Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

SVNS Perth takes: Why All Blacks Sevens struggled, the new Dupont

Argentina Sevens and Katelyn Vahaakolo of the Black Ferns Sevens. Photos by Paul Kane/Getty Images and Will Russell/Getty Images

For the first time in 2025, rugby fans had the chance to watch three days of sevens action from Friday to Sunday last week. It was both thrilling and unpredictable, with Argentina men and Australian women taking out titles.

ADVERTISEMENT

Uruguay were the talk of the town after the first day of play, with Teros Sevens knocking off Fiji and New Zealand during their run to the Men’s Cup quarter-finals. But, unfortunately for the Uruguayans, they wouldn’t win any other matches across days two and three.

On the women’s side of the draw, Piper Logan and Olivia Apps impressed for Canada as they continued to improve this season. Anne-Cecile Ciofani was right up there as one of the players of the tournament as France finished with a spot on the figurative podium.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

But, as is often the case, it was an Australia versus New Zealand decider. With the Women’s Cup final taking place after the men for the first time, the Aussies celebrated that momentous occasion with an all-time classic win in the big dance against their arch-rivals.

While there’s a lot to break down and discuss after SVNS Perth, here are four main talking points from the event. Uruguay’s shock wins, Kenya’s incredible fans and other takeaways were also considered but let’s start with these.

All Blacks Sevens feeling the absence of departed stars

Leroy Carter was one of the best players in men’s sevens before moving to 15s after signing with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific. The New Zealander was once nominated for World Rugby’s prestigious Sevens Player of the Year gong and it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him win it.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a lethal combination of immense strength and rapid pace which made for dangerous attacking play, as well as a nonsense approach to defence, Carter was the man for the All Blacks Sevens.

Leroy Carter was him.

Payton Spencer, Che Clark, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Fehi Fineanganofo and Melbourne Storm recruit Moses Leo have also left the team. Former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee, Akuila Rokolisoa, has also been out injured.

While Ngarohi McGarvey-Black has held down the fort this season as the team’s best player, the absence of the others has been clearly felt.

After a semi-final loss in Dubai and a sixth-place finish in Cape Town, the All Blacks Sevens were left to battle it out for ninth place at SVNS Perth for the second year in a row. They were beaten by Uruguay and Fiji in pool play which knocked them out of Cup quarter-final contention.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tomasi Cama’s team were good enough to beat Ireland by a dominant scoreline in their ninth-place semi-final before sneaking by Kenya in their final match on day three. For a team that would’ve expected to challenge for silverware, this result was obviously not desired.

Fans on social media have been fairly blunt with their assessment of this team, who are continuing to blood new players early in the new Olympic cycle. This is a side that has potential, sure, but winning is the expectation for those wearing the black jersey.

Carter and those other genuine SVNS Series stars have left, and their absence is a concern for the All Blacks Sevens at this stage, but this team has to be better. If last season’s event in Vancouver is anything to go by, now is the time to get their season back on track.

Related

Australia are now the favourites for Women’s SVNS Series glory

Last year’s SVNS Perth Women’s Cup final was a turning point for Australia, and not for the right reasons. Tim Walsh’s team had started the 2023/24 campaign with titles in Dubai and Cape Town but stumbled in the decider on home soil against Ireland.

It was a result that seemed quite unlikely ahead of the match. Australia had knocked off arch-rivals New Zealand in the quarter-finals and appeared destined to snap their long-lasting title drought on home soil in front of thousands at HBF Park.

But they lost.

Ireland shocked the sevens world with an all-time upset when it mattered most, and it was clear speaking to players post-game that the result really hurt the Aussies.

That seemed to be a season-altering result for the women in gold who failed to win another title on the Series until the Grand Final event in Madrid. New Zealand took control during the regular season with wins in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong China and Singapore.

They bounced back to win the Grand Final in Madrid, but let’s not talk about the Paris Olympics.

It’s pure speculation to suggest SVNS Perth was any kind of game-changer for the Australians, but that’s how it felt from the sidelines. That said, if we look at last season’s result as a negative, then their triumph this time around should be viewed as a significant boost.

Last weekend in WA, a young Australian ouftit held on for a tense 28-26 win over New Zealand in one of the best finals in recent sevens history. Without Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan, a young Aussie side brought their A-game into the big dance.

Players were rightfully ecstatic after the match.

