{"id":8616,"date":"2026-01-31T20:27:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T13:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=8616"},"modified":"2026-01-31T20:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T13:27:18","slug":"fiji-stun-south-africa-in-extra-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/fiji-stun-south-africa-in-extra-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Fiji stun South Africa in extra time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fiji pulled off a stunning extra time 24-19 win over South Africa to top Pool A of the HSBC SVNS in Singapore earlier today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiji, New Zealand, France and South Africa have all booked their places in the men’s competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the women’s competition, a rampant New Zealand is joined by Canada, Australia and USA in the semi-finals. spots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The All Blacks, who won here in 2024 and was triumphant in Dubai two months ago, will take on Fiji in the men’s semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other semi-final will see South Africa take on France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POOL A: Fiji and Blitzboks show their class to reach last four<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fiji will be overflowing with self-belief when they take on New Zealand in tomorrrow\u2019s semi-final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Pool A wins against Great Britain, USA and South Africa have seen to that and encouraged hopes the Fijians could repeat last year\u2019s title win in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the final game of Saturday, they thrillingly beat the Blitzboks 24-19 in extra-time to top Pool A and lay down an emphatic marker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiji, noted for their dazzling attacking skills, opened with a 22-19 win over Great Britain with the prolific Viwa Naduvalo claiming a superb hat-trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nacani Boginisoko added Fiji\u2019s fourth while Charlton Kerr, Brent Jackson and Joshua Radcliffe scored for Great Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa beat Spain 21-14 in their opener with tries from Donavan Don, Zander Reynders and Shilton van Wyk with Anton Legorburu Anso and Francisco Cosculluela scoring in reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiji claimed their second win of the day with a resounding 28-7 victory over Spain courtesy of tries from Iowane Teba, George Bose, Terio Veilawa and Nacani Boginisoko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josep Serres claimed the Spaniards\u2019 only try as they were outscored by four tries to one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa then enjoyed a huge win after beating Great Britain 33-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sublime display harvested tries for Donavan Don, Tristan Leyds, Shilton van Wyk, Ryan Oosthuizen and Sebastiaan Jobb while Joshua Radcliffe and Matt Davidson went over for Great Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain beat Great Britain 29-14 to secure their only win with tries from Jaime Manteca, Juan Ramos, Jeremy Trevithick (two) and Gabriel Rocaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcus Kershaw and Brent Jackson replied for Great Britain, who lost all three games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real drama was still to come, though, as Fiji edged out South Africa in the final game of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tristan Leyds, Donavan Don and Christie Grobbelaar touched down for the Blitzboks but Fiji were not to be denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terio Veilawa scored twice and Jeremaia Matana was also on target before Nacani Boginisoko burst clear to score a superb winner in extra-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POOL B: France top group and New Zealand also progress<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

France did not win a game in Singapore last year but earned a notable 19-12 victory over New Zealand in their opening game on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Desert, Antoine Zeghdar and Nelson Epee touched down with Akuila Rokolisoa and Regan Ware replying for New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The All Black Sevens players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to honour those who died in the recent landslides at Mount Maunganui.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tragedy is close to home with their womens and mens teams based on New Zealand\u2019s North Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led out by captain Henry Hutchison \u2013 the most capped Australian in Sevens history with 62 tournaments \u2013 Australia beat a gutsy Argentina 19-14 in their opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They established control through Aden Ekanayake, Jayden Blake and Dietrich Roache before Los Pumas 7s hit back through Marcos Moneta and Santiago Mare to ensure a tense finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France showed their class again with a comprehensive 31-7 win over Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Desert, Jordan Sepho (two), Nelson Epee and Paul Leraitre touched down for the French, with the Australians\u2019 sole reply coming from Aden Ekanayake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a much closer-fought affair when New Zealand edged out Argentina 26-20 with tries from Tone Ng Shiu, Frank Vaenuku, Kitiona Vai and 19-year-old Kele Lasaqa\u2019s dramatic late winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santino Zangara, Santiago Vera Feld, Marcos Moneta and Eliseo Morales were on target for Los Pumas 7s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand then beat Australia 29-10 with tries from Akuila Rokolisoa, Sofai Notoa-Tipo, Rob Rush (two), Michael Manson with Aden Ekanayake and Jayden Blake scoring for the Australians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tries from Paulin Riva, Simon Desert and Ali Dabo gave France a 19-15 win over Argentina, for whom Santino Zangara scored a delightful hat-trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rampant Black Ferns signal title pedigree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Defending champions New Zealand are on course for a third consecutive women’s title after booking their semi-final spot in sensational fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black Ferns Sevens won all three games \u2013 against Great Britain, Canada and France \u2013 to top Pool B and set up a mouthwatering showdown with USA on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other semi-final will see Australia, who also won their three games, face Canada as another thrilling day of action at the Singapore National Stadium reaches a crescendo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand scored a total of 138 points in their three games to suggest it could take a special team to stop them going all the way tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POOL A: Australia and USA flash a title warning after booking semi-final spots<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

