The Springbok Sevens and South Sea magicians Fiji continue on their collision course to decide who will win this year’s HSBC World SVNS Series as both qualified for the semifinals of the New York Sevens, albeit on different sides of the draw.
The two top sides, both on equal points at the top of the log, both lost a game during the pool phase, but managed to qualify in any case for the last four.
The team that finishes above the other will win the World Series, and both have an equal chance.
The Blitzboks may have lost their final pool game 19-12 to Australia, but they face Argentina, the 2024-25 Series champions, in their semifinal. Fiji will face Australia in the other semifinal and the Blitzboks will be hoping they can win their playoff and Australia win the other, because that would give them the World Series title.
Fiji almost didn’t qualify after a big 31-12 loss to Argentina in their opening game, but thundered back to beat Great Britain and then smashed Spain 43-12 in a dominant performance that was an eliminator match.
The Blitzboks face Argentina at 18h50 on Sunday (CAT, GMT+2) with Fiji facing Australia at 18h28.
Against Australia, playmaker Selvyn Davids scored a brace, with his first try taking him to 100 Sevens tries in the series, but tries by James Turner, Ben Dalton, and a late try by Jayden Blake gave Australia a big win.
Earlier in the day, the Springbok Sevens team beat France and New Zealand to book their spot in the semis