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New Zealand Sevens chase Vancouver double as both teams make their final
By Finn Morton
New Zealand have taken a big step towards a SVNS Vancouver double with both the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens overcoming some menacing challenges in their semi-finals on Sunday afternoon.
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While both teams won the overall series title at the end of last season, their quest to do the same in 2023/24 didn’t quite get off to an idyllic start.
The Black Ferns Sevens had their 41-game unbeaten run brought to an end by arch-rivals Australia in the Dubai final a few months ago, and semi-final and quarter-final exits followed at the next two events in Cape Town and Perth.
But the women in black looked like a vastly improved outfit during a practically perfect run in Vancouver which included a +101 points differential after just three matches in pool play.
Check out Ciofani on her way to the try line 😮💨#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @FranceRugby https://t.co/q7gNURTzHb pic.twitter.com/6pxZAj1su0
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
New Zealand blitzed Spain 36-nil in their quarter-final on Saturday, and they managed to silence a usually vocal Vancouver crowd with a win over hosts Canada on Day Three.
“It feels bloody good,” New Zealand’s Jorja Miller told RugbyPass. “We’ve had a bit of a different season this year, riding that rollercoaster, all the ups and downs.
“We’re really happy, happy with how the tournament’s gone and happy to get back into the big dance.
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“We’ve lost a lot of experienced players but the depth that we have means that the younger girls get to step up and really utilise this stage.”
New Zealand will come up against France in the Cup final later on Sunday after Les Bleus Women’s Sevens defeated SVNS Series front-runners Australia in a shock semi-final upset.
France will be no either beats, either, and they’ve shown that against New Zealand this season. They go the better of the Kiwis in the Cape Town semi-finals in December.
But Miller said that winning here at BC Place Stadium would “be pretty epic” as they look to get their SVNS Series campaign back on track about four months out from the Olympics.
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It’s a very similar story for the New Zealand men’s side who are also looking to bounce back from some adversity and tough results this season.
The All Blacks Sevens failed to make it out of their pool at SVNS Perth last month but that’s well and truly in the past now. New Zealand beat Fiji and Antoine Dupont’s France on their way to their first Cup final of the season.
“We looked back at all the other tournaments and saw what we did wrong so now that some of the players are coming back like they never had a break,” New Zealand’s Cody Vai told this website after the All Blacks Sevens’ 28-26 win over France.
“It was always our goal, This one is our comeback season, this one, especially this Vancouver one going onto LA.
“You open the door ever so slightly and Rokolisoa will burst through it all day long” 💥#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN | @nz_sevens https://t.co/AGLwknFdVr pic.twitter.com/BJjnRKzuNw
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
“The boys always had the faith and especially some of the boys who are not here, they always get us pumped, especially (for) these kind of tournaments to come back and play hard.”
Starting well against France was always going to be important with Les Bleus Sevens riding a confidence wave after an unbeaten run in this tournament.
SVNS Series debutant Antoine Dupont was the hero on Saturday evening with a last-play try breaking Irish hearts in a tense quarter-final.
So, when push came to shove, the New Zealanders needed to shoot out of the blocks – and that’s what they did. Vai scored the opening points in the 2nd minute.
Akuila Rokolisoa crossed for a double and veteran Scott Curry also added to the score as New Zealand ran up a big lead towards the end of the contest.
“Very important, especially (against) those kind of teams. They’re one of the best in the world,” Vai said.
“To start well like that, that’s the only momentum we need and to keep playing hard against them is amazing.”
The All Blacks Sevens will face men’s SVNS Series leaders Argentina in the last game at SVNS Vancouver on Sunday.
