It was a dramatic finish that left fans on the edge of their seats. With the score tied at 17-all and the clock ticking down, Fiji’s Vuiviawa Naduvalo sprinted 70 meters to score a last-minute try, securing the 19-17 victory over France. This exhilarating performance propelled the Fiji Men’s 7s team into the semi-finals of the HSBC Dubai 7s, where they will face Argentina in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
For Fiji, this victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while for France, it was a heart-wrenching loss after a brilliant second-half comeback. The thrilling encounters didn’t stop there as the other quarter-finals saw Argentina edge past Australia 22-20, Spain narrowly defeat Great Britain 19-14, and New Zealand overcoming South Africa 24-17.
The Quarter-Finals: A Roller Coaster of Emotions
The first quarter-final between Fiji and France was a thrilling contest. The French team struck first, with Liam Delamare opening the scoring. However, Fiji quickly responded with two tries, one from Kavekini Tanivanuakula and another from Filipe Sauturaga, taking a 14-5 lead into halftime.
In the second half, France came out swinging, with Jordan Sepho and Victor Hannoun both crossing the try line to give France a 17-14 lead. It looked like the momentum had shifted in their favor, but the Fijian spirit would not be denied. With the clock winding down, Naduvalo’s decisive run sealed the deal, sending Fiji into the semi-finals to face a tough Argentina side.
Argentina’s victory over Australia was another nail-biter. The Argentine team fought hard, winning 22-20 in a closely contested match. Spain, too, had a narrow victory, edging past Great Britain 19-14. Meanwhile, New Zealand continued their dominance, defeating South Africa 24-17, setting up a semi-final clash with Spain.
