Heartbreak for Fiji men as Black Ferns snatch last-minute win in New York Sevens finals

The New York HSBC SVNS finals delivered drama to the final whistle, with both men’s and women’s finals decided in the dying moments.

For Fiji’s men, hope turned to heartbreak as they fell 10-7 to the South Africa Blitzboks on Monday (NZT).

A late chance on the wing to snatch victory ended in a handling error, giving the Blitzboks a crucial reprieve.

The low-scoring match proved how physical the contest was, with the Blitzboks leading 5-0 at halftime.

Fiji remained composed in possession before Terio Veilawa struck wide, converting his own try to bring the game to life.

Gino Cupido and Tristan Leyds crossed for South Africa, with their lightning-fast line speed keeping Fiji at bay.

New Zealand captain Risi Pouri-Lane. Photo/Alex Ho/World Rugby

Player of the final, Selvyn Davids, told a post-match interview that the Blitzboks’ plan was simple: stick “to their guns and we just knew we can’t relax. They’re [Fiji] going to come out with everything they got.”

Despite the loss, Fiji showed glimpses of their usual flair, earlier defeating the United States 26-17.

The Fijians now look ahead to the three-leg World Championship starting in Hong Kong from 17 to 19 April. Fiji will be hoping to build on lessons from New York.

In the women’s final, New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens staged a stunning comeback to edge Australia 22-21 in a nail-biting finale.

Trailing 14-5 at halftime after tries from sisters Madison and Tegan Levi, Australia seemed in control.

But the Black Ferns’ substitutes sparked a turnaround. Alena Saili made an immediate impact, taking an offload and charging down the right edge.

Winger Kelsey Teneti then crossed for back-to-back tries before replacement Katelyn Vaha’akolo sealed the win with the final try, allowing captain Risi Pouri-Lane to convert.

Pouri-Lane, 25, revealed the halftime message that helped turn the game around: “It was about heart because finals footie can go either way, so we had to grind it out. But the belief in every single one of us was huge and we spoke about doing the simple things well.”

The victory marks New Zealand’s 26th over Australia in 36 final meetings and the first cup final decided by a single point.

In other results, the New Zealand men finished sixth overall after losing to France 21-14.

The New York Sevens was a showcase of Pacific rugby talent, with Fiji’s men demonstrating their skill and resilience and the Black Ferns proving once again why they are a dominant force in women’s sevens.

For more information on the HSBC SVNS World Championship series, click here.