BlunderBoks get knocked over ... again
DAY ONE WRAP: South Africa continues to be the ‘Jekyll-and-Hyde’ team of the HSBC SVNS World Series.
Fiji, New Zealand and Great Britain secured two wins each on day one of the Hong Kong SVNS, but the sheer range of attacking threat from Argentina stands out
Meaningful pool games await on day two with quarterfinal places up for grabs after a series of off-your-seat try-scoring moments.
Men Day One
POOL A: Flying Fijians keep pace with stylish Argentina
Argentina extended their winning run to 12 matches with another two victories on day one in Hong Kong. Los Pumas had five separate scorers in their 35-7 win over Ireland – Marcos Moneta down the wing, Santiago Mare from a lineout move, Tobias Wade latching on to a grubber kick, plus Santiago Alvarez and Joaquin Pellandini scores. Their appetite to attack with different methods and from anywhere on the pitch makes them such formidable opponents.
Moneta was also the first – and second – scorer in Argentina’s 52-5 victory against United States. However, while the fans enjoyed those, the sight of 6ft 6in David Still running full pelt to halve the deficit for the Eagles had the crowd on their feet. Burly Luciano Gonzalez held off a cluster of blue jerseys to pass to Alvarez who then set up Mare to score in another of the game’s memorable moments.
Earlier, United States had lost 21-26 to Fiji, two tries by Lucas Lacamp cancelling efforts by Filipe Sauturaga and Jeremaia Matana to make it 14-all at half-time. An outstanding try by Joji Nasova restored Fiji’s lead, one that Isikeli Basiyalo extended. Jack Wendling’s late score for United States was too little, too late.
Fiji’s other win on Friday was a sore one to take for Ireland who were leading 19-7 but conceded two Nasova tries in the final 90 seconds. Iowane Teba held his nerve to convert the second of those to win the match 21-19. How the Fijians in the stadium celebrated that one.
Ireland and United States have one point apiece.
Results
Fiji 26-21 United States
Argentina 35-7 Ireland
Fiji 21-19 Ireland
Argentina 52-5 United States
POOL B: Smiling Cupido suggests he could be heart-breaker for Boks opponents
New Zealand are on maximum points after wins over Australia (21-12) and Uruguay, against whom they scored 31 unanswered points. In the game against rivals Australia, Amanaki Nicole broke the deadlock, the big man showing good feet to wrong-foot his opponent.
Fans marvelled at a ridiculous, wonderful Ngarohi McGarvey-Black no-look overhead pass to Joe Webber that eventually led to Sofai Maka establishing a 21-0 lead. But the Aussies had talent in their ranks too, with Aden Ekanayake scoring before half-time and impressing later in the day as well. Jayden Blake was Australia’s other try scorer.
Australia did secure a win, however, a confidence-boosting 26-7 victory over South Africa in the day’s final game. Matthew Gonzalez ran over for Australia after they had survived the sin-binning of James Turner and a try before and after half-time by Henry Paterson put them in control. Ekanayake quite brilliantly collected the high ball from kick-off to feed Josh Turner who made it 26-0 before the sevens veteran Selvyn Davids’ consolation.
“To come out tonight and get the win and set up the rest of our weekend is very encouraging,” a beaming Paterson said pitchside. “It was about securing possession and making South Africa work.”
Despite that loss, the BlitzBoks are in contention for a last-eight spot thanks to their 40-7 win over Uruguay. Perhaps the highlight of that match was Gino Cupido, a centre in XVs, coming off the bench to score on his South Africa debut. His teammates delight was a match for the smile on Cupido’s face as he headed for the try line.
Results
New Zealand 21-12 Australia
South Africa 40-7 Uruguay
New Zealand 29-0 Uruguay
South Africa 7-26
POOL C: All to play for as three teams chase Great Britain
The most closely contested of the three men’s pools, Great Britain sit top of the pile with two wins from two as they downed France and Kenya by the same score – 12-7.
“We’re really building now,” said Luke Mehson after helping GB to the win over Kenya. “We’re looking for top four now. That’s our main goal.” Mehson scored the crucial second try, his chip-and-chase a combination of vision, technique and speed.
Kenya’s chances had been damaged when opening scorer Patrick Odongo Okong’o limped off early in the second period. His astonishing pace and power had helped his nation to a 19-0 win over Spain earlier in the day, a result to sully series favourite Pol Pla’s 50th tournament.
Pla’s men are still in the contest, though. They beat France 19-12, their first win over their rivals in 21 attempts. France were 12-0 in front from Liam Delamare’s long run up the left flank and Paulin Riva’s collection of a pop pass to canter over. Pla scored his first of the weekend before Anton Legorburu and Jeremy Trevithick completed the turnaround.
