Perth SVNS, Day Three - Men, Los Pumas stretches their lead
WRAP: Welcome to our coverage of the men’s matches on Day Three of the Perth SVNS, Round Three of the World Series.
Argentina proved impossible to beat as they went on to comfortably beat Australia in their own backyard. Stretching their lead on top of the HSBC Series log by 14 points.
Ireland outplayed Fiji for the Bronze Medal and now sits in 5th place.
Follow all the Day Three drama below!
Final
Argentina 31 vs 5 Australia
The host Nation locked horns with Series leaders in an epic re-play of the Cape Town SVNS series . Los Pumas dominated the first half possession as they asked questions off the Australian defense.
It was business as usual for the money man MARCOS MONETA who showed a clean pair of heels in the first half to record the only try as the Pumas went in with a 7-0 lead.
GERMAN SCHULZ scored a second try for Argentina 2minutes into the 2nd half as they looked well on their way to winning this one.
It went from bad to worse as MATTEO GRAZIANO scores off a mistake by the Ausies.
MARCOS MONETA seals it off for the Pumas with a brace but the Australians manage to get a consolation try at the end as MATTHEW GONZALEZ scores in the corner.
Argentina proves impossible to beat.
Vamos Argentina!@lospumas7arg reign supreme in Perth 🏆#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER pic.twitter.com/NjgNFaAi0f
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
Third-place play-off
Ireland 24 vs 7 Fiji
It was an absolute arm wrestle in the opening minutes as both teams brought their A-game looking for the Bronze Medal.
Fiji drew first blood as their offloading game paid off 4 minutes into the first half. Ireland responded through a try from their talisman TERRY KENNEDY.
The Fijians pulled off a superb defensive effort towards the end of the half to ensure that they go into the break all tied up.
With everything left to play for in the 2nd half, Ireland came out guns blazing scoring three tries as they starve Fiji from possession.
TERRY KENNEDY and GAVIN MULLIN both recorded a brace in this fixture as Ireland take the Bronze.
Fifth-place play-off
France 5 – 24 South Africa
The Blitzboks got off to a solid start and looked comfortable as a they split open a tiring French defense.
SHILTON VAN WYK opened the scoring with an intercept try.
The French managed to score through ESTEBAN CAPILLA in a hopeless effort.
In the end it was the 4 tries that secured the victory for the Blitzboks.
Seventh-place play-off
United States 27 – 12 Spain
The USA comfortably took care of Spain and secured the 7th place position as dominated all aspects of the game.
The Eagles flyer PERRY BAKER scored a hat trick and moved closer to the 2nd most try scorer position.
A tired looking Spanish team struggled to get into the game but they managed to score a couple.
Cup semifinals
Fiji 7 – 22 Australia
The first half was evenly contested as both teams refused to give it away. Play went across the park but both teams defensive efforts were well up to par.
It took 6 minutes for the first points to be scored as NICK MALOUF ran a superb line from a penalty set play to score for the hosts.
The Flying Fijians refused to stop fighting with seconds left on the clock in the first half they levelled things up leaving nothing to separate these two teams.
The Aussies scored another try after the half time break and then MAURICE LONGBOTTOM kicked a penalty to stretch their lead but the Australians scored one more at the death as they defeat the SVNS giants Fiji.
A final on home soil for Australia!🇦🇺 #HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER | @aussie7s pic.twitter.com/JpBxeTFb2U
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
Ireland 5 – 24 Argentina
Los Pumas put on a SVNS Rugby Clinic in the first half as they dominated possession and left the Irish defending for the lives as they recorder 4 tries in the first half. MARCOS MONETA scored the final one of the half.
ZAC WARD scored a try for Ireland as they looked to fight back.
The World SVNS Series Leaders showed exactly why they are on top at the moment as RODRIGO ISGRO scored a final try in the match to seal the deal.
Argentina is an a final for the first time in Australia
A masterclass from @lospumas ✨#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER https://t.co/EOzXqqXif0 pic.twitter.com/yKf6qrIh20
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
Ninth-place play-off
Samoa 14 – 21 New Zealand
New Zealand secured themselves some series points as they managed to score at the death through TIM MIKKELSON who scored his 240th career try as well.
Samoa put on a good fight as FAAFOI FALANIKO scored a try that levelled things up on the scoreboard in a game that seemed to be heading for Golden Point extra time but the class of the New Zealanders came through at the end.
Eleventh-place play-off
Great Britain 17 – 5 Canada
It was a tough contested first halfas both these two team looked to record a W for the weekend. Canada dominated possession early on but GB’s ROBBIE FERGUSSON scored a try against the run of play, followed by a MORGAN WILLIAMS try to end the half.
The Canadians looked like they were going turn things around in 2nd half but they failed to do so. TOM EMERY scored another try for Great Brittain.
JACK CARSON scored a consolation try for Canada as they went down fighting.
