Uruguay back up shock Fiji upset with historic win over All Blacks Sevens

What Uruguay achieved on the opening day of this year's HSBC SVNS Series event in Perth should never be forgotten. The 24^th of January will be looked at fondly as the most famous day in Uruguay’s rugby sevens history, with the men’s team beating both Fiji and New Zealand.

Uruguay clawed their way back from a 17-point deficit to hand SVNS Series leaders Fiji a staggering 24-17 win that few would’ve seen coming. Fiji had beaten the Uruguayans in dominant fashion at SVNS Cape Town last month by a staggering 70-7 margin.

Early on the second day of play at Perth’s HBF Park, Pedro Hoblog scored a late try to complete an unforgettable comeback. It was a result that would’ve caught everyone by surprise, but the Uruguayans still had more history to make in Western Australia.

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Following New Zealand’s 29-14 win over Kenya in the opening game of the tournament, Uruguay were due to play the other unbeaten side in Pool C. Once again, they would’ve been viewed as strong underdogs going into the clash but they didn’t play like it.

Ignacio Rodriguez scored the opening try of the match in the first minute, but that effort was cancelled out by New Zealand playmaker Ngarohi McGarvey-Black who raced away for a long-distance try soon after.

Rodriguez added another five points to Uruguay’s score late in the half, but once again that effort was matched by the All Blacks Sevens as McGarvey-Black linked up with Cody Vai who touched down just before the half-time break.

What happened next was thrilling. It was a rugby sevens war between the two sides, with neither able to make a difference on the scoreboard until the very end of the second term. Uruguay dominated possession as the New Zealanders were left parked inside their own half.

Andrew Knewstubb made an error at the set piece with a skewed lineout throw which gifted possession to the Urugyans, who continued to pile on the pressure. More mistakes were made by the Kiwis and penalties awarded against them, and that didn’t help their cause as the clock continued to tick by.

Uruguay elected for scrums off a couple of penalties to chew more seconds off the game clock and it worked in their favour. With about 30 seconds left to play, they were awarded another penalty, but they chose to take a shot at goal - waiting until the siren sounded.

Juan Manuel Tafernaberry slotted the penalty attempt from close range in front in the 15^th minute, with the Uruguayans celebrating immediately once the ball sailed through the uprights to complete a hard-fought five-point win.

That was the Teros' first-ever win over the All Blacks Sevens.

Mere hours after their win over Fiji, which had led some to question whether it was the biggest upset in HSBC SVNS Series history, Uruguay had achieved another incredible feat that some would’ve deemed highly unlikely going into the contest.

But they’re the ones celebrating, and they deserve it.

“Really, really happy,” coach Gabriel Puig said on the broadcast. “These guys (showed) effort, an incredible effort. They don’t care about their body.

“They deserve it.”

Uruguay will look to make it three wins from three when they take on Kenya at 12:00 pm local time on Saturday afternoon. As for the other two teams in Pool C, Fiji and New Zealand will go head-to-head in a crucial contest for both sides.