“We needed this win to keep the team going,” said 32-year-old Pla. His team sit third in the pool, one point ahead of France. A quarter-final place could be theirs yet. They play Great Britain in Saturday’s second men’s match.
Results
Great Britain 12-7 France
Spain 0-19 Kenya
Great Britain 12-7 Kenya
Spain 19-12 France
Women Day One
The Black Ferns, France and free-scoring Australia claim two wins apiece in an exciting opening day.
POOL A: Black Ferns favourite nears century
Captain Sarah Hirini guided New Zealand to wins over China and United States and helped herself to two tries along the way as she took her personal tally to 99. The Black Ferns were too good for China as evidenced by the 45-0 final score, but United States, earlier 31-12 victors over Brazil, gave them a stiffer test in the final women’s match of the opening day.
Speed merchants Michaela Brake and Ariana Ramsey traded early tries for New Zealand and United States respectively before Hirini’s brace gave her team a 21-7 half-time advantage. Brake and Jazmin Felix-Hotham added more while pocket rocket Nia Toliver and Kristi Kirshe ran over for United States, the latter running the length of the pristine pitch while New Zealand awaited the ref’s whistle for a knock-on.
“This atmosphere is exactly why we play the sport,” Felix-Hotham said after the match. “To play in a new stadium but to have the same feel as the sevens of old, in Hong Kong they value sevens so much. We appreciate that.”
United States and Brazil sit on three points, both three behind New Zealand. Yasmim Soares and Thalia Do Silva Costa were the show-stoppers again for the South Americans, scoring two apiece in a 36-10 win over China.
United States round off their pool stage matches on Saturday against China, before Brazil take on New Zealand.
Results
Brazil 12-31 United States
New Zealand 45-0 China
Brazil 36-10 China
New Zealand 33-21 United States
POOL B: France quell Great Britain and Fiji fightbacks
Great Britain and Fiji are well placed to compete for a place in the quarter-finals later on Saturday, but it is pool leaders France who are out in front in Pool B. Alycia Christiaens’ opening try looked to have sent Les Bleus on their way to a win over Britain yet they trailed when Georgie Lingham and Reneeqa Bonner scored to put the Brits ahead.
With Britain’s men having beaten France earlier, the French women managed to avoid a double defeat thanks to a second by Christiaens and Valentine Lothoz crossing for a 22-12 victory.
It was Christiaens’ speed that made the difference early on when France faced Fiji. She scored one then popped a pass to Rose Marie Fiafialoto for her team-mate to go over ahead of a Hawa Tounkara try. Yet Fijiana flew back into the match in the second half, with their fans in the north stand celebrating a monster run by Sesenieli Donu and a score by Vika Nakacia. Tounkara sealed the win for France, though, 24-14 the final score.
Great Britain and Fiji’s pool wins came against Ireland. Scores by Emma Uren, Lauren Torley and two by speedster Grace Crompton gave Britain a 28-17 win after Fiji had secured a 26-17 victory. Ireland may be 10th in the overall standings but they will take confidence from scoring 34 points in their two outings. Katie Whelan’s determination was enough to hold off three Fijian tacklers as she scored to give the Irish a 17-12 lead but Lavena Cavuru and Verenaisi Ditavutu turned the tie in Fiji’s savour.
Results
Great Britain 12-22 France
Fiji 26-17 Ireland
Great Britain 28-17 Ireland
Fiji 14-24 France
POOL C: Maddison Levi stars as Australia make it two wins from two
The pink boots of Maddison Levi moving rapidly across the turf spelled trouble for Australia’s opponents, Spain and Canada.
Against Spain she scored a hat-trick. Facing Canada, Levi moved ahead of Charlotte Caslick on the Australian try-scoring chart, touching down on either wing to overturn the lead created by Olivia Apps before adding tries either side of the interval to stretch her record to 189.
At the other end of the scale, Taylor Perry scored her first try for Canada, dotting down from close range in her team’s 26-15 loss.
Japan sit on four points in the pool. They lost 24-17 to Canada in the opening match of the weekend but dusted themselves down from that, and a 19-12 deficit against their next opponents, Spain, to win 24-19. Skipper Honoka Tsutsumi, Marin Kajiki, Suzuha Okamoto and Yukino Tsujisaki got on the scoresheet for the Sakura Sevens.
Results
Japan 17-24 Canada
Australia 54-12 Spain
Japan 24-19 Spain
Australia 26-15 Canada
Source: @SVNSSeries
