HSBC SVNS: Argentina hold off South Africa for fourth Vancouver title in a row

Argentina continued their love affair with Vancouver as they proved too strong for South Africa in the final of the HSBC SVNS at BC Place.

The bull-like power of Luciano Gonzalez, named HSBC Player of the Final, helped him score two early tries, the second his 150th for Los Pumas.

Leading 12-0 at half-time and on a winning streak of 22 games in beautiful British Columbia, Argentina looked unbeatable and all the more so when Tobias Wade crossed over at the start of the second period.

Quewin Nortje's solo try down the left and a well-worked try finished by Siviwe Soyizwape suggested the tables were turning but South Africa could not muster more points and the final ended 19-12.

"I am very proud of my team," Argentina captain Santiago Mare said after the final whistle marked a fourth consecutive title on Canada's west coast. "I really like Vancouver and the stadium. We are very happy to play rugby here."

Third-place playoff

Spain conjured a rare win over Fiji to finish third and move on to 64 points for the season, four adrift of leaders Argentina and two ahead of Fiji and South Africa.

Manu Moreno scored two tries for the Europeans to overturn a first-minute try by Joseva Talacolo.

Fiji looked flat-footed as Jeremy Trevithick zipped through after the break to score and Jaime Manteca's finish of a lovely flowing move eased Spain to a 22-7 win.

Semi-finals

Argentina scraped past Spain 7-0 in their semi-final earlier on the third day of action. They had won their last 17 games against Spain and in their last-four meeting in Perth had enjoyed a 40-7 triumph. 

However, it took a brilliant Marcos Moneta saving tackle to keep the match goalless at half-time.

The breakthrough came when Luciano Gonzalez bludgeoned his way through the red jerseys and Moneta rounded off the move.

Spain’s cause to get back on terms was hampered when Roberto Ponce was red-carded for lifting and dumping German Schulz dangerously.

The semi-final between South Africa and Fiji was far more riveting.

Joji Nasova ran the length of the pitch to make it 5-0 to Fiji and things looked even bleaker for the Blitzboks when Sebastiaan Jobb was sent off.

However, Nasova was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Shilton van Wyk, so Fiji lost the benefit of the extra player for a couple of minutes.

The six men of South Africa tied the match at 5-5 when Selvyn Davids supplied 25-year-old Van Wyk who sped into the corner.

South Africa managed to pin Fiji near their own try line but eventually they broke out through Terio Veilawa and Jeremaia Matana scored to make it 10-5.

But astonishingly, Donavan Don kicked and collected to score behind the posts for South Africa and Davids' knocked over the conversion for a 12-10 success.

Playoffs

Great Britain deservedly secured fifth place. They led New Zealand 12-10 at half-time courtesy of tries by Sunni Jardine and Harry Glover but the moment fans will most likely recall was the stunning offload by Frank Vaenuku for Joe Webber to score for New Zealand.

Luke Mehson grappled with Vaenuku but the Kiwi had the might and nous to throw the ball out the back door for his appreciative team-mate.

Will Homer scored twice in the second half, displaying seemingly endless energy, and Freddie Roddick scored the final points in the 31-10 triumph.

A late Jordan Sepho try for France was not enough to prevent Australia clinching seventh place with a 15-12 win. Sidney Harvey had put the Aussies a try to the good before Ben Dalton ripped the ball to make it 10-0.

Offloads by Joe Quere Karaba and Leo Monin set up Simon Desert to cut the deficit to three points but James Turner's score put the game beyond France's reach despite Sepho's best efforts.

USA took ninth place with a 22-21 win over Uruguay. The match was in the balance after Will Chevalier and Pedro Hoblog traded scores, but with Uruguay leading 21-17 Ignacio Rodriguez was sin-binned and Jacob Broselle ran in the winning try in his absence.

In the first of the playoffs to determine placings, Ireland claimed 11th spot against Kenya, the experienced Bryan Mollen catching the throw-in at a line out and running it home to win 19-14.