Argentina recovered from a 12-point deficit at half-time to win 14-12 in the men’s final against New Zealand in the last round of the competition. 2022-23 World Rugby Sevens Series on Sunday (January 22).
In Hamilton, the women’s rugby competition was won by the Black Ferns, who beat the USA 33-7 to move up to the top of the table, four points ahead of their eternal rivals from Australia.
The Pearls were defeated by the United States in the semi-finals 10-7 before settling for bronze by beating Ireland 33-17.
New Zealand was resilient after their women deservedly lifted the trophy, but fell back to earth as the All Blacks Sevens suffered an unimaginable fall.
Akuila Rokolisoa – the series’ highest scoring player with 165 points – crossed the goal line in the fourth minute, but the Kiwis squandered a conversion, a miss that ultimately proved costly.
Roderick Solo he landed four minutes later to lead the break 12–0, but the story was just beginning.
Santiago Alvarez he made up for Puma’s loss with a nine-minute attempt Marco Monet equalized three minutes later.
Tobias Wadewho had come off the bench just a minute earlier, capitalized on the conversion as the visitors had the last laugh to take their first win of the season.
The United States, beaten by Argentina 24-14 in the last four, defeated France 15-14 in the bronze final.
New Zealand still leads the table with 63 points, two points ahead of the US. Argentina (59) and South Africa (57) rank third and fourth respectively.
Behind the top two in the women’s standings are the US in third place and Ireland in fourth place.
The top four athletes at the end of the season automatically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Hamilton is the fourth stop in the series for men, the third for women. The tour moves to Sydney next weekend.
