VANCOUVER (AP) — Argentina held off South Africa to win the men’s title and New Zealand beat Fiji to claim the women’s title Sunday at the Vancouver Sevens, the fourth leg of rugby’s World Sevens Series. Luciano Gonzalez scored two first-half tries and Tobias Wade scored immediately after the break as Argentina opened a 19-0 lead over South Africa in the men’s final.
Argentina’s victory marks their fourth consecutive title at this tournament, showcasing the team's growing prowess on the international stage. Despite the challenging competition, they navigated through the knockout stages smoothly to reach the final. Santiago Mare, the captain of the Argentinian team, expressed immense pride after the win, stating, “I’m very happy, very proud of my team. All the team, all the staff and all the work we do here to finish on top.”
While Argentina celebrated their triumph, New Zealand's Black Ferns Sevens team showcased their dominance by defeating Fiji emphatically with a score of 41-7. This win not only marked New Zealand's seventh consecutive title at the Vancouver Sevens, but it also solidified their spot at the top of the standings in the World Sevens Series.
New Zealand's captain, Sarah Hirini, highlighted the bond they share and the connection to the Canadian fans, saying, “It’s amazing, we love coming here, we love the Canadian people and we’re really proud to get another win here.” The team’s success can be attributed to their effective strategy and impressive performance which allowed them to maintain control throughout the match.
The men’s final between Argentina and South Africa was intensely contested. Argentina began strong with quick successive tries from Gonzalez and Wade, building up to a 19-0 lead. Although South Africa fought back, with tries from Quewin Nortje and Siviwe Soyizwape, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit. The Blitzboks, claimed by their coach Neil Powell to have been bested by Argentina, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the progress made during the tournament.
“Make no mistake, it is never nice to lose in a final... But credit to Argentina, who were thebetter team,” Powell remarked, recognizing their effective execution and strategy. Despite the loss, South Africa reflects positively on their performance throughout the tournament, citing their reach to the finals as fulfilling their objective.
The event held at BC Place Stadium not only featured thrilling rugby action but also set the stage for future tournaments as teams prepare for upcoming matches. With the next leg of the World Sevens Series taking place shortly thereafter, teams will look to build on this momentum. Currently, Argentina tops the series standings with 68 points, demonstrating their stronghold on the competition.
Fiji and South Africa are now tied behind Argentina, with both teams showing sparks of brilliance throughout the tournament. Following the Vancouver Sevens, Fiji will analyze their performance closely to improve their strategies, especially against teams like New Zealand, who have consistently outclassed them on this stage.
The Vancouver Sevens has once again proven to be an exciting stop on the World Sevens Series calendar, with packed crowds at BC Place enjoying high-paced matches and showcasing the burgeoning talent present within the sport. Fans can look forward to the next rounds of competition as the anticipation for the Hong Kong and Singapore tournaments escalates.
This year’s tournament reaffirmed the importance of teamwork, resilience, and strategy, reiterations made clear by the performances of the Black Ferns and Argentina. Both teams have left their marks not just with their wins, but with their commitment to playing exceptional rugby. The spotlight now shifts to future matches, promising even more thrilling encounters for fans around the world.