USA conjured a stunning second-half comeback to overturn Japan\u2019s 19-0 interval lead and win 22-19 in their Pool A opener. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan appeared to be in control after tries from Hazuki Ouchida (two) and captain Hanako Utsumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the USA Eagles hit back with doubles from Kaylen Thomas and Su Adegoke to secure their first-ever pool win in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a sister act for Australia \u2013 champions in Cape Town and runner-up in Dubai \u2013 who showed their experience to beat Fiji 35-7 in a statement win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formidable Maddison Levi scored a superb individual opener to register her 222nd try in sevens rugby before her younger sibling Teagan added Australia\u2019s second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Captain Madison Ashby claimed a third try before Fiji replied through Reapi Ulunisau but further Australia scores from Kaitlin Shave and Faith Nathan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USA beat Fiji 17-12 with Ariana Ramsey (two) and Sariah Ibarra touching down and Silika Qalo and Adi vani Buleki scoring for Fiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia showed their class with another win as they beat Japan 26-19 courtesy of tries from Maya Stewart\u2019s double and scores from Maddison Levi and Heidi Dennis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan, who were 19-0 down at the break, registered tries from Mei Ohtani, Haruna Konishi and Yume Hirano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiji 7s beat Japan 34-12 with tries from Alfreda Fisher, Verenaisi Ditavutu (two), Sesenieli Donu, Sera Bolatini and Mariana Talatoka with Ria Anoku and Mei Ohtani crossing for Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the final game, Australia beat the USA 26-19 to top Pool A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maddison Levi took centre stage again with a hat-trick while a Kaylen Thomas brace and a penalty saw the scores level before Maya Stewart\u2019s late try secured a 26-19 win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


POOL B: Canada open with thriller as New Zealand flex their muscles <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Canada captain Carissa Norsten scored a dramatic extra-time try to secure a 29-24 victory over France to kick off the day\u2019s action in fine style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada were quickest out of the blocks as they raced into a 17-0 lead with scores from Alysha Corrigan, Kennedi Stevenson and Norsten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a pacey France side \u2013 with an average age of just 20 \u2013 responded through Kelly Arbey before the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stevenson scored her second for Canada but tries from Lili Dezou, Arbey and Lou Noel levelled matters at 24-24 before Norsten\u2019s extra-time clincher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The match also saw Breanne Nicholas equal the great Bianca Farella\u2019s all-time record of 45 Sevens caps for Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand then underlined their pedigree by scoring 10 tries in a commanding 64-0 victory over Great Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prolific Jorja Miller raced clear from distance and Katelyn Vahaakolo, the mercurial Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mahina Paul and Risi Pouri-Lane all touched down before the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the interval, Vahaakolo, Paul, Olive Watherstone, Kelsey Teneti and Sorensen-McGee underlined the Black Ferns Sevens\u2019 superiority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a poignant occasion for their players who wore black armbands as a mark of respect to honour those who died in the recent landslides at Mount Maunganui.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tragedy is close to home with the womens and mens teams based on New Zealand\u2019s North Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France earned their first win after an impressive 32-5 success over Great Britain.
Anaick Konyi, Lili Dezou, Mariama Tandiang (two), Kelly Arbey and Lou Noel scored for the French, while Great Britain\u2019s only score came from Katie Shillaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand registered their 40th win over Canada with a 19-12 success with the impressive Jorja Miller scoring twice and Stacey Waaka also on target with Olivia Apps claiming a brace in reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada won the second of their three games by comfortably beating Great Britain 52-0 with tries from Olivia Apps, Breanne Nicholas, Krissy Scurfield (two), Alysha Corrigan, Kennedi Stevenson and a brace from Sabrina Poulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand beat France 55-7 with scores from Jorja Miller, Kelsey Teneti, Stacey Waaka (two), Mahina Paul, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Alena Saili (two) and Jaymie Kolose with Mariama Tandiang scoring for the French.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fiji pulled off a stunning extra time 24-19 win over South Africa to top Pool A of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-8616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-rugby"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1.jpg",2002,1128,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-768x433.jpg",640,361,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-1024x577.jpg",640,361,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-1536x865.jpg",1536,865,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1.jpg",2002,1128,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"Newsbeat<\/a>","tag_info":"Newsbeat","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fiji-rugby1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8619,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8616\/revisions\/8619"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}