It was heartbreaking for the Hong Kong Sevens winners – the All Blacks- as both the men’s and women’s teams failed to win the cup silverware.
Fans with Hong Kong Sevens tickets were entertained to the highest class of rugby sevens from the New Zealand teams, and it felt like the men’s team was on the climb to be the winners in the championship round.
The All Blacks Men’s team was disappointed as they were outsmarted in the group stage and knockout stages.
The Black Ferns Sevens, who were poised to win, eventually missed out on making the final and had to settle for third place.
Madrid Sevens Recap
With the whistle-blow from the on-field referee, New Zealand’s hopes and dreams of winning the inaugural SVSN Series Grand Final in Madrid were dashed. They had thrown everything at Argentina but pulled up short in a heartbreaking 21-14 loss.
When the enthralling battle ended at Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon, it was a sporting moment when time stood still. Most of the crowd went berserk as the New Zealanders began to process what had just happened.
The two teams shook hands and slowly went to the tunnel and away from the public eye. All Blacks Sevens coach Tomasi Cama was the first to walk towards the changerooms before the playing group followed.
Veterans Scott Curry and Sam Dickson had a dejected look of disappointment but still found time to sign autographs and take photos. Last year’s World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee, Leroy Carter, did the same.
New Zealand had won Cup finals in Hong Kong, China, and Singapore, but after falling short in the winner-takes-all event in Madrid, they missed out on the chance to be crowned the overall SVNS Series champions.
Few of the Sevens followers who were with the Sevens series, from purchasing Hong Kong Sevens tickets to making it to Madrid, were disappointed to see the display from the All Blacks.
“Just gutted,” Carter told media after the defeat. “I thought the boys prepped well, and it just comes down to moments, and we didn’t execute those moments.
“It’s always going to be hard being in the top eight from the regular Series season, but we knew what we were coming up against, and there are no excuses. We should have won that game, but we didn’t.
“Props to Argie, they played well, but the boys must execute those little moments.”
The All Blacks Sevens started the blockbuster semifinal in some strong form, with Joe Webber and Moses Leo scoring either side of a Matteo Graziano to try to give them the lead.
Graziano levelled the scores at 14-all just before the half-time break and completed a decisive hat-trick in the 11th minute to give Los Pumas Sevens the lead for the first time.
While the New Zealanders had plenty of ball late in the contest and even looked for a chance of breaking away for a final play score through Regan Ware or Andrew Knewstubb, it wasn’t to be in the end.
One knock-on was the final say. In front of a vibrant crowd that had to be at least 90 per cent Argentinian at that stage, the men in black had fought bravely.
For fans of the All Blacks Sevens and the Black Ferns Sevens, who were beaten by Australia earlier on Sunday, there is one more title to be won this season.
While Madrid is the final stop on the SVNS Series for the 2023/24 campaign, the Paris Olympics are only weeks away. Olympic gold is a big prize that all qualified teams desperately claim.
Disappointment for Black Ferns
Every fan with Hong Kong sevens tickets was looking forward to seeing another silverware lifted by Black Ferns captain Risi Pouri-Lane.
But it wasn’t the case in Madrid.
The Blacks Ferns Sevens appeared final-bound against Australia when leading the semifinal 19-7 with a minute remaining.
New Zealand was down 7-5 at halftime after Faith Nathan sprinted 85m responding to an opening strike by Mahina Paul.
New Zealand controlled the second half from the outset with an aggressive defence. Jorja Miller ripped the ball from a ruck and fired a pass to skipper Risi Pouri-Lane to propel the Black Ferns ahead.
Theresa Setefano then snaffled an intercept and wriggled the ball in traffic to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who turned into a pinball wizard blasting aside three defenders and dashing clear.
Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Caslick has seen it all before, and a weaving run followed by deft hands put Nathan in the corner. Tia Hinds nailed a sideline conversion as the full-time serin wailed in the background.
There was time for the restart. Australia went sideways, backward, and forwards. There was a juggle of the oval and bounce passes collected. The tenacious Sariah Paki made an incisive charge to within 30m of the line. A quick recycle saw Caslick with space on the left. New Zealand covered her run but couldn’t prevent the offload to Maddison Levi, who tied the scores. Hinds conversion was flawless.
“Just get it over the black dot. That’s all I was thinking about. Yeah, pretty stoked I got it over,” Hinds said afterwards.
Australia beat France 26-7 in the final after scores were tied at the interval. Levi bagged a hat trick to finish the season with a record 69 tries. Australia has beaten France 39 times in 44 matches. France has yet to win a tournament in five finals but is the host of the Olympics, having won silver in Tokyo.
Earlier, the Black Ferns Sevens avenged their shock loss to Canada on the first day with a 26-14 win in the bronze medal playoff.
There might have been alarm bells when Charity Williams opened the scoring with her 99th SVNS try.
Mahina Paul got the Black Ferns Sevens back on track. A double left footstep unlocked the defence at halfway.
Setefano is often at the coalface of defence, but given room to move, she can motor. Alena Saili played longer minutes than what she’s been accustomed to recently. Her third try of the tourney gave New Zealand some comfort at 19-7. Canada rallied with an Oliva Apps try before Miller was too agile and fast.
The Black Ferns Sevens avoided losing three matches in a tournament for the first time since Houston 2013.
