Uruguay Stuns Fiji in Historic SVNS Series Upset
SVNS Perth began with a bang as Uruguay shocked Fiji 24-17, delivering what “may just be the biggest upset in SVNS Series history.” Just last month, Uruguay suffered a crushing 70-7 defeat to Fiji in Cape Town but turned the tables on Friday with a remarkable performance.
Following Fiji’s title win at the HSBC SVNS Series opener in Dubai, the focus shifted to Cape Town, where Fiji dominated Uruguay during a Pool A clash. Fiji’s commanding victory, highlighted by a barrage of tries, was celebrated in a four-minute social media clip, showcasing their dominance over the newly promoted Uruguay.
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Fast forward to Perth’s HBF Park, where Uruguay initially struggled on a hot morning, falling 17-nil behind. Fiji seemed poised for another comfortable win, but Uruguay refused to back down. Dante Soto’s opportunistic try before halftime gave Uruguay hope, setting the stage for a second-half comeback.
Ignacio Facciolo, Dante Soto, and Juan Manuel Tafernaberry all crossed the try line, building momentum for an all-time upset. Pedro Hoblog’s 13th-minute try sealed the deal, leaving Fiji scrambling. A late knock-on by Fiji with seconds remaining allowed Uruguay to secure the historic victory.
“It may just be the biggest upset in SVNS Series history,” exclaimed commentator Sean Maloney. “Uruguay, down by 17, comeback after losing by 70 in their last matchup. They’ve stunned the number one seeds in Perth. Incredible!”
Maloney added, “The enormity of this achievement may not have sunk in yet. New Zealand and Uruguay open Perth with wins, while Fiji and Kenya are on the losing end.”
Earlier, New Zealand narrowly avoided an upset against Kenya, winning 29-14. Frank Vaenuku’s first SVNS Series try, following a powerful fend, set the tone for the All Blacks Sevens. Despite Kenya’s spirited effort, including tries from George Ooro Angeyo and Patrick Odongo Okong’o, New Zealand pulled away with scores from Regan Ware, Andrew Knewstubb, Cody Vai, and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black.
While the final scoreline showed a 15-point difference, the match was much closer. With Uruguay, Fiji, New Zealand, and Kenya in Pool C, the stage is set for a fiercely competitive group. Day two will feature New Zealand versus Fiji at 12:22 pm local time, a match likely to be pivotal.