PERTH, AUSTRALIA — Ireland, Great Britain, Australia and USA remain in the hunt for the women’s title. Meanwhile Ireland, Argentina, Fiji and Australia are the final four teams left in the men’s Cup following a thrilling day of rugby sevens action played in front of a carnival atmosphere in Perth
There was Australian joy at HSBC SVNS in Perth on Saturday as both the host nations men’s and women’s teams secured their places in the semi-finals and a shot at claiming their first titles on home soil since 2018.
Players and fans can look forward to a blockbuster finals day on Sunday as a sell-out crowd has been confirmed at HBF Park in Perth’s impressive debut as a HSBC SVNS host destination.
Ireland, Great Britain, Australia and USA remain in the hunt for the women’s title. Meanwhile Ireland, Argentina, Fiji and Australia are the final four teams left in the men’s Cup following a thrilling day of rugby sevens action played in front of a carnival atmosphere under blue skies and hot sun.
Australia were made to work hard in the women’s competition as the hosts ended the Black Ferns Sevens’ long winning run in Australia to book their place in the Cup semi-finals.
New Zealand had won 20 matches in a row on Australian soil and wrapped up top spot in Pool C on Saturday morning with a 24-7 defeat of USA.
Australia, by contrast, could not improve on second place in Pool A despite beating Canada 31-14 in their final pool-stage assignment, to set up only their second Cup quarter-final meeting with the Black Ferns Sevens in sevens history.
And the home side lifted their game to earn a 24-14 win as both teams ended the match with only six players.
“It means a lot to us,” Australia star Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea said. “We knew they were such a strong team, so we used our strength. We have great individual players on and off the field, but yeah, that was head noise.”
Lefau-Fakaosilea and her team-mates will now play USA in the Cup semi-finals on a sold-out day three (kick-off 12:46 local time, GMT+8) after the Women’s Eagles Sevens secured an impressive 21-5 defeat of France.
Ireland had been the first team to book their place in the semi-finals as they ended a run of five straight defeats at the quarter-final stage to beat Fiji 14-12.
Great Britain now stand between them and a place in the final after they edged a close rematch with Canada, 7-0.
Men’s HSBC SVNS 2024 pace-setters Argentina remain in the hunt for the inaugural title in Perth. Los Pumas Sevens were made to work incredibly hard to overcome Spain 28-17 in their Cup quarter-final but a Marcos Moneta hat-trick proved decisive.
They will play Ireland in the Cup semi-finals on Sunday (kick-off 13:10 local time, GMT+8), after Zac Ward crashed over late on to edge an epic tussle 21-14 against France on Saturday.
The second semi-final will be between double Olympic champions Fiji, who overcame New Zealand in their final Pool C match before beating South Africa 14-12 in another nail-biting quarter-final, and Australia.
The hosts earned revenge for their pool-stage defeat against USA, running in five tries to beat Mike Friday’s side 31-7 and emulate their female counterparts by reaching the semi-finals.
The best 12 men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams in the world were competing for the first time in Western Australia and fans were treated to a festival of entertainment on the pitch and in the stands.
Australia are leading the women’s SVNS standings on 40 points, ahead of France and New Zealand with 34 points each. Meanwhile the men’s SVNS title race is wide open with Argentina the current standings leaders after claiming gold in Cape Town and silver in Dubai, however South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand, Ireland and hosts Australia all sit within six points of each other, with Australia reaching the final last time out in Cape Town.
World Rugby Media Release
Photo credit: World Rugby
