Samoa and New Zealand reign in the rain in South Africa

After three days of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action in Cape Town, Samoa’s men and New Zealand’s women ended the event - and 2022 - in style.

Samoa’s men put in a brilliant performance to defeat New Zealand 12-7 in a closely fought Cup final to claim their first Series title since Paris in 2016.

HSBC Player of the Final Vaa Apelu Maliko said:  “We’d like to thank our family, friends and all the supporters back home for helping us get through this event, this win is for them.”

Samoa and South Africa on 47 points now lead the standings after three events heading into 2023, USA and New Zealand next on 44 points.

Tyla Nathan-Wong was the catalyst for New Zealand as they won the women’s event.

Australia had beaten them in the Dubai Cup final the week before, but in this week’s final New Zealand dominated from early on and came out on top 31-14.

This was New Zealand’s 28th title on the circuit and head coach Cory Sweeney said:  “It is awesome, it is hard to put into words.

“This group stood up and to do what they did in a final was awesome.

“I am really proud of everyone in the group, this is a special day.”

Nathan-Wong was the HSBC Player of the Final and she added:  “It was an epic performance by the team, it was a bit of a grind this week, but in the final the players found their self-belief and came out and delivered.”

Australia and New Zealand now lead the standings on 38 points after two events heading into 2023, USA are third on 32 points.

SAMOA EDGE HARD FOUGH MEN’S CUP FINAL

By the time the men’s Cup final was played, the rain really was coming down heavily, so credit to both Samoa and New Zealand's players for putting on a show.

The Samoans took a slender 5-0 lead into the second half thanks to an unconverted try by Faafoi Falaniko after six minutes.

Two minutes into the second half Brady Rush found some space and scored for New Zealand and when Tepaea Savage converted they were 7-5 up.

Samoa were not done though and a try from Vaa Apelu Maliko converted by Falaniko got them over the line 12-7.

NEW ZEALAND DOMINATE IN WOMEN’S CUP FINAL

New Zealand came out of the blocks firing and went 7-0 up early on in the women's Cup final with the rain falling.

Shiray Kaka was the try scorer with Tyla Nathan-Wong converting and things got better for them when the latter scored a try and added the extras again to make it 14-0.

When Nathan Wong added another try and a conversion before the break it was 21-0 with seven minutes remaining.

Michaela Blyde and Kelly Brazier scored further tries for New Zealand with Madison Ashby and Demi Hayes getting consolations for Australia.

The final score was 31-14.

USA FINISH THIRD IN MEN’S EVENT 

Marcus Tupuola, Malacchi Esdale and Joe Schroeder scored unconverted tries to a converted one from Siviwe Soyizwapi to give USA a 15-7 half-time lead in the men’s bronze medal match versus South Africa.

Faitala Talapusi’s converted try in the early part of the second period stretched the USA lead to 22-7, meaning that Dalvon Blood’s converted effort was just a consolation for the hosts as the Americans won by eight points 22-14.

USA TAKE WOMEN’S BRONZE

USA went 10-0 up in the women’s bronze medal match thanks to tries from Sammy Sullivan and Ilona Maher.

Ireland came roaring back through two tries of their own from Beibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood and when Lucy Mulhall converted they were 12-10 up with three or so minutes to go.

Having won the bronze in Dubai, this USA squad are made of stern stuff though and further five pointers from Sullivan and Naya Tapper saw them win 20-12 and take third spot again.

SOUTH AFRICA EDGED OUT IN MEN’S CUP SEMIS

New Zealand were too strong for USA in the first men’s Cup semi-final, Akuila Rokolisoa (2), Sam Dickson, Roderick Solo and Tepaea Savage scoring tries as they came out on top 33-17.

A late try by Ryan Oosthuizen which was converted by Ricardo Duarttee put home favourites South Africa level with Samoa at 7-7 in the second semi.

There was even later drama though when Faafoi Falaniko kicked a penalty to win it 10-7 for Samoa and silence the home crowd.

Samoa’s earlier converted try had come from Vaovasa Afa Sua.