19-year-old Heidi Dennis was named the Player of the Final, with the rest of the Australian squad rushing over to swarm the teenager during an interview. They were happy, proud, and most importantly confident – the latter is most important here.

On the back of that win, Australia will be full of belief as they turn their focus to the upcoming SVNS Series stops in Vancouver, Hong Kong China and Singapore. We’re halfway through the regular season now, and the Aussies deserve to be considered favourites moving forward.

Related

The chaotic beauty of sevens: there’s no favourite for men’s title

At the start of last season, few would’ve tipped France as the eventual men’s champions on the HSBC SVNS Series. While it had been announced that Antoine Dupont would make the switch to rugby sevens before the Olympics, France’s road to glory remained uncertain at the time.

Les Bleus Sevens hadn’t won a Men’s Cup final on the world-renowned sevens circuit in 19 years before snapping that streak at Los Angeles’ Dignity Health Sports Park. Players were still wearing their medals the following day at LAX as the pride of victory continued to sink in.

Months later, France would’ve still been considered a dark horse or ranked outside going into the Grand Final event in Madrid. But that didn’t stop them from silencing critics and any doubts as they got the better of League Winners Argentina in the Championship Final.

But that’s just the nature of rugby sevens.

It’s unpredictable, and that’s what makes this sport so thrilling at the top.

This season will be no different. Three events on the 2024/25 SVNS Series have now come and gone, with Fiji, South Africa and Argentina claiming titles. But other sides like France, Spain, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain have also shown signs of life.

Ninth-place Kenya went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks Sevens on two occasions at Perth’s HBF Park, Uruguay beat both Fiji and New Zealand, and the USA shocked eventual tournament champions Argentina in golden point, and Ireland beat the Americans on day three.

Wins are not guaranteed in this sport.

While this writer penned a piece last week anticipating that Fiji would win the overall men’s title this season, that article was a list of ‘bold predictions’ for a reason. After SVNS Perth, it still remains uncertain as to who the true favourites are to take out the top prize at season’s end.

Related

Katelyn Vahaakolo is the Antoine Dupont of women’s sevens

Katelyn Vahaakolo is a superstar.

That’s not a hot take or anything new, it’s just a fact.

Vahaakolo became the second woman to receive World Rugby’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award after a sensational campaign with the Black Ferns in 2023. As a try-scoring phenomenon in Super Rugby Aupiki and in Tests, a rugby superstar had been born.

Last year against Australia at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium, Vahaakolo scored tries for fun, and that wasn’t a one-off either. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England rapidly approaching, expect the New Zealander to play a key role in that as well.

When the Black Ferns Sevens named their travelling squad for Dubai and Cape Town in December, it was both intriguing and exciting to see Vahaakolo included. With more space in sevens than a 15s game, this seemed like an absolute home run for New Zealand.

After a relatively steady start to life on the SVNS Series, Vahaakolo lifted to another level in Perth. With three tries in New Zealand’s 50-7 demolition of Brazil in pool play, and another three tries through the rest of the tournament, Vahaakolo was among the event’s elite.

As an impact player off the bench, much as Antoine Dupont had been last season, there really is no other 15s-sevens hybrid on the circuit like Katelyn Vahaakolo. With Michaela Brake starting and Vahaakolo coming off the bench, this New Zealand side is stacked.


To be first in line for Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia tickets, register your interest here 

ADVERTISEMENT

Wolfhounds vs Gwalia | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 2 | Ireland Week

New Zealand vs Australia: Behind the Scenes with the Black Ferns Sevens Team | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E06

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
A
Andrew Nichols 14 days ago

"As an impact player off the bench, much as Antoine Dupont had been last season, there really is no other 15s-sevens hybrid on the circuit like Katelyn Vahaakolo. With Michaela Brake starting and Vahaakolo coming off the bench, this New Zealand side is stacked."


Yet you believe in the same article that the Aussie women are favourites for the title? Mmmm

S
SS 14 days ago

NZ Mens 7s has been struggling since Tomasi Cama came on as the coach.The team need a new coach.

N
NH 15 days ago

True, the all black sevens having lost 3 key players, is one reason for fewer wins at Perth but their game play model and standard is anither. Other teams have caught up and are adapting. Look at Uruguay. Well done. I think less zigg zagging and more expansive hard running play would be good. Anyway, I'm not a coach, just an avid fan.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ From an uncertain position, Barrett and McKenzie are the All Blacks' key playmakers From an uncertain position, Barrett and McKenzie are the All Blacks' key playmakers
Search