Fiji initiated their championship defense at the HSBC SVNS Singapore tournament by securing victories in all three of their scheduled games at the National Stadium, notably clinching a 24-19 extra-time triumph over South Africa in the last contest of the opening day.
Heading into that particular game, both Fiji and South Africa possessed an unblemished 2-0 record, having previously defeated Great Britain and Spain earlier on Saturday. This established the stage for a captivating confrontation that would decide the leading contender from Pool A and subsequently influence the semi-final pairings.
The commencement of the match was characterized by tension, with both teams striving to convert offensive plays into scores, yet no tries were registered until the fourth minute. Ultimately, Tristan Leyds initiated the scoring, and Donavan Don quickly augmented South Africa’s lead thereafter.
South Africa appeared to be dominating proceedings, but Fiji counterattacked effectively with key player Terio Veilawa, who managed to score two tries, one before and one after the half-time interval. Veilawa successfully equalized the scores with a well-executed conversion in the ninth minute.
Christie Grobbelaar swiftly restored South Africa’s lead with a try almost instantly, however, that particular achievement was eventually nullified when Jeremaia Matana secured a five-point score with just two minutes left on the clock.
Although Fiji came close to victory in the closing moments, it wasn’t to materialize, and the game proceeded to a golden point overtime. Ultimately, Nacani Boginisoko emerged as Fiji’s key player, dashing forward to score in the 16th minute.
Fiji advances as the highest-seeded team from Pool A, arranging a semi-final encounter with the All Blacks Sevens scheduled for 2:52 pm (local time) on Sunday. The Blitzboks are set to compete against an undefeated French squad at 3:14 pm, with the latter aiming for their initial Cup Final berth of the current season.
The Les Blues Sevens secured a late victory over Argentina, thanks to Ali Dabo’s decisive run down the field for the leading try in the game’s concluding moments. This score elevated France’s tournament standing to a perfect 3-0, arranging an intriguing fixture against the Blitzboks.
New Zealand represents the remaining team to qualify for the semi-finals, having experienced a 19-12 defeat to France during the initial session at SVNS Singapore. This loss rendered the All Blacks Sevens’ subsequent games essential victories, given that only two teams from each pool would proceed to the semi-final stage.
Eliseo Morales managed a late try, leaving the All Blacks Sevens with minimal opportunity to reclaim the lead, yet remarkably, they succeeded. Kele Lasaqa delivered a moment of exceptional skill in a very tense contest, securing the winning score in the match’s ultimate minute.
Lasaqa’s decisive play resulted in the New Zealanders achieving a 26-20 win, which was subsequently followed by a 29-10 triumph over their rivals Australia during the third session. Akuila Rokolisoa, Sofai Notoa-Tipo, Rob Rush (who scored twice), and newcomer Michael Manson all contributed significantly to the points tally in that particular victory.
SVNS Singapore Men’s Semi-Final Encounters
Fiji will compete against New Zealand at 2:52 pm (local time)
France will face South Africa at 3:14 pm (local time)
