USA star’s game-defining play denies Spain in SVNS Bordeaux thriller

Will Chevalier was one of the heroes for the USA in a HSBC SVNS World Championship thriller in Bordeaux, producing a game-defining play against Spain. Chevalier stopped an otherwise certain try late in the piece, as the USA recorded a 24-19 win at the Stade Atlantique.

Lucas Lacamp raced away for a crucial try with two minutes remaining, which put the USA up by five against one of the form SVNS Series sides. But there was still plenty of time left, with Spain fighting their way up the field and into a probable try-scoring position.

Nicholas Nieto made a line break and was about a metre or so away from leveling the scores, only for Chevalier to make a remarkable try-saving tackle. Chevalier then jumped up to secure a turnover, before USA spread the ball out to David Still, who ran the entire length to score.

Catch up on HSBC SVNS World Championship action on RugbyPass TV. You can create an account HERE.

Spain played until the final whistle, having the final try-scoring say through replacement Gabriel Rocaries. But the USA did enough to claim the upset result, as they chase a place in the Cup knockouts for the first time in three World Championship events. 

“It’s something we’ve been talking about a lot lately, just once you get to this level. It’s moments in certain situations where it decides the game,” Chevalier told RugbyPas

“I was just fortunate enough to be in a position to make that moment for the team. Absolutely wonderful finish from David Still to cap it off. 

“Just fighting for the boys. If it wasn’t me, I’m sure someone else would’ve done the same thing.” 

Spain secured a last-gasp win over the USA at SVNS Valladolid last weekend. With a passionate home crowd cheering the Spanish side on, the likes of Jaime Manteca and match-winner Angel Bozal made their mark in the 26-21 thriller. 

The home side went on to make the Cup quarters, before taking on the All Blacks Sevens in the fifth-place playoff. Jayden Keelan scored twice for the New Zealanders, who secured a 22-12 win at Estadio Jose-Zorilla. 

As for the USA, they were left to battle for ninth place against Germany. But with back-to-back SVNS World Championship stops in Europe, the USA didn’t have to wait too long for another chance to earn improved results. 

“Obviously we had [Spain] last week as well and I think they scored with no time left to beat us in that one,” said Chevalier, who was named the SVNS 2 Player of the Tournament in Montevideo earlier this year.  

“Just to have the chance to play them again, we’re looking forward to this all week through our prep and just the preparation and the work we put in training throughout the week showed there on the field.” 

The USA were11th on the World Championship standings ahead of the season finale. They are chasing a best-possible finish of seventh, with the top eight securing core status for the 2026/27 SVNS 1 campaign. 

Ninth-place Uruguay suffered a heavy defeat to SVNS Valladolid champions Australia in the first round of pool matches in France. It’s all to play for this week at Stade Atlantique, but as Chevalier explained, the USA can’t focus on the bigger World Championship picture just yet. 

“We just take it one minute, one play, one moment at a time. Aussie got the best of us in Hong Kong [China], so again, another chance for us to right some wrongs,” he added. 

“We’re not out of the fight for promotion but it’s something you’ve kind of got to keep in the back of your head. If that’s something you look to, then these moments start to look away. 

“Just going play by play, moment by moment. Just letting the rest of it take care of itself. We can only control what we can control. We’ll need some help from some of the other sides but we can’t worry about that, we’ve just got to do our job.”