Singapore Rugby 7s: New Zealand stamp class with 3rd title, Olympic qualification

SINGAPORE — They are the two frontrunners in the race for qualification for next year's Paris Olympics. so it was perhaps fitting that the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens final on Sunday (9 April) was headlined by New Zealand and Argentina.

And it was the Kiwis who stamped their class as the top nation of this 2022/23 World Rugby Sevens Series, as they fended off the resilient Argentinians 19-17 to cap off a weekend of intense rugby action at the National Stadium.

Early tries by Dylan Collier and Moses Leo set last year's runners-up on the way to victory, and while Argentina refused to give in and reduced the deficit to 10-12 early in the second half, New Zealand scored another try through Brady Rush to put away the South Americans.

This is New Zealand's third Singapore Sevens title after past wins in 2002 and 2005. More importantly, it is their fourth triumph in the past five legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series, following wins in Sydney, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

This hot stretch allowed the Kiwis to seal their qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Singapore, after winning their semi-final tie against last year's champions Fiji.

That win ensured that the Kiwis will be among the four entrants to next year's Summer Games via the World Rugby Sevens Series route.

One senses that Argentina - second in the overall standings - will also likely be among the quartet of nations to make the Olympics when the sevens series ends in London next month.

Hard-fought semi-finals as Samoa, Fiji make finalists sweat

Both New Zealand and Argentina had to negotiate tough semi-finals to book their final berths.

Argentina were locked in a titanic struggle with Samoa, who had stunned Fiji 28-7 in Saturday's pool match-up, ending their fellow Pacific Island nation's 15-match winning streak against them.

They had led Argentina 19-12 before Tomas Elizalde made a desperate stretch to score a try in added time, converted by Santiago Vera Feld.

That tied the score at 19-all and sent the match into sudden-death extra time, when Marcus Moneta capped off a stunning move across the length of the field to seal Argentina's victory.

New Zealand, on the other hand, faced Fiji in a repeat of last year's final. While the Fijians were triumphant in that final tie, the Kiwis turned the tables this time by racing to a 19-0 lead in just six minutes.

Fiji were defiant until the end, refusing to bow to New Zealand's rapid attack and creeping back into the game in the second half. In the end, however, the deficit was too wide to recover for the three-time Singapore Sevens champions, who eventually finished third after defeating Samoa 24-19 in the bronze match.

The World Rugby Sevens series will move on next to Toulouse, where the France Sevens will be held from 12 to 14 May.

Singapore Sevens - final standings: 1 New Zealand (22 points) 2 Argentina (19pts) 3 Fiji (17pts) 4 Samoa (15pts) 5 Australia (13pts) 6 Britain (12pts) 7 Uruguay and France (10pts) 9 Spain (8pts) 10 Kenya (7pts) 11 Japan and South Africa (5pts) 13 United States (3pts) 14 Canada (2pts) 15 Ireland and Hong Kong (1pt).

Overall series leaders: 1 New Zealand (160pts) 2 Argentina (140pts) 3 Fiji (130pts) 4 France (122pts) 5 Australia (112pts).

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