A look back at the 2022 7s season
Blitzboks clinch last-gasp gold in Malaga
The Blitzboks scored a try after the buzzer to beat Argentina in a thrilling men’s final, while USA saw off Russia to take gold in the women’s event. England and Australia claimed men’s and women’s bronze medals respectively. The inaugural HSBC Spain 7s provided a weekend to remember in Malaga as South Africa needed a late try to come out on top in an engrossing men’s final and USA clinched their first Series title since 2019. South Africa pipped Argentina to the gold medal thanks to the efforts of player of the final Selvyn Davids, who surged over the try line after the buzzer to clinch the thrilling 24-17 win.
Blitzboks win in Seville for fourth straight title
The Blitzboks were made to work for the victory, but four second-half tries saw them to a comfortable 33-7 win over Australia as the Springboks continued their world domination on the HSBC WRSS circuit. The Blitzboks were forced to come from behind in the final thanks to tries from Christoffel Grobbelaar either side of the half. The South Africans struggled in their pool matches, but won against USA (24-19) and Scotland (31-24). After the win, the Blitzboks were on a record-equaling 34-match win streak and had won the opening four tournaments of the 2021/22 season- six consecutive tournament wins.
Fiji wins in Singapore as Blitzboks crumble
Fiji returned to the HSBC WRSS with a bang as it was crowned Singapore 7s champions after the boys beat the All Blacks 28-17 in the Cup final. Fiji’s first half firepower saw the side beat the All Blacks 7s.
In a repeat of the Olympic final from Tokyo 2020, where Fiji had won the gold medal after the 2712 victory, the battle between the two powerhouses was classic. Vuiviawa Naduvalo, Waisea Nacuqu and Joseva Talacolo scored tries for Fiji, and it got worse for our traditional rivals as Leroy Carter was yellow carded. Regan Ware scored, and with Jerry Tuwai pulling the strings, Fiji’s fourth try came through Naduvalo, his 10th, which was converted by Kaminieli Rasaku. Moses Leo’s try was converted by Akuila Rokolisoa, and then an unconverted effort from Caleb Tangitau for the All Blacks brought respect to the score-line.
Argentina shocks Fiji to win the Vancouver 7s
Marcos Moneta and Felipe Del Mestre scored two tries apiece for Argentina in the emotional triumph over a Fijian side coming off a victory in the Singapore 7s a week earlier. Under the crafty combination of Ben Gollings and Viliame Satala, Fiji made back-to-back finals, but the Pumas upset the Olympic champions to win 29-10 and its first win since 2009. Fiji took the lead on two minutes with Kaminieli Rasaku’s unconverted try, but ninety seconds later, Moneta scored his ninth try of the weekend, which Tobias Wade converted. Argentina, who earned Olympic bronze in Tokyo, added two more tries before halftime. The Pumas led 17-5 with seven minutes remaining, but after Wade received a yellow card, Fiji capitalized with a score from Jerry Tuwai, but Del Mestre’s converted try put Argentina up 24-10, and another try from Del Mestre ended it. Dan Norton, the top all-time Series tryscorer was farewelled.
Black Ferns and Fiji triumph in Toulouse
Both reigning Olympic champions turned on the style to take top honours in Toulouse as Fiji and the Black Ferns claimed the men’s and women’s titles respectively. The Black Ferns won their first title since Sydney in 2020 when they defeated 2022 HSBC WRSS champions Australia 21-14 in a thrilling final. The Aussies took some consolation in receiving the 2022 Series trophy, which they had already secured following victory in Langford earlier in the month, finished top of the standings with 80 points following a consistently top class season. France was second on 60 points, while Fiji finished third also on 60 points. Fiji’s Waisea Nacuqu was awarded the HSBC player of the final. The Fijians got off to a flying start when they scored a try via Tevita Daugunu, but Ireland showed great character as Jordan Conroy scored. Terry Kennedy extended Ireland’s lead 12-7. However, Bolaca’s try meant Fiji lead 14-12 at the break. Tries to Josua Vakurunabili, Elia Canakaivata and Kaminieli Rasaku sealed the deal before a late Conroy try finished things off 29-17. France beat Samoa 17-12 and the Fijiana beat Ireland 26-10 to win bronze.
