Madrid SVNS, Day Three - men
LIVE UPDATES: Join us as we bring you LIVE updates on Day Three of the HSBC SVNS winner-takes-all Grand Final.
Hopes of becoming HSBC SVNS Champions 2024 are still alive for Fiji, Argentina, France and New Zealand, who will face off in the semifinals.
Below are all the Day Three LIVE updates …
Final
France 19 – 5 Argentina
The French and Pumas came out all guns blazing as they absolutely threw everything at each other with no one giving away an inch.
LUCIANO GONZALEZ broke the deadlock as he powered his way over in the left corner but French refused to stay down as they managed to score from their own try line through STEPHEN PAREZ EDO MARTIN.
The Pumas won the 2nd half kick-off but gave away a penalty on the ground and then had to see out 2 minutes without Isgro who got sent off with a yellow card.
The French made good use of the their numerical advantage as JEFFERSON-LEE JOSEPH scored with a mismatch on the right.
The French then went on to score another and secured the win with a PAULIN RIVA try.
Third-place play-off
Fiji 17 – 10 New Zealand
It was a tight contested opening minutes as both teams refused to give away an inch. New Zealand played a couple of phases before opening the scoring through MOSES LEO.
The Flying Fijians responded with tries by WAISEA NACUQU & PONEPATI LOGANIMASI in quick succession.
DYLAN COLLIER scored for New Zealand on the cusp of halftime as they went into the break behind by two points after a missed conversion kick.
With everything left to play for it was Fiji who threw everything at the New Zealand defense and PONEPATI LOGANIMAS goes over the line for them.
New Zealand had one final opportunity to perhaps level things up but Fiji worked hard to get back and prevent a try as they took the Bronze Medal.
Semifinals
Fiji 14 – 21 France
Fiji scored the first try of the match and then the French scored one of their own. The Flying Fijians scored a second try in Fijian fashion as they offloaded for IOWANE TEBA to go in behind.
The French responded in the 2nd half with a try by RAYAN REBBADJ and JEAN PASCAL BARRAQUE makes a superb conversion.
France scored the winning try through JEFFERSON-LEE JOSEPH and Fiji tried to fight their way back but they just couldn’t pull it off as France went through to the final.
Argentina 21 – 14 New Zealand
New Zealand missed an early opportunity but then got themselves together again and JOE WEBBER broke through and scored. There was nothing separating the two teams as the went into break deadlocked with MATTEO GRAZIANO scoring a double for Los Pumas.
MATTEO GRAZIANO scored another one to finish of his hattrick score.
The Pumas managed to keep the New Zealanders out with a great effort on defense at the death as they secured their place in the final.
Fifth-place play-off
Ireland 12 – 7 South Africa
Ireland got off to a solid start as ZAC WARD found space and cut through the BlitzBok defense. HARRY MCNULTY scored a second for the Irish as they started looking a bit more comfortable with ball in hand.
South Africa looked to respond in the 2nd half but they knocked the ball forward over the try line. They managed to get one through IMPI VISSER but it was too little too late as the Irish claimed the 5th place.
Seventh-place play-off
Great Britain 0 – 21 Australia
Australia got off to a quick start as JAMES TURNER showed a clean pair of heels. GB looked to fight back but just couldn’t get going in the first half.
Turner missed an opportunity early in the 2nd half as he knocked the ball forward over the try line.
The errors continued for USA and the Aussies pounced on it scoring two more tries through HAYDEN SARGEANT & NATHAN LAWSON to secure the 7th place.
Fifth-place semifinal
Ireland 19 – 14 Great Britain
The Irish got off to a fast start as ANDREW SMITH showed his pace by beating a couple of GB players. The Great Britain team responded with a couple of their own through JORDAN EDMUNDS & HARRY GLOVER as they started to look a bit comfortable, going one score up into the break.
With everything left to play for in the 2nd half the Irish came out with a bang and scored two unanswered tries through CHAY MULLINS & ZAC WARD. The GB team tried to fight back but they just couldn’t do it. Ireland secured their spot in the 5th place final.
Australia 21 – 24 South Africa
It was an evenly contested affair in the first half but the Aussies gave away a soft try from the restart kick that saw the Blitzboks go one try up into the break.
The Aussies fought back early into the 2nd half as BEN DOWLING spotted a gap and then managed to get it over the line. QUEWIN NORTJE scored a sublime individual try as he booted the ball down field and then dribbled it forward and collected to score.
South Africa won comfortably at the end but JAMES TURNER managed to get in behind for Australia at the death.
Challenger play-offs
United States 40 – 19 Samoa
USA drew first blood as they got off to a flying start by scoring two unanswered tries. The Samoans responded with a direct try by TAUNUU NIULEVAEA but the Eagles talisman PERRY BAKER scored a brace to take them comfortably into the break.
Samoa struggled with their discipline throughout and the Eagles continued to tick over the scoreboard
VAA APELU MALIKO managed to score a 2nd try but the Pacific Islanders were clearly outplayed.
Germany 15 – 33 Kenya
The Germans opened the scoring with a try by CHRIS UMEH but within seconds the Kenyan’s responded through VINCENT ONYALA.
Kenya struggled with their discipline as a number of high tackles flew across the park but they managed to go into the break with two points ahead.
JOHN OKOTH came on for the Kenyan’s and scored a couple as they seemed unstoppable. Kenya is back on the circuit.
Uruguay 12 – 10 Chile
The South American derbie got off to a scrappy start but Uruguay managed to hang onto the ball a bit longer and BAUTISTA BASSO scored for them. The rest of the half was overshadowed by handling errors from both sets of teams.
Chile did well to stay in the fight throughout the game and took the lead with 2 minutes left on the clock.
It’s however Uruguay who had the last say with a try by JUAN MANUEL TAFERNABERRY.
Canada 14 – 22 Spain
The hosts got off to a great start as JUAN RAMOS got them on the scoreboard early on and then another by MANU MORENO.
Canada responded with try by JOSIAH MORRA who cut straight through the Spanish defense.
JUAN RAMOS scored another one at end of first half.
Canada came back in the 2nd half as COOPER COATS scored one with the Spanish down by one man.
Spain managed to score a final try through JAIME MANTECA and that was enough to secure their spot in the series next season.
