HSBC SVNS 2024: South Africa and Brazil advance to quarter finals

South Africa progressed to the HSBC SVNS Los Angeles quarter-final stage for the first time this season after a surprise 19-7 victory over Fiji in Pool A.

Vancouver champions New Zealand took top spot in the pool after three wins from three, but the faltering Fijiana lost to both South Africa and Brazil to fall out of the knockout places.

Elsewhere, Australia waltzed to the summit of Pool B and hosts USA held off a lively Canada to top Pool C, the former facing Brazil in the next round with USA facing South Africa. France will take on Canada and New Zealand face Ireland in the remaining quarter-finals.

Pool A: King becomes all-time top scorer

New Zealand secured their spot in the quarter-finals after a 40-0 defeat of Brazil, but Tyla King’s try stole the headlines as she moved beyond Canada’s Ghislaine Landry as the all-time leading point-scorer on the women’s series in HSBC SVNS history.

King crossed just before the break to add to scores from Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and a brace from Michaela Blyde, the latter completing a hat-trick of scores early in the second half.

Easily defeating Fiji 38-7, New Zealand secured top spot and a quarter-final against Ireland.

There was an upset elsewhere in Pool A as South Africa beat Fiji 19-7. Heleina Young opened the scoring for Fiji to take a 7-5 lead into half time, however, that would prove to be Fiji’s only try of the game. Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha and Liske Lategan were the scorers for South Africa as they took all the points in hope of quarter-final rugby.

That set up a decider between South Africa and Fiji for the second knockout spot, and while it was South Africa that came away with a 10-7 win, the losing bonus point for Brazil also saw them advance to their second consecutive quarter-final, Fiji missing out.

Pool B: Australia qualify and Ireland sneak through

Maddison Levi scored her second hat-trick in as many matches as Australia cruised to a 46-5 victory over Japan in Pool A.

They had already score four as the half-time whistle went, and three more after the break secured a dominant win to wrap up their spot in the knockouts.

A tighter affair against France saw Australia grab top spot, holding off a late French revival after Joanna Grisez’s try to win 17-14. Meanwhile, France secured their own place in the cup knockouts after a 21-5 victory over Ireland.

With a 26-12 win against Japan, Ireland had enough points to go through as next-best.

Pool C: Hosts beat Canada to top pool

Canada easily dispatched Spain 31-0 in Pool C, going two from two to secure a spot in the next round. Five different scorers crossed for Canada as they kept Spain scoreless.

However the USA, themselves unbeaten after wins by 40-5 over Spain and 34-7 against Great Britain, would take top spot as they defeated their North American rivals 22-19. In an exciting game the Women's Eagles Sevens took the lead through Sammy Sullivan and Alev Kelter, and while Canada hit back the hosts never relinquished their advantage, Kayla Canett sealing the win. 

Great Britain needed a five-point win against Spain for a chance at the quarters, but Spain led 14-7 lead at the break as they looked for their first win of the weekend.

Needing 12 points, Jade Shekells gave Great Britain five with her try, Isla Norman-Bell adding two more with the conversion. Spain’s superb offloading game ripped the lead back as Marta Cantabrana Gil crossed, but Great Britain came within inches of taking the game to extra time after Alicia Maude scored late.