Hong Kong Sevens: Argentina win men’s title to ‘write new history’, seal world-best status
South Americans cap dominant performances over three days with victory in absorbing final, as yellow card proves calamitous for French
Peerless Argentina confirmed their emergence as the world’s best men’s team by beating France 12-7 in a physical, unforgiving Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens final on Sunday.
A 10th-minute yellow card for France’s Liam Delamere, when the game was scoreless, proved decisive. Santiago Alvarez immediately charged over, after collecting a pass from the man who replaced him as captain last year, Santiago Mare.
With France still a man down, the electric Marcos Moneta shimmied in the middle of the pitch, before streaking clear for Argentina’s second try.
“That moment was amazing – when I realised I was through the defence, I smiled and shouted,” Moneta said.
With France back to full strength, Gregoire Arfeuil crossed for the final play of the game. It meant the rapt Kai Tak Stadium crowd was treated to the unusual sight of a scoring team slumping desolately to the turf, while those who had just conceded began celebrating, in this case their third straight tournament success, after wins in Perth and Vancouver.
This was a first triumph in this city, however, for a nation that has notoriously struggled to get to grips with the Hong Kong Sevens after schlepping more than 18,000km (11,000 miles) from home.