Upsets at HSBC Cape Town 7s 2022 as NZ Women and Samoa Men Win

The Cape Town 7s leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022-2023 saw two excellent and highly competitive finals as the Samoa Men and New Zealand Women claimed victory in torrential conditions.

Feature Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

There were upsets too, the hosts going out in the men’s semi-finals to a tenacious Samoan team in golden points extra-time via a fantastic penalty drop-goal. Samoa then went on to win the Cup Final against the most successful team in Cape Town (New Zealand) 12-7 and the win their first Cup Series title since 2016.

HSBC Player of the Final  Vaa Apelu Maliko said of the achievement:  “These wet conditions are nothing new to us, it was like playing at home. This is what the conditions are like in Samoa, it could be sunny one day and then pouring rain. I’m very proud of the boys. I can’t put into words what we’re feeling right now.”

The NZ women, although maybe not usually underdogs, had to beat the Australian Women’s 7s team who have been a juggernaut over the past 12 months, winning the World Sevens Series, Commonwealth Games and RWC Sevens 2022. The NZ Women put in a huge performance and win 31-14 and claim their 28th title in the 50th event on the women’s circuit.

NZ Women’s Head Coach Cory Sweeney said: “It is awesome, it is hard to put into words. This group stood up and to do what they did in a final was awesome. I am really proud of everyone in the group, this is a special day.”

Nathan-Wong was the HSBC Player of the Final and she added:  “We’ve been fighting for this one for a while. It’s always been a good trans-Tasman battle. We got so close last week, it was only I think, seven points in it. And we knew even before that, we’ve been so close to them and so to come out here and put a performance like that was amazing, especially with such a young, inexperienced team.”

The USA men and women both reach the podium with bronze medal wins to keep things at the top of the Series tables tight – especially important in this Paris Olympic 2024 qualifying year.

The results at the end of the third Men’s and second Women’s event sees the Samoa men and Australian women leading their respective Series albeit on points difference.