Hong Kong SVNS - Men, Day One
LIVE UPDATES: We bring you all the men’s drama on Day One at Hong Kong, Round Six of the SVNS World Series.
There is sure to be drama and fireworks, as Argentina has the chance to become men’s SVNS 2024 League Winners if they maintain their 20-point lead at the top of the standings.
While French superstar Antoine Dupont is not in the French squad this time, fans will witness the highly anticipated Sevens debut of one of Australia’s most capped men’s test players Michael Hooper.
Follow all the Day One action below!
Spain 17 – 14 Samoa
Both teams started this game with strong intent, getting their campaigns underway with scores in the first half. Samoa showed their physicality early on with a number of tackle breaks and a clinical performance under the high ball particularly in the kick-offs that would make the legendary Beast Mtwarira proud. The first half would end in two tries to one to Samoa as the Spanish knew they needed to take it up a notch to match the Samoan strength on attack. A crucial turnover on Samoa’s lineout deep in their own half would be the deciding factor as Spain pulled this game out of the fire in emphatic style to open their campaign with an important victory over the Pacific Islanders.
Ireland 17 – 22 South Africa
South Africa got off the a brilliant start to the tournament weathering an early Irish attack before a pin-point short-ball would put Shelton van Wyk over the try-line for his team’s first try of the match. Ireland needed to come up with something quick going into the second half as they trailed by an impressive three unanswered tries marking a dominant start to South Africa’s campaign. Zac Ward would get his team on the scoreboard with a great support line followed by South Africa getting a red card for a dangerous tackle to put the Irish right back into the game with two minutes left on the clock. It would be all to play for in the last movement of the game but some gutsy defense would enable South Africa to hold onto the lead and get their tournament underway with a win against the second-seeded side in the tournament.
Argentina 10 – 14 United States
It’s a titanic match-up in this opening round between Los pumas and the Eagles with the talismanic Perry Baker getting his team on the scoreboard first as both teams looked to get the upper hand early on in the match. The Argentineans looked to strike second but another Perry Baker moment put the Eagles in an imposing position before Los Pumas could pull one back to close out the first half at two tries to one. A second try to Argentina within the first minute of the second half put them right back into the game as four points separated the two teams with five minutes left to play. The match would go down to the wire with Los Pumas getting the last role of the dice with time up on the clock but a crucial steal at the ruck would ensure a victory to the USA and a big win to open their campaign.
Great Britain 7 -12 New Zealand
New Zealand got off to a rocky start to their campaign as as they were unable to penetrate the Great British defense in the first half of the match having trailed by one converted try. Brady Rush would eventually break the British defense to get his team’s first points of the tournament as the score read seven a piece with three minutes left to play in the game. Some fancy footwork by Cooke-Savage put New Zealand ahead in the game for the first time with a minute left to play and that would be all she wrote for Great Britain who miss out on a big result against the mighty Kiwis in their opening round of the tournament.
Spain 10 – 24 South Africa
It’s a big game for both teams who go in search for their second consecutive win in the tournament. Spain drew first blood in the match after some strong defense awarded them a penalty for holding on deep in South African territory. The Blitzbok would do well to respond with winning a foot race off a kick chase that puts them in the lead after converting their try. They would continue to increase their lead in the second half as South Africa get back to back wins to cap off their first day of the tournament and will surely be eyeing a spot in the play-offs.
Ireland 12 – 7 Samoa
This match proved to be an arm-wrestle until the end as the scores were even right up until the final minutes. It was a case of one team trying to find their former dominance against the other that has become a powerhouse in SVNS rugby. It would be Ireland who gain the edge with a well-worked try in the corner that just about gets over the line in the dying seconds of the game. Ireland win themselves a scrum in the last play of the match and run the clock down to secure themselves a vital win to keep their play-off hopes alive in this tournament.
Argentina 0 – 22 New Zealand
It’s not a familiar place that the number one seeded Argentineans have been in as of late as they go in search of their first win of the tournament against New Zealand. The All Blacks get off to a great start with the first try of the match but in an extraordinary passage of play are denied their second try in two attempts. First as their player crosses over the try-line and attempts the inside pass that gets smothered and a second time through a handling-error when diving over for the try which gives Los Pumas a glimpse of hope in this match. New Zealand would eventually get their second try early in the second half as the pressure began to mount for Argentina with a yellow card adding to their woes. The game ends in Los Pumas being shocked and beaten by four unanswered tries and a winless first day of the tournament.
Great Britain 14 – 26 United States
It’s a match that’s too close to call as both teams ended their first games by close margins. The USA strikes first through the usual suspect in Perry Baker but it didn’t take long for Great Britain to get one back in Harry Glover. The match continued to stay neck and neck with both teams running in two tries in the first half. The Eagles would trail by two points before Kevon Williams dived over the line for his team’s third try of the game as well as his 100th try milestone. USA ultimately manage to close out the game and finish the day unbeaten while Great Britain would have felt unlucky to have not secured a second losing bonus point.
Fiji 0 – 12 Australia
All eyes are on this game as the Wallabies most capped test captain in Michael Hooper makes is highly-anticipated debut for Australia against the mighty Fijians. The Australians show some brave defense early on against a relentless Fijian offense that gets them all but close to getting over the try-line not once but twice. Australia’s defensive patience would pay off as they’re eventually given the chance to strike and do so in the corner through James Turner for the first try of the match to end the first half by a slim margin of five points. It would be Fiji’s chance to scramble on defense in the second half as Australia ran in their second try of the match that was all too much for the Fijians to recover from with the game ending in a penalty for holding on by none other than Michael Hooper.
France 31 – 0 Canada
It’s the reigning Los Angeles champions’ time to shine as they took the field against the Maple Leafs. France would start out the blocks with two quick tries that had the Canadians rocked. The French would continue to march on as the Canadians had no answer on defense or attack in the second half as France looked to keep the momentum and show that they mean business with the biggest winning margin in the tournament so far, putting on a dismantling performance against Canada.
Fiji 45 – 5 Canada
The Fijians showed real intent after a disappointing performance in their first match of the tournament. They displayed high intensity from the get go that had the Canadians out on their feet within the first few minutes of the game. Once Canada got their hands on the ball, their attack would take them up to the halfway line but the Fijians would get the turnover and let their flair do the rest of the talking with four unanswered tries in the first half. The match would end in Fiji breaking Australia’s short-lived winning margin record of the tournament with a comprehensive effort that puts them right back in contention going into day two.
France 19 – 14 Australia
It’s arguably the best game saved for last with both teams not conceding any points going into their second match of the tournament. This could not last for long as the Australians set the tone with the first try in the opening moments of the game. The French would not take this lightly as they put the phases together to get a try of their own but continued to trail with an unsuccessful conversion. Another piece of brilliance would increase Australia’s lead going into the second as they stabbed a kick through the defense and regathered the ball to get over the line. The game would down to the wire as the French run the length of the field to come away with their second try of the match with 20 seconds left on the clock and it’s all to play for. France steal it at the death as they regather off the kick-off, spread the ball wide and get in for the try in the corner to finish off a captivating first day of the Hong Kong SVNS tournament.
