HSBC SVNS Dubai round-up: There’s something about Maddi

The HSBC SVNS Series opener in Dubai – in the warm afterglow of the Paris Olympics – welcomed 91 new players, 10 new coaches, eight new referees, and one new finalist as surprise package Spain battled their way through to the showpiece match in the men’s competition.

But while the All Black Sevens ended South Africa’s dreams of a sixth consecutive title in the men’s tournament in the quarter-finals, and Fiji cut short Spanish dreams in the final – some things, it seems are destined to stay the same.

Australia and New Zealand met in a sevens showpiece match for the 26th time in the women’s tournament.

Here – as the teams make the long trip to Cape Town for the second stop on the series tour on 7 and 8 December – we look back over a few of the highlights of the HSBC SVNS opener in Dubai.

Tries, tries, tries

Scoring machine Maddison Levi crossed the tryline at will in Dubai. The Australian scored nine tries on day one, including a couple of hat-tricks, added another triple in the quarter-final, two more in the last-four, and scored the crucial try of the final to take her tally for the weekend to 15, breaking the great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s record for tries in a single tournament, and extending her try-scoring streak to 25 matches.

Last season, Levi ran in 69 HSBC SVNS tries. Don’t be surprised if she scores more this time around.

Meanwhile, Ellie Boatman ran in nine as Great Britain marched into the semi-finals.

It was a great tournament for personal records. Ireland’s Aimee-Leigh Murphy Crowe crossed the 200-try barrier, and Levi’s team-mate Faith Nathan reached a century of scores – as did Spanish great Pol Pla.

His 100th couldn’t have come at a better time, as it gave Spain a lead they wouldn’t give up against New Zealand in the semi-final. And he scored one more in the final as Spain gave Fiji an early scare.

Spanish fly

Speaking of Spain, they kicked off their HSBC SVNS campaign with a statement performance in Dubai. First they beat New Zealand for the first time since 2015. Then they booked their place in the last eight with a comprehensive win over USA.

And, then, Anton Legorburu Anso was the hero as they beat Great Britain on the hooter, when they should not have had the ball. But a delayed lineout won Spain a freekick, and they fizzed it across to the other edge of the pitch to score the crucial try that saw them through to their first-ever HSBC SVNS semi-final – against New Zealand.

And guess what? They beat New Zealand again – taking their recent tally to three in four – to take their place in the final…

It has been a weekend of surprises. South Africa, champions for the past five tournaments were knocked out after a thrilling quarter-final against the All Blacks Sevens.

Not that they gave up their title without a fight. This score was deep into Golden Point time at the end of their day one pool match against France.

Kenya are back

Kenya returned to the top tier of international sevens rugby with a bang. They gave reigning Olympic and HSBC SVNS champions France a scare on their first match back, only losing in Golden Point time, before beating South Africa.

End-to-end action

Make no mistake, 14 minutes of sevens rugby is as tough as it gets. Argentina and Ireland were out on their feet at the conclusion of this incredible passage of play that had more plot twists than a heist movie.

But, then, there’s this score during Fiji v USA on day one. It came at the end of a long, long, long period of play. No wonder it looks like it’s in slow-motion.

Beyond the pitch

It was busy in Dubai this weekend… There was a controversial finish to the T-Rex race…

But, most importantly, everyone looked to be having fun in the sun…

A lot of fun…

And that's just how it should be.