The stage is set for two wonderful semi-finals of the HSBC SVNS Singapore tomorrow after Fiji, New Zealand, France and South Africa booked their places in thrilling fashion on Saturday.
The All Blacks Sevens clinched their first HSBC SVNS title since Singapore back in 2024 when emerging triumphant in Dubai two months ago.
Now they have the chance to go all the way again on Sunday after progressing to a semi-final showdown with Fiji, who dramatically topped Pool A after an extra-time win over the Blitzboks.
The other semi-final will see South Africa take on France in what promises to be another occasion to savour at the Singapore National Stadium tomorrow.
POOL A: Fiji and Blitzboks show their class to reach last four
Fiji will be overflowing with self-belief when they take on New Zealand in Sunday’s semi-final.
Three Pool A wins against Great Britain, Spain and South Africa have seen to that and encouraged hopes the Fijians could repeat last year’s title win in Singapore.
In the final game of Saturday, they thrillingly beat the Blitzboks 24-19 in extra-time to top Pool A and lay down an emphatic marker.
Fiji, noted for their dazzling attacking skills, opened with a 22-19 win over Great Britain with the prolific Viwa Naduvalo claiming a superb hat-trick.
Nacani Boginisoko added Fiji’s fourth while Charlton Kerr, Brent Jackson and Joshua Radcliffe scored for Great Britain.
South Africa beat Spain 21-14 in their opener with tries from Donavan Don, Zander Reynders and Shilton van Wyk with Anton Legorburu Anso and Francisco Cosculluela scoring in reply.
Fiji claimed their second win of the day with a resounding 28-7 victory over Spain courtesy of tries from Iowane Teba, George Bose, Terio Veilawa and Nacani Boginisoko.
Josep Serres claimed the Spaniards’ only try as they were outscored by four tries to one.
South Africa then enjoyed a huge win after beating Great Britain 33-12.
A sublime display harvested tries for Donavan Don, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Ryan Oosthuizen and Sebastiaan Jobb while Joshua Radcliffe and Matt Davidson went over for Great Britain.
Spain beat Great Britain 29-14 to secure their only win with tries from Jaime Manteca, Juan Ramos, Jeremy Trevithick (two) and Gabriel Rocaries.
Marcus Kershaw and Brent Jackson replied for Great Britain, who lost all three games.
The real drama was still to come, though, as Fiji edged out South Africa in the final game of the day.
Tristan Leyds, Donavan Don and Christie Grobbelaar touched down for the Blitzboks but Fiji were not to be denied.
Terio Veilawa scored twice and Jeremaia Matana was also on target before Nacani Boginisoko burst clear to score a superb winner in extra-time.
POOL B: France top group and New Zealand also progress
France did not win a game in Singapore last year but earned a notable 19-12 victory over New Zealand in their opening game on Saturday.
Simon Desert, Antoine Zeghdar and Nelson Epee touched down with Akuila Rokolisoa and Regan Ware replying for New Zealand.
The All Black Sevens players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to honour those who died in the recent landslides at Mount Maunganui.
This tragedy is close to home with their womens and mens teams based on New Zealand’s North Island.
Led out by captain Henry Hutchison – the most capped Australian in Sevens history with 62 tournaments – Australia beat a gutsy Argentina 19-14 in their opener.
They established control through Aden Ekanayake, Jayden Blake and Dietrich Roache before Los Pumas 7s hit back through Marcos Moneta and Santiago Mare to ensure a tense finish.
France showed their class again with a comprehensive 31-7 win over Australia.
Simon Desert, Jordan Sepho (two), Nelson Epee and Paul Leraitre touched down for the French, with the Australians’ sole reply coming from Aden Ekanayake.
There was a much closer-fought affair when New Zealand edged out Argentina 26-20 with tries from Tone Ng Shiu, Frank Vaenuku, Kitiona Vai and 19-year-old Kele Lasaqa’s dramatic late winner.
Santino Zangara, Santiago Vera Feld, Marcos Moneta and Eliseo Morales were on target for Los Pumas 7s.
New Zealand then beat Australia 29-10 with tries from Akuila Rokolisoa, Sofai Notoa-Tipo, Rob Rush (two), Michael Manson with Aden Ekanayake and Jayden Blake scoring for the Australians.
Tries from Paulin Riva, Simon Desert and Ali Dabo gave France a 19-15 win over Argentina, for whom Santino Zangara scored a delightful hat-trick.
You can watch all the HSBC SVNS action on Finals Day in Singapore on Rugbypass TV, or your local broadcaster