Germany qualify for Madrid play-offs in dramatic fashion
Germany's men's Sevens team have made the final of the Challenger Series in Munich but more importantly have booked a place in the HSBC SVNS promotional play-offs in Madrid later this summer.
The hosts of the tournament will now play favourites Uruguay, who beat Chile to win the overall Challenger Series with a game to spare, in the final, after both sides won their respective semi-finals.
Germany clinched the 21-14 win against Hong Kong China with a thrilling 40-metre solo try from the excellent Makonnen Amekuedi.
His efforts together with tries from Chris Umeh and Niklas Koch were enough to fend off a brace of tries from giant Hong Kong China winger Max Denmark.
6'4 Denmark was unstoppable over the two days of the Challenger in Munich, but his efforts proved to be in vain against the home town heroes in the semi-final.
"It’s all we’ve been working for these last few months, since September. Everybody worked hard, it was a team effort and we deserved it," match-winner Amekuedi told RugbyPass pitchside in Munich after the win over Hong Kong China. A moment of brilliance was ultimately all that separated the two sides.
"Nik Koch picked up the ball and took out the first man, and then I had my one-on-one, and that’s what wingers want to have, that’s the perfect opportunity for wingers to score tries and I think I did a good job."
Uruguay have the upper hand on the Challenger Series, leading Germany 2-to-1 in head-to-heads. While making a Challenger Series final in front of their home fans is sweet, making the play-offs in Madrid was the ultimate goal.
"That’s the goal for everybody here, it means the world for everybody and that’s our goal," said Amekuedi. "I don’t just play for myself or my team, I play for my country, in my country, and everybody here who supports us, I play for them as well, like all of us do. It’s an amazing feeling."
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Good improvement Razor, still too many players selected who qualify through residency. Cut it out. There is a long list of NZ loose forwards and outside backs. Pick them. You are therefore still the PACIFIC LIONS (17.4%) 2024 1. Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tu ungafasi - Nuku alofa, Tonga 2. Emoni Narawa - Suva, Fiji 3. Sevuloni Lasei Reece - Nadi, Fiji 4. Samipeni Finau - Tonga (Not counting Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax and Finlay Christie that could take up to 30%) 2022/3 Mix. 1. Samisoni Frank Simpson Taukei aho - Tongatapu, Tonga 2. Nepo Eti Laulala - Moto otua, Samoa 3. Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tu ungafasi - Nuku alofa, Tonga 4. Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga anuku - Nuku alofa, Tonga 5. Emoni Narawa - Suva, Fiji 6. Shannon Michael Frizell - Folaha, Tonga 7. Sevuloni Lasei Reece - Nadi, Fiji 8. Pita Gus Sowakula - Lautoka, Fiji 9. Folau Fakatava - Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Go to commentsIs Bidwell just trolling or does he actually not watch any rugby? England were bronze medalists in the World Cup last year and changed their game up after a poor 6N start to beat Ireland (who improved massively since the 1/4 final loss) and almost beat France with some very nice running rugby. How are they not a massive challenge for a brand new ABs side on ten days prep? Bidwell offers no ideas on what this weak backline of ours should look like either. And how on earth are the Boks the yardstick? According to Bidwell, they only beat a mediocre English team and a not very good All Blacks team by 1 point each. Can’t be very good if they only beat the weak teams by one point.
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