HSBC SVNS: Argentina beat France to win first Hong Kong men's title

Argentina added a third title win of the SVNS season with a 12-7 victory over France at the Kai Tak Stadium.

FINAL

Los Pumas made it 16 games unbeaten as they edged out Olympic champions France to win their maiden Hong Kong SVNS crown and extend their lead at the top of the series table to 12 points, ahead of Fiji.

A fiercely contested first half ended 0-0 but when Santiago Alvarez crossed for Argentina and France's Liam Delamare was sin binned, things looked rosy for this stylish Argentina team.

Marcos Moneta made the most of the extra space to pierce the six-man blue line and make it 12-0 and, although Gregoire Arfeuil scored for Les Bleus as the gong sounded for full-time, the contest was complete.

'I got my debut here and last year I broke my fibula here before the Olympic Games," said player of the match Moneta.

"My parents decided to be here with me. These are the things I was thinking about at the anthem. It is the perfect day. It is such a historic tournament."

3rd PLACE PLAYOFF

Australia snatched the bronze medal at the death as 19-year-old Sidney Harvey latched on to a James Turner offload to score in front of a raucous South Stand to secure a 22-21 win over Fiji.

"It's just insane," said Harvey. "I'm just happy I bloody caught the thing! I'll never forget that, it's awesome."

Hayden Sargeant's try and brilliant conversion added to a James Turner score while Fiji had taken the lead through Sakiusa Siqila before Filipe Sauturaga's 70m diagonal run had put the Flying Fijians 14-12 ahead at half-time.

Heavy Australian legs couldn't match Joji Nasova as he scored his fifth try of the weekend but Henry Paterson's barnstorming run across midfield set up Aden Ekanayake to make it a four-point match. With time running out, fresh-faced and fresh-legged Harvey stole the show to spark wild celebrations.

SEMI-FINALS

Argentina moved up a gear to end Australian hopes of winning the title in the new stadium. Not only are their defensive stats the best in the business, they have so many attacking threats for opponents to contend with. German Schulz helped himself to a hat-trick while, variously, Australia committed men to halting Luciano Gonzalez, tried to deal with a Los Pumas scrum and finally stopped Marcos Moneta but could not prevent Schulz scoring his third.

Between those, Hayden Sargeant converted his own try and Aden Ekanayake was thwarted by Moneta, but scores by Moneta and Alejo Lavayen underlined Argentina's class in a 31-7 victory.

The second semi, between Fiji and France, looked to be heading to golden point but after a lengthy TMO review, Mateo Garcia won it for Les Bleus. Joe Quere Karaba was sin binned for a seatbelt tackle and big Joseva Talacolo scored before Gregoire Arfeuil and Andy Timo turned things in France's favour for a 10-7 lead at half-time.

Iowane Teba showed great speed to dot down, Simon Desert replied quickly for France, and Teba provided Rauto Vakadranu with the ball to level it at 17-17 before sub Garcia broke Fijian hearts, ending a run of seven semi-final wins in a row in the city.

5th PLACE PLAYOFF

New Zealand finished fifth in Hong Kong as they blew Spain away in their playoff tie. Cody Vai showed good skills to evade tackles in midfield and run in the first score but Francisco Cosculluela pegged the All Blacks Sevens back temporarily. Dylan Collier made it 14-5, and while Spain back Jaime Manteca was in the sin bin Sofai Maka shot to the corner for a touchdown and celebratory roll before Regan Ware turned on the gas for the fourth and final score.

7th PLACE PLAYOFF

Ireland secured a season's best seventh place with a spirited 28-12 win over Great Britain. Harry Glover emerged from the sin bin to bamboozle the Irish with a feigned pass with his right hand on the blindside. As the green shirts did a double take, grinning Glover continued his run up the right for a 5-0 lead.

Yet that bit of skill was surpassed by Ireland's Josh Costello who slalomed through midfield, sped forward and chose his moment to hit the brake hard as the chasing Luke Mehson whizzed by. Costello restarted his engine and dotted down. Mark Roche, Josh Kenny and Dylan O’Grady all scored for Ireland, while Mehson showed everyone a clean pair of heels for a late British consolation.

9th PLACE PLAYOFF

South Africa consigned Kenya to the bottom four of the HSBC SVNS, which means they will be in the relegation playoffs in Los Angeles in May. Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa scored a brace for Kenya to cancel scores by Shilton van Wyk and Gino Cupido for the Blitzboks. Kenya moved 17-12 ahead when Patrick Odongo Okong’o sped over the line after South Africa had lost possession at their own scrum, but Siviwe Soyizwape came off the bench to clinch ninth place for South Africa, 19-12 the final score.

11th PLACE PLAYOFF

Play had been going for almost four minutes after the gong had sounded when Ignacio Alvarez Akiki powered over from close range for the winner for Uruguay, despite the attentions of USA's Lucas Lacamp. That, allied to two Tomas Etcheverry scores, gave Uruguay a 21-14 victory and two series points for their efforts in Hong Kong. Both nations will be involved in the eight-team relegation playoffs in Los Angeles.