Sean Moore
Argentina continued their barnstorming run at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Saturday, bushing aside Fiji and Ireland on their march into the semi-finals at Kai Tak Stadium.
Though there were concerns coming into the tournament that jet lag might play a part in their downfall – what with the squad enduring 44 hours in transit just to get to Hong Kong – the South Americans have so far been untouchable, collecting 126 points for compared to 21 against as they’ve mostly left their opponents grasping at thin air.
Pace – and no little strength – has been the key and Australia will have to upset the odds with the two teams run out for their semi-final come Sunday.
Los Pumas coach Santiago Gómez Cora has been keeping a lid on his emotions on the sidelines as he’s sought to keep expectations in check
“We are growing as a team, we developed with this team,” he said. “Most of these players came from the last 10 years working with us and then the last year has been the first time that we have made it to the top. We keep growing day after day.”
It would take a brave person to bet against Los Pumas making it three HSBC SVNS Series tournament titles in row – after they reigned supreme in Perth and Vancouver before the trip to the SAR - but the coach threw a hand up at the mere mention of that issue, in an effort to dismiss such thinking with game still to play on Sunday.
“Don't say that, don’t day we might win!” Gomez Cora laughed. “No, it's a big dream of mine because the last time that we arrived to a final was in 2005, when I was a player, so I want to win here.”
While Argentina have left jaws dropping, the other side of the draw provided two thrillers deep into the evening.
France came from nowhere to overrun reigning title-holders New Zealand 21-14 in the last game of the day. Now they’ll face 19-time champions Fiji on Sunday, the islanders pushed to the limit by Spain in their quarter-finals before winning 31-29 in extra time.
Reigning champions New Zealand and arch-foes Australia have looked imperious so far in the women’s side of the event as they have marched into the semi-finals, with the Kiwis now to face Canada and the Aussies to face France on Sunday.
There’s been no escaping Australian star Maddison Levi this week, on Friday she became her nation’s all-time leading try-scorer when she scored her 189th. On Saturday she continued to drive her side onwards – added two more to her lifetime total – but she took time, also, to reflect on the experience of helping to christen Hong Kong’s new sporting hub.
“I guess the other stadium had so much history and just for them to go bigger and better and create new memories at this stadium, it's a five-star stadium and it's unreal,” she said.
