two points behind, they got a yellow card and we let them a soft score before half-time with six men. Really, that killed us. Lots to learn.”
Lessons, yes, but plenty of cause for optimism that a season that will culminate in the HSBC SVNS Series final in Madrid followed by an appearance at the Paris Olympics in July.
ADVERTISEMENT
“100 per cent. We made a lot of semi-finals this year, just struggling to go that little extra mile but a few more big ones coming up yet with the Olympics at the end. We’re still striving.
“We are well capable of beating anyone and we have beaten everyone this year and most teams multiple times. So yeah, we’re right up there, we’re nearly there. They [France] have some amazing athletes and they are tough to play against. They are going to be there or thereabouts in every tournament from here on in, I say.”
A man down? Stephen Parez has all the answers ?#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSHKG https://t.co/fOnyIQETvQ pic.twitter.com/IAQxIAIBEQ
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 7, 2024
Ireland went on in LA to beat Spain 24-7 to finish in third place and this latest semi-final loss to France left them with another third-place play-off, this time versus Australia whom they defeated 14-5 to clinch another bronze.
Before that game took place, Kennedy ended his semi-final reflection by paying tribute to the final tournament at the stadium in Hong Kong Island before it switches to a brand new ground across the bay in 2025.
“It’s unbelievable. This is the best place to play in the world. The crowd is unbelievable. All you have to do is come out here 9am Saturday and you see the South Stand full and people enjoying themselves.
“It’s amazing to get to play in front of this type of crowd in an iconic stadium. We love it.”
- Click here to follow all the action live from Hong Kong on RugbyPass TV
"The boys are frustrated getting bronze… it shows the level we're now at."
– INTERVIEW: James Topping, with Liam Heagney ??? in Hong Kong, after Ireland finished with a second successive 3rd place. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s #IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/eQcBCOSG97
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 7, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
A Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
99 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
99 Go to commentsGreat 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.
99 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.
99 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
99 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.
99 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.
99 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.
99 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.
99 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 comments