The Springbok Sevens produced a dominant, flawless performance to defeat Argentina 35–7 in the final of the Cathay/HSBC SVNS Hong Kong. This victory secured their first title in Hong Kong since the inception of the World Sevens Series in 1999, doing so in the iconic tournament’s 50th anniversary year. They outscored “Los Pumas” five tries to one, converting every single score.
The final was a one-sided affair showcasing technical brilliance.
Tristan Leyds (later named Player of the Final) set the tone early by chasing down a kick into space, running 70 meters to score the opening try.
Playmaker Selvyn Davids (captain) added a magical second try before the break, waltzing through the Argentine defense.
Leading 14-7 after an Argentine response, the Blitzboks dominated the second half with three more tries from Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, and Jayden Nell.
This win was remarkable because the Blitzboks almost didn’t make it out of the pool stages following a “horror start”:
During the Pool Stages they scraped a 12-7 win over Uruguay but then suffered a shocking 31-12 loss to Spain. This left them needing a major result against the defending champions, Argentina.
They “bounced back in style,” smashing Argentina 38-0 in their final pool game, topping the pool on point difference.
They defeated Kenya 26-22 in a “nail-biting” thriller, scoring two tries in the last two minutes (including a match-winner from veteran Siviwe Soyizwapi after the clock turned red).
In the Semi-final they advanced past New Zealand to secure their place in the final.
This was the Blitzboks’ fifth final in Hong Kong, but the very first time they lifted the main cup. They had previously lost epic finals, including a famous World Cup final loss to Fiji in 1997.
This is the Blitzboks’ fifth title of the season and their fourth in a row, following SVNS wins in Perth, Vancouver, and New York. This victory solidifies their position in the lead of the World Championship standings.
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