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
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.