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Tone Ng Shiu the hero as All Blacks Sevens set up semi-final with Australia
Just like their countrywomen, the New Zealand men’s team are one win away from a place in the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Cup final but arch-rival Australia stand in their way.
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New Zealand flew through pool play with three wins from as many matches, including a 22-nil demolition of SVNS Series leaders Argentina. It was the best they’ve looked all season.
But as is the nature of the international circuit, there are no easy fixtures. The All Blacks Sevens were matched up against traditional rivals Fiji in a blockbuster quarter-final on Saturday evening.
Regan Ware scored in the first minute, but tries to Ponepati Loganimasi and Joji Nasova swung the knockout clash in Fiji’s favour. But the All Blacks Sevens were far from finished.
That winning try feeling 😍#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSHKG | @nz_sevens https://t.co/28qMEwQyVl pic.twitter.com/ra4Y4J0jjZ
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 6, 2024
Xavier Tito-Harris stunned the crowd at Hong Kong Stadium with a try in the 12th minute which levelled the score at 12-all. Then, Tone Ng Shiu completed the comeback by scoring the match-winner with only a matter of seconds left to run on the clock.
“Just buzzed out. What was going through my head at the time was just hold onto the ball and don’t fre*king let it go,” Ng Shiu, who still had a smile on his face, told RugbyPass.
“Just happy that we matched the Fijian’s energy – probably did one better to be fair because obviously we won.
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“There’s a massive history and legacy in Hong Kong Sevens,” he added. “Gutted that it’s going to be the last one at this stadium because there’s so many memories.”
While the New Zealanders are looking to qualify for their second Cup final from what would be six events this season, Australia have looked like a much-improved outfit in Hong Kong China.
After failing to qualify for the quarter-finals in Vancouver and then losing in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles, the Aussies have put their shortcomings in North America behind them.
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Australia suffered a heartbreaking defeat to France in the final match on day one but recovered with a strong pool stage win over Canada and a clinical quarter-final victory over South Africa.
“We came back from (North America) and had a meeting around our team and just wanted to figure out what our ‘whys’ were,” Australia’s Maurice Longbottom explained. “Why we play rugby, why we train so hard every day.
“Before every game, we remind ourselves that’s our why, we’re going out here to do that for them and if we go out there and put a performance out like we did then we come back proud.”
With the south stand at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium in full voice on Saturday evening, the Aussies ran out onto the sacred turf with a clear mission in mind.
With former Wallabies captain turned SVNS Series debutant Michael Hooper watching on from the bench, Nathan Lawson ran in for the opener after just two minutes.
The Aussies made some unforced errors which risked swinging the knockout clash in South Africa’s favour, but it was their defensive effort that was especially impressive.
Longbottom crossed for a try in the 10th minute and added a penalty goal a couple of minutes later. With the Aussies ahead by 15 points the result was never really in doubt late in the match.
“It’s massive, it’s the Mecca of sevens,” Longbottom told RugbyPass when asked about the significance of the Hong Kong Sevens.
“We’ve had a solid weekend so far and hopefully we go out and go a few games better tomorrow.”
Ireland will take on France in the other men’s semi-final at 1:40 pm (local time) before New Zealand versus Australia in the following fixture at 2:06 pm.
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…
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