Singapore SVNS, men - Day Three
WRAP: A thrilling final day awaits fans at the Singapore National Stadium, as the men’s HSBC SVNS league title races go to the wire.
Ireland kept their hopes of a first ever men’s title alive with a stunning quarterfinal victory over current leaders Argentina, who are also chasing their first SVNS league trophy.
New Zealand and Australia continue their hunt for the HSBC SVNS League Winners title as they face Fiji and France respectively in Sunday’s semifinals.
All the Day Three drama follow below …
Final
Ireland 14 – 17 New Zealand
The final stage is set for an electric final between two prolific teams in the series. New Zealand started out the blocks with some strong and direct running that earned them two quick tries. Ireland would not go away so easily as they managed to score in the dying moments of the first half to keep the game a close contest. The match would go down to the wire as New Zealand darted around the fringes close to the line through Colliers for a third try while Ireland would score next from a deceptive dummy switch move from McNulty that separated the teams by three points with seconds left on the clock. Ireland would have possession from one last set-piece scrum of the game but New Zealand would show their grit on defense to get the penalty for holding on to go back to back as winners of the Singapore SVNS.
Third-place play-off
Great Britain 26 – 7 Australia
Great Britain got off to a flying start in the match holding Australia scoreless while they ran in two tries by the half-time break with one of them being a sensational finish in the corner. It would not take long into the second half for Great Britain to seal their fate as they steamrolled past the Australians, racing to a four-try lead before the Aussies could score their first try of the match with time up on the clock. Great Britain will take the bronze in this tournament with a resurgent performance against a team that has got the better of them in the past.
Semifinals
Great Britain 12 -15 Ireland
It’s a rematch from day one in the tournament as both teams look to get the edge over one another with a place in the final up for grabs. Both sides end the first half with a try a piece but with Ireland’s conversion being the difference. Kerr would open up the scoring for Great Britain in the second half but ultimately there was nothing that could separate the two teams as they headed into extra-time where Ireland finally broke the deadlock with a three-pointer to take them into the final and keep their hopes of becoming league winners alive.
New Zealand 28 – 12 Australia
It’s another clash of neighboring nations as New Zealand edged Australia in the first half with two tries to one. This margin would double in the second half as New Zealand had too much pace and skill for Australia to contend with as New Zealand secured their spot in the final and will go in search for back to back Singapore titles while Australia who have shown that they can compete with the best will lock horns with Great Britain for the tournament’s bronze medal.
Fifth-place play-off
Argentina 14 – 10 South Africa
It’s a high stakes fifth place play-off game in the series as Argentina looked to get a victory that would crown themselves the league winners. This would be no easy feat as the South Africans scored first making the spaces count for them out wide. It would take Los Pumas ten minutes before they could get their first score of the game but they dug deep with a sensational effort to sneak in a last minute try for the win and make history in Singapore as they are the official 2023/2024 HSBC SVNS League winners.
Seventh-place play-off
United States 19 – 17 France
This game had all fans on the edge of their seats as two points separated the teams at full time. France were the first and last to score but the Eagles were able to do enough in between with two converted tries that made all the difference in snatching victory from the French who did all they could to keep the Eagles out which included holding up a try over their line. The USA take 7th place honors in this tournament while France will await to see where they will place on the series log as they hope to retain their fourth seeded position.
Ninth-place play-off
Fiji 21 – 12 Spain
The Fijians may have felt that they should be playing for higher honors in this tournament but Spain made them feel right at home stunning the pacific islanders with minimal possession as well as two well-worked tries in the first half. Rasaku would eventually get points on the board for the Fijians as Spain looked to keep commanding play for most of the game but it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish with Fiji, getting in for their second and third try late in the second half to take the lead for the first time as the match ended in heartbreak for Spain.
Eleventh-place play-off
Canada 12 – 17 Samoa
Both teams went into this game going in search of their first win of the tournament with neither team looking to give the other an inch. Canada opened up the scoring with some enterprising football skills by Isherwood to win a chip n chase controlling the ball from a pass straight onto the boot. The teams were separated by two points at halftime with Samoa being unable to convert a try from a conversion straight out in front. A costly attacking error would would result in a yellow card to Canada for cynical play and hand the lead to Samoa before Canada could come back to tie up the scores with a minute left on the clock. The last say would go to Samoa off the restart with Tuitana gassing defenders on the outside to score in the last movement for Samoa to take the 11th place finish.