IRELAND EDGED OUT IN WOMEN’S CUP SEMIS

Tries from Tyla Nathan-Wong and Michaela Blyde, both converted by Wong, had New Zealand 12-0 up at half-time over Ireland in the first women’s Cup semi-final.

Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, who had a brilliant tournament, scored a try converted by Lucy Mulhall in the second half for the Irish, but New Zealand held on to advance to the final 14-7.

In the second semi, Australia were just too strong for USA and won 33-12.

Charlotte Caslick, Maddison Levi (3) and Dominique du Toit were the try scorers for the victors.

FIFTH FOR THE FIJI MEN, NINTH FOR FRANCE AND 13TH FOR KENYA

Fiji dominated Argentina 29-5 in the men’s fifth place play-off.

Josua Vakurinabili, Filipe Sauturaga, Manueli Maisamoa, Alasio Naduva and Paula Nayacakalou scored their tries in that one.

Earlier, they had beaten Uruguay 38-0 in the first fifth place semi-final and in the second one tries from Matías Osadczuk, Tobias Wade, Mateo Graziano and Agustin Fraga helped Argentina get past Great Britain 26-14.

In the ninth place play-off, Paulin Riva played his part with two tries as France got the better of Australia 24-12.

To get to that point, France had beaten Uganda 24-7 in the ninth place quarter-final and then Ireland 19-12 in the semis while Australia had seen off Canada 33-7 and then Spain 26-0.

In the other two ninth place quarter-finals, Spain had been on form to defeat Japan 40-5 while a hat-trick of tries from Jordan Conroy had seen Ireland just get past Kenya 19-14.

After that loss, Kenya had dusted themselves down to finish 13th.

In the first 13th place semi-final, Canada beat Japan 31-14 and then Kenya beat Uganda 19-5.

Daniel Taabu, Edmund Anya and Johnstone Olindi scored the tries for Kenya in the 13th place play-off 21-10 win over Canada.

FRANCE FINISH FIFTH IN WOMEN’S EVENT

France put in an amazing first half performance to set them up to win the fifth place play-off in the women’s competition.

The French were 29-7 up on Great Britain at half-time and although there was a good comeback, they held on to win 36-28.

Valentine Lothoz (3), Yolaine Yengo, Ian Jason and Carla Neisen scored the French tries with Yengo kicking three conversions. 

Grace Crompton (2), Kayleigh Powell and Heather Cowell scored the Great Britain tries in defeat with Megan Jones and Isla Norman-Bell adding conversions.

FIJI SEVENTH, BRAZIL NINTH AND JAPAN 11TH IN WOMEN’S EVENT

Fiji made sure of seventh in the women’s event by defeating Canada 26-12 in the seventh place play-off.

Reapi Ulunisau (2), Ana Maria Naimasi and Alowesi Nakoci scored the tries for the victors in that one.

In the ninth place semi-finals, Thalia Costa, Marcelle Souza and Bianca Silva scored tries as Brazil edged past Japan 17-12. The second semi was just as tight with a second half Ingrid Algar try helping Spain get past South Africa by the same scoreline.

Algar scored again in the ninth place play-off, but Costa (2) and Mariana Nicolau crossed for Brazil to give them a 17-5 triumph over Spain.

Tries from Michiyo Suda, Sakura Mizutani and Marin Kajiki saw Japan win the 11th place play-off 15-5 versus South Africa.

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series takes a festive break before returning in Hamilton, New Zealand on 21-22 January and Sydney, Australia on 27-29 January as the race of Series glory and Paris 2024 Olympic qualification continues.

The men’s pools for Hamilton see Series leaders Samoa in Pool A together with Pacific Island neighbours Fiji as well as France and Kenya. New Zealand are in Pool B with Great Britain, Australia and invitation team Tonga. Pool C includes the USA, Uruguay, Ireland and Japan. South Africa, winners in Dubai last weekend, are in Pool D with Argentina, Spain and Canada.

The women’s pools see Olympic champions New Zealand drawn in Pool A alongside Great Britain, Fiji and invitation team Papua New Guinea. Australia are in Pool B with France, Canada and Japan. The USA will be aiming for their third straight podium finish and are in Pool C with Ireland, Brazil and Spain.