HSBC SVNS: Perth parties as Australia spring quarter-final shock on Olympic champions

After their heroics on Friday, Pool C giant-killers Uruguay endured a more difficult afternoon’s HSBC SVNS Series work in Perth, as a business-like Spain ended their hopes of a Cup run in the quarter-finals.

Spain will meet Argentina, on Sunday who closed out a difficult quarter-final against Great Britain after going into the break two points down.

In the other half of the draw, South Africa will take on Australia, who will look to party on Australia Day after shocking France in their last eight outing.

Spain all business en route to semis

Uruguay were well beaten 38–0 by a patient Spain, who gave them few opportunities to find their rhythm in the first Cup quarter-final.

Eduardo Lopez scored his second try of the match – the Dubai finalists’ third – at the end of a 12-minute first half, as Spain laid the groundwork for a third semi-final in as many tournaments. Francisco Cosculluela had opened the scoring in the second minute of the match, and Josep Serres added a second-half double before Anton Legorburu finished off the scoring on the whistle. 

Argentina ease away after early scare

Reigning Perth champions Argentina survived a quarter-final scare against Great Britain to set-up a Sunday semi-final against Spain – as they came from behind to beat Great Britain in the quarter-final.

Santiago Alvarez and Marcos Moneta had given them a 12-point lead early in the first-half, but a double for Harry Glover meant Great Britain – who reached the last eight as one of the two best third-placed sides from the pool phase – went in at the break two points ahead.

But Los Pumas eased away with three unanswered tries in the final quarter from Santino Zangara, Matías Osadczuk, and Santiago Mare to win 27-14.

Earlier, Argentina had survived a thrilling South African comeback to win 19-17 and finish top of Pool A.

Blitzboks win battle of the champions

Cape Town winners South Africa beat Dubai trophy-holders Fiji 19-0 to win an all-action defence-heavy quarter-final battle of this year’s two HSBC SVNS tournament champions. 

Shilton van Wyk and Selvyn Davids had given the Blitzboks a 12-0 first-half lead in a match in which both sides probed hard, but scoring opportunities were few and far between. 

Despite failing to score in the opening period, Fiji still appeared to be very much in it, but a penalty try two minutes into the second half took the wind out of their sails, and their title challenge sputtered out.

They had kicked off their day in sevens rugby party mood, scoring five tries to beat New Zealand 33-5 and finish ahead of Uruguay at the top of Pool C.

Australia shock for Olympic gold-medalists

Hosts Australia held their nerve to beat France 24-12 in a momentum-swinging quarter-final.

Olympic champions and strong favourites France opened the scoring early through Celian Pouzelgues. But Having qualified as one of the best third-placed finishers by the slimmest of margins, Australia hit back with tries for Hayden Sargeant and Matthew Gonzalez to take a narrow lead into the break. 

Les Bleus hit back early in the second period, Joe Quere Karaba taking advantage of some fatigued Australian defending to break clear.

Their lead did not last long, however, as first Ben Dowling and Maurice Longbottom crashed over to win their first match against France in six attempts, and set-up an Australia Day semi-final against South Africa.

It was a huge surprise for France, who had gone  three for three in Pool B with an efficient business-like 21-7 win over Spain. Enzo Benmegal, William Iraguha, and Simon Desert scored their tries, while Manu Moreno got the Dubai finalists’ consolation.

Kenya set-up 9th-place final against New Zealand

After beating Uruguay 19-5 in their third and final Pool C match early on Saturday, Kenya went on to win a thriller of a ninth-place semi-final against USA 26-21. 

They will face youthful new-look New Zealand Sevens – who had earlier lost 33-5 to Pool C table-toppers Fiji – after they scored six tries in a 42-5 win over Ireland.

It was a second so-near, so-far defeat of day two for USA, who were in with a shout of beating Australia until James Turner scored a late try to settle their Pool A decider 19-12, and send the host nation through to the Cup quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed sides.

They will now face Ireland, who lost 17-0 against Great Britain in their Pool B decider, for 11th place in Sunday’s opening match in Perth.