Argentina make another statement with big win over Fiji at Hong Kong Sevens

Argentina charged into the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens quarter-finals with a stunning 35-7 demolition of fan favourites Fiji on Saturday, which capped off a practically perfect run in pool play for coach Santi Gomez Cora’s team.

After a one-sided 35-7 win over Ireland to open their campaign and an emphatic 52-5 triumph over the USA later on Friday, Los Pumas Sevens turned their focus to a blockbuster rugby sevens bout between two heavyweight contenders on day two.

Argentina’s “dream” on the HSBC SVNS Series is to take out the top prize at the winner-takes-all World Championship in Los Angeles, but for now, they’re taking each games as it comes, which included a pool stage blockbuster against the Fijians.

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The Hong Kong Sevens can be seen as a home event of sorts for Fiji, with a large contingent of fans bringing the noise at the all-new Kai Tak Stadium. But Argentina made a statement just about one month out from the World Championship with a masterclass in this match.

Matteo Graziano scored a double, while Luciano Gonzalez, Santiago Mare and Santino Zangara also crossed for five-pointers during the 28-point rout. Fiji scored their sole try through Joji Nasova in the 11^th minute but the match was all but over by that stage already.

“Really difficult to explain what the sensation is,” Argentina’s Santiago Alvarez told RugbyPass when asked what it’s like to beat Fiji in Hong Kong China. “I’m very, very proud of this team.

“Really, really happy. Just now, turn over the page and start thinking on the quarter-finals.”

Argentina fell painfully short of the SVNS Seres’ overall title last season. After making history in Singapore by winning the league title, Los Pumas Sevens met Antoine Dupont’s France in the World Championship decider in Madrid, with Les Bleus Sevens winning that one.

The Argentinians have since reemerged as the team to beat in men’s sevens. Following a third-place finish at the season opener in Dubai, Argentina later took out Cup titles at Perth’s HBF Park and Vancouver’s BC Place.

What’s their secret?

“I don’t know. Really, I don’t know,” Alvarez insisted with a smile.

“We try to give our best each day, each moment. We give it all for this team.

“We left things in Argentina, we stopped doing things because of this team and we enjoy being in this team.

“There is nothing I can tell you to [pinpoint] but I’m trying to enjoy this moment now and trying to be better.”

Argentina are currently in the box seat to repeat last season’s heroics in the regular season. With only two events left in the round-robin, including this weekend’s leg in Hong Kong China, Argentina are on the cusp of greatness as the first-place side on the men’s standings.

Spain have been incredibly consistent this season are occupy second with 64 points, while Fiji and South Africa share third with 62 points. At the other end of the top eight, Great Britain and New Zealand are looking to climb up the ladder by season’s end.

Los Angeles’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship on May 3-4, and while winning that event is certainly the goal for Argentina, Alvarez insisted there’s a lot of work that needs to be done between now and then.

“We’re trying not to think about LA.

“Of course it’s our dream, our objective is winning LA… but we're going step by step and trying to be better.”

LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.