LAX SVNS - men Day One
WRAP: Los Angeles hosts the fifth round of HSBC SVNS at the California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.
Argentina tops the men's SVNS standings - having won three consecutive tournaments, ahead of Ireland, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
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Round 1
Pool A
Argentina 28 - 21 Spain
The clash got off to a slow start before the Pumas managed to find some space and score through TOBIAS WADE & MARCOS MONETA.
The Spanish failed to give up without a fight and scored 2 tries of their own through NICOLAS NIETO & POL PLA to level things up in the first half, leaving everything to play for in the 2nd half.
The Spanish continued to apply pressure in the 2nd half and we saw a number of uncharacteristic errors by Argentina but they managed to score a couple more tries through JOAQUIN PELLANDINI & MARCOS MONETA.
The Spanish got a last minute try through JEREMY TREVITHICK with a couple of seconds left on the clock but the Pumas secured the kick-off and booted the ball into touch to bring play to an end.
Ireland 17 - 0 South Africa
Things got off to a horrible start for the South Africans after failing to secure the ball on the ground from the kick-off.
CONNOR O’SULLIVAN pounced on the loose ball and opened the scoring for the Irish minutes before ZAC WARD scored for Canada.
Ward finished with a brace for the Irish to take them 17-0 up after the first half.
Things go from bad to worse for the Blitzboks as they fail to score in a 2 on 1 situation and gives away an obstruction penalty instead.
Ireland continued to starve the South Africans of the ball and frustrated them at ruck time as they won almost every contest with the South Africans not having an answer to any of the questions being asked.
Ireland failed to score more points in the game but that 1st half effort was enough to secure the W.
Results:
Ireland 17 v 0 South Africa
Argentina 28 v 21 Spain
Pool B
United States 31 - 12 Samoa
The home team hosted Samoa an epic final match of the day. ELISAPETA ALOFIPO opened the scoring for Samoa before the USA responded with a try by KEVON WILLIAMS.
The hosts went into the halfway break(7-12) down after a try by FAAFOI FALANIKO.
The Americans scored within quick succession as PERRY BAKER & KEVON WILLIAMS visited behind the try to bring their team up in front.
MADISON HUGHES took the game away from Samoa with his score but the Americans showed they mean business this weekend as ORRIN BIZER scored another at the death.
New Zealand 17 - 24 Australia
The Wallabies got off to a flying start after an early yellow card by New Zealand, scoring two tries through NATHAN LAWSON & NICK MALOUF.
The All Blacks responded with a try of their own through ANDREW KNEWSTUBB but it was the Aussies who came out on top as they scored another one to make it (7-19) through a JAMES TURNER try.
The All Blacks looked a bit better in the 2nd half and managed to score through CODY VAI.
DIETRICH ROACHE scored another try for Australia to take it away from New Zealand but the New Zealanders fought back despite having one man down to get a vital bonus point as XAVIER TITO-HARRIS scored.
Results:
New Zealand 17 v 24 Australia
United States 31 v 12 Samoa
Pool C
France 24 - 7 Canada
It was a scrappy affair at the start as both teams seemed to feel each other out, but the French came away with the first points as they managed to hold onto the ball a bit longer than Canada.
WILLIAM IRAGUHA managed to score two tries in the first half as the French went into the half break leading 12-0.
The Canadians got off to a better start in the 2nd half as they managed to win back the kick-off and then a penalty, opting for the scrum they find some space wide for MATTHEW PERCILLIER who scores.
The French struck back soon after as they retained the ball quickly after putting up a couple of phases and this time it was STEPHEN PAREZ EDO MARTIN who visited behind the try line.
Former World Rugby Player of the Year ANTOINE DUPONT left his stamp on the match with a final try to seal things off for France.
Fiji 15 - 12 Great Britain
The first game of the day got off to a solid start as both teams tested each other, AUSTIN EMENS found some space wide for GB but then RERE ROPATE responded with a try for Fiji right after the restart kick.
The ball was heavily contested at the breakdown with both teams winning a couple of penalties but it was Fiji who managed to capitalize on their penalty, tapping it quickly and finding some space for PONEPATI LOGANIMASI.
Things were evenly contested at the break with GB losing a couple of players through injuries.
Ill-discipline by Fiji saw them go down by a player as NAPOLIONI BOLACA is yellow carded but the GB team failed to make use of their numerical advantage as a handling error stops their momentum and their injury woes continue.
MORGAN WILLIAMS does well to finish off a try for GB in the right-hand corner by stretching over.
The Fijians failed to say die as they went in for a match winning try after the siren sounded, JOSESE BATIREREGA is the man who steals it from Great Britain.
Results:
Fiji 15 v 12 Great Britain
France 24 v 7 Canada