Antoine Dupont’s sevens debut ended by New Zealand in Vancouver, but Argentina clinch three-peat
- Pumas take their third straight Canada Sevens crown after the Kiwis halt France, for whom Dupont had earlier starred in their quarter-final
- Dupont has switched to sevens in the hope of playing in this year’s Olympics on home turf in Paris
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Antoine Dupont’s first tournament with France’s seven-a-side squad was ended by New Zealand in the semi-finals, but it was Argentina who finished top of the pile in Vancouver.
The Pumas came from behind in the final to defeat the Kiwis 36-12 to win their third straight Canada Sevens crown, tightening their grip on the eight-leg World Rugby SVNS Series.
Scrum-half Dupont had earlier made an impact on his debut in rugby’s shortened format by scoring a last-gasp winning try to settle his side’s tense quarter-final against Ireland at BC Place Stadium. He burst down the blindside from a scrum to dot down in the corner for an opportunistic score.
Dupont then entered the fray as a second-half replacement against a skilful New Zealand side. But the 15-a-side superstar, who opted to skip the Six Nations in order to focus on sevens with an eye on this year’s Paris Olympics, was unable to produce a repeat of his heroics.
Previously winners of the tournament in 2016 and 2020, the Kiwis took control to lead 14-5 at half-time. They stretched their lead to 28-12 before France scored late tries to give the scoreline a more respectable look at 28-26.
Argentina had cruised to a 35-19 drubbing of the United States in their semi-final. And in the final, fresh from victories at the Cape Town and Perth tournaments, they once again signalled they are the form team of seven-a-side rugby with a scintillating performance to overwhelm their opponents.
Matias Osadczuk scored a brilliant hat-trick alongside tries from Marcos Moneta, Matteo Graziano and Luciano Gonzalez.
The win follows Argentina’s victories in Vancouver in 2023 and 2022. The Pumas have now gone 18 games unbeaten in the tournament during that period.
“It’s incredible. I’m very proud of this team,” Argentina skipper Santiago Alvarez said.
“We give all for this team and you can see it on the field. I’m very proud. We are trying to be better each day and this is the focus for us.”
Argentina top the overall standings with 78 points from four tournaments, 24 points clear of Ireland and Fiji, who each have 54 points.
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France’s tournament ended on a bright note with a 42-12 romp over the US to claim third place. Dupont capped an encouraging tournament with a superb playmaking performance against the Americans that included a further try.
He will now head to Los Angeles for the fifth stop on the global circuit next week. The series will then move on to the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens from April 5 to 7.
In the women’s event in Vancouver, New Zealand’s Black Ferns cruised to a 35-19 win over France in the final, with veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scoring a hat-trick.