Australia beats All Blacks 7s for first time in 20 years
Australia beat the All Blacks 7s in a men’s HSBC WRSS final for the first time in 20 years at Twickenham in London. Henry Paterson starred for Australia in the final with a hat trick of tries, including the winner in golden point extra time, and a trysaving tackle that prevented the All Blacks 7s from winning after the hooter in regulation time. Australia’s 19-14 triumph was its first against the All Blacks 7s in a cup final since 2002 in Brisbane. The All Blacks had beaten Australia in the pool stage, and Fiji 22-19 in the semifinals, but Australia struck first via Paterson, who was the HSBC player of the final. The All Blacks 7s hit back with tries by Akuila Rokolisoa and Leroy Carter. Paterson then scored as the match went into extra time. Josh Turner tapped the ball to Paterson to run in and secure Australia’s eighth title victory.
Blitzboks win Commonwealth Games gold medal
The Blitzboks won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, beating Fiji convincingly in the final. The Blitzboks won 31-7 after leading 17-0 at half-time. Muller du Plessis, JC Pretorius and Shaun Williams scored three first-half tries, and Du Plessis and Mfundo Ndhlovu wrapped up a comfortable victory, while Waisea Nacuqu managed a consolation effort. The win was South Africa’s second gold medal at a Commonwealth Games having tasted success in Glasgow in 2014, while, incredibly, Fiji has never won the 7s gold medal before. The All Blacks 7s beat Australia 26-12 to win the bronze medal. Australia beat the sensational Fijiana 7s outfit 22-12 to win rugby gold in the women’s 7s competition.
All Blacks 7s take Los Angeles 7s crown
The All Blacks 7s beat Olympic champions Fiji 28-21 in the final of the Los Angeles 7s tournament after Australia clinched its first HSBC WRSS title, a championship decided in the penultimate match of a season that began nine months ago. A confident and welldrilled Australian team beat Samoa 31-7 to take third place in the tournament and win the overall crown. After conceding the opening try to Kaminieli Rasaku, the All Blacks 7s equalized with a penalty try and then went ahead with a try to Regan Ware. Waisea Nacuqu made it 14-all, but Tone Ng Shiu gave NZ a 21-14 lead before
Fiji leveled the scores through Filipe Sauturaga. Leo had the last laugh as he sealed the epic win for the All Blacks 7s.
Fiji and Australia crowned RWC 7s champions in Cape Town
The Flying Fijians claimed their third men’s RWC 7s title by beating defending champions the All Blacks 7s, while Australia beat the Black Ferns to win the title for the first time since 2009 in Cape Town. Fiji beat the All Blacks 7s with a superb 29-12 victory. The Olympic gold medallists ran in five tries in a fiercely physical final. Fiji flew out of the blocks as Joseva Talacolo went screaming down the left wing and over the try line inside 30 seconds, before Kaminieli Rasaku charged over in the corner. Moses Leo finished a nice passing move to get the All Blacks 7s back in the match, but they were soon pegged back again as Elia Canakaivata carved open the defence and Filipe Sauturaga dummied and went through to give the Olympic champions a 19-point lead at the break. Akuila Rokolisoa got the All Blacks off to a good start with a try early in the second half, and Fiji’s problems soon piled up as Talacolo was sin-binned for a high tackle and Waisea Nucuqu was forced off with injury. Sevuloni Mocenacagi was sent to the bin just as Talacolo returned to the fray, but Fiji survived the testing period. The Fijians defended ferociously, pushing the opposition all the way back under their own posts, and they sealed a superb victory with the final play through Pilipo Bukayaro. Fiji finally ended a 17-year-old Melrose Cup drought.
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