Impressive New Zealand won all three of their pool phase games on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS in Dubai to set up a semi-final against Fiji.

Like Australia’s women’s team, the All Blacks Sevens were the only unbeaten side on the first day of the men’s competition, as they eased away from Pool B rivals Great Britain, Spain and Australia.

Pool A leaders France, meanwhile, will take on Australia in the last four, after battling their way through a ferociously difficult Pool A, leaving South Africa and Argentina to play for the minor places in the opening tournament of the season.

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POOL A: France recover from Bok loss to book semi-final berth

A double for Viwa Naduvalo helped defending Dubai champions Fiji come back from 12-0 down in a headline Pool A opener against last season’s SVNS League winners Argentina to win 24-19.

There was no such drama in Fiji’s second outing, Joseva Talacolo, Pilipo Bukayaro, Jeremaia Matana, and Apete Narogo all scored en route to a comfortable 28-10 win over last year’s HSBC SVNS Grand Final winners South Africa.

The Blitzboks had earlier edged an lungbusting opener of a match against France 15-12. Christie Grobbelaar, in his first outing since Dubai last year, scored the crucial try early in the second half before his side held off a late fightback from the Olympic champions, despite Antoine Zeghdar’s late score.

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France and Argentina’s early defeats made their meeting second time out a must-win. Les Bleus got off to the perfect start as Jordan Sepho scored the first of a hat-trick in the opening minute. Celian Pouzelgues, Zeghdar, Andy Timo — with two — Simon Desert, and Ali Dabo on the hooter, added touchdowns of their own, as the Olympic champions condemned Argentina to the minor play-offs on finals day, with a record 59-7 win.

Three sides — Fiji, South Africa and France were in the semi-final mix before the day’s final two pool matches. The first was a repeat of the Paris Olympics gold medal match between France and Fiji. Recent meetings between the two sides have been tight, but this time Les Bleus’ carried on where they had left off against Argentina. Apete Narogo’s after-the-hooter score was never anything other than a consolation for Fiji, as they lost 24-19.

That France-Fiji result meant that last year’s Grand Final champions South Africa and back-to-back regular season winners Argentina were playing for pride and Sunday’s minor play-off places in the last match of the opening day. The South Americans took the honour, claiming their first win of the day with a 19-14 result.

POOL B: Pool perfect New Zealand claim top spot

Inexperienced Great Britain gave a loaded New Zealand Sevens side a real scare, going toe-to-toe with them for the bulk of the opening match, before succumbing to a late Sione Molia try to lose 21-7. 

Dietrich Roache, on his sevens return following a serious knee injury, and Wallace Charlie scored as Australia sprang an early surprise, beating Spain 14-7 to get their Dubai challenge off to a winning start.

Those two first-up results set up a mouth-watering second game, as the All Blacks Sevens faced Australia. Kele Lasaqa was the hero for New Zealand — looking for their first Dubai title since 2020 — as he held up Ben Dalton over the line with the clock in the red at the end of the second half, as they held on to win 21-17, having been 21-0 up early in the second half. 

After that early defeat, opening day in Dubai did not improve for last season’s Grand Final silver medalists in their second outing, as they lost to Great Britain 14-10. Tries from 18-year-old Rory McHaffie and Matt Davidson gave Great Britain an early 14-0 lead, and they held their defensive shape as Spain tried to fight their way back.

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Captain Damian Hoyland told Rugbypass TV how much that win meant for Great Britain. “As you can imagine we’re all delighted in the changing rooms. The graft and heart we showed in that game... When you’re emptying yourselves on the field and you get the result, it really does mean the world.”

And New Zealand rounded off opening day in Dubai with a third straight win. Frank Vaenuku scored twice as they eased past a lacklustre Spain 24-7 and qualified for the last four unbeaten and at the top of their pool.

The final Pool B game of the day was a straight semi-final shoot-out between Australia and a fledgling Great Britain. The underdogs fought back from 19-0 down to make it a one-score game, before James McGregor gave the Australians breathing space. It ended 26-17.

You can watch all the HSBC SVNS action on Finals Day in Dubai on Rugbypass TV, or your local broadcaster