HSBC SVNS Singapore: Fiji men set to defend title; Australian, Kiwi women set to meet again

Defending champions Fiji, one of three joint leaders in the HSBC SVNS men’s series, have set their stall at the Singapore leg of the competition on Saturday by winning all three of their matches on the first day at the National Stadium.

New Zealand and South Africa, the other joint leaders going into this third stop of the series, lost a pool match each but have both still qualified for today’s semi-finals.

South Africa lost their only match in the last game of the day when they lost to Fiji 24-19 in a tight Pool A contest that saw the Blitzboks lose two men to yellow cards. They had earlier beaten Spain and Great Britain.

Tristan Leyds, Donavan Don and Christie Grobbelaar touched down for the Blitzboks but Fiji replied through Terio Veilawa, who scored twice, and Jeremaia Matana before Nacani Boginisoko burst clear to score the winner in extra time.

In Pool B, the Kiwis lost 19-12 to Olympic champions France in their first fixture but recovered to finish second in the group by beating Australia 29-10 in their final match.

The French followed up with a comprehensive 31-7 win over Australia, before finishing up by beating Argentina 26-20.