Verlois 2022 Wrap Up: Mixed results but medals still on the cards for rugby teams
SHARE:
July 20, 2022 (1:10pm)
VERLOIS, GAULLICA - Today's wrap up will cover the rugby semi finals in which Nuvania had mixed results and will see set ups for some interesting finals matches.
The men's team experienced their first loss of the games so far by the slimmest of margins, losing 21-22 to Soravia. Although this does not put them in the gold medal final, the chances of a medal are still very much alive, with Nuvania looking to secure a bronze to repeat their 2018 finish.
The Nuvanians got off to a good start against Soravia with team captain Shawn Taylor and centre Zane Johnston setting up a run at the Soravian try line for winger Stiaan Petersen, who bounded over for the first try of the semi-final and putting Nuvania's first points of the match on the scoreboard. Johnston would add to the score with a successful conversion. Soravia would respond immediately but the Nuvanian defensive line held firm against several probing attacks. Soravia, playing as much a physical game as an athletic one, was more than a match for Nuvania, and eventually the line relented just before half time, when a turn of speed from Soravian hooker Vikentiy Sabitov saw him cross the try line to score Soravia's first try and points of the semi-final match. Scrum-half Luchok Eristov was called in to perform conversion duties and successfully converted, putting the scores even at seven all at half time.
Nuvania would come out firing in the second half, putting away two tries within the first ten minutes of the half. The first of these came within the initial five minutes of the second half when Taylor and Johnston once again set up Petersen for another successful run at the Soravian try line, this time managing to get between the posts and allowing for an easy conversion. The second came from Taylor himself, who rushed forwards and collected a dropped pass between Soravian centre Nil Mukhomorov and fly-centre Polikarp Snatkin, bursting through the Soravian line and over the try line. A third and final successful conversion put Nuvania in full command of the final with five minutes left on the clock. The score was 21-7.
Confidence got the best of the Nuvanians and their self-assurance at victory quickly faded when Mukhomorov made amends for his earlier mistake and used an effective combination of bulk and athleticism to smash his way past Taylor and Johnston and made for the try line. Unable to put him down, Mukhomorov more or less fell over the try line, and a successful conversion from Eristov meant that the scores were narrowed considerably. Barely two minutes later a fumble from scrum-half Ben Marais was picked up by Eristov was flung at prop Kusma Osenykh before being passed to Sabitov, who by now was at full speed and making a mad dash for the Nuvanian try line. He dutifuly sailed over the line, the hands of Nuvanian hooker Elliot Hayes close behind. The location of the try within centimetres of the touch line meant that Eristov had an awkward position to kick from, and promptly bounced the ball against the goalposts. The score was now 21-19.
Play resumed and the Nuvanians charged the Soravians, attempting to secure possession of the ball. The Soravians retained possession briefly before losing it to Nuvania. A solid tackle from Osenykh saw Marais land on the ground with a thud and soon found two Soravians now on top of him. Marais now found himself at the bottom of a maul and failed to release the ball. The referee called a penalty against Nuvania and a turnover was made, allowing Soravia possession of the ball. Soravia then attempted to punt the ball, but Eristov's kick was swatted down by Marais, who then made for the ball only to find it had been quickly scooped up by Snatkin. Although no charge against the line was made by the Soravians, they quickly managed to push the Nuvanians back as the game fell into extra time. Running out of options and with the Nuvanian defence now solidifying considerably, Soravian wing Artur Kalugin flung the ball up the field to Mukhomorov, who then handed it over to Snatkin. Eristov acquired possession of it and punted the ball at the goalposts. Both teams watched stunned as the ball sailed between the goalposts. Soravia was now in the gold medal finals, Nuvania would now look to play for a bronze medal.
Team captain Shawn Taylor said that he was "disappointed" at the result but was still optimistic that Nuvania could walk away with a medal in the men's tournament.
"We're not out of it yet," he said. "There's still the bronze medal to play for and I think we've got a good chance of getting it." Taylor said that the Soravians played "a lot better" since their last encounter at the Pietersburg Sevens back in March.
"Where was this tem then?" he joked. "Yeah they're definitely a good team and well within a chance of getting gold. I dunno, we'll have to wait and see."
Disappointment could not be said of the women's sevens team who soundly beat Rwizikuru 20-5 in their semi-final to put themselves with a definite chance of winning a medal and potentially walking away with gold.
Rwizikuru is known for their athleticism and playing a fast game and this was expected to factor significantly in the women's semi-final match. However, the Rwizi team failed to fire, and spent the first half playing what could only be described as an aggressive defensive game. Nuvania's first points came not from a try but from a penalty kick when winger Gracie Motongo deliberately threw the ball into touch just inside Rwizikuru's ten metre line. A try in the final five minutes of the first half would see Nuvania extend their lead, team captain Saskia Steyn evading the Rwizi defences and sprinting across the try line. A successful conversion by Karissa Wheeler put Nuvania into full command of the semi-final.
The second half would see Rwizikuru return to the fast-paced game, but only briefly, spurred on by a heroic sprint effort from Munashe Mawere who took the ball to almost the full length of the pitch before being brought down by Wheeler. This did, however, put Rwizikuru within striking distance of Nuvania's try line. Prop Aneni Nkala pushed through the Nuvanian defence to plant the ball over the try line, putting Rwizikuru's first, and only, points of the semi-final on the board. A seemingly straight-forward conversion for Dziva Madhuku bounced off one of the goal posts. To add insult to injury, Gracie Motongo would again throw the ball into touch in the dying minutes of the second half, allowing for Wheeler to make the final penalty kick between the goal posts.
Nuvania's win now puts it on a collision course with Satavia, the women's team the only one remaining in the rugby sevens after their men's team was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament in the round of 32 by Nuvania's men's team. For the women's team, it will be yet another final where they face Satavia, being beaten by them the last time they encountered a final at the Jindao Sevens earlier this year, where they were beaten 34-21 by Satavia.
The loss in Jindao, according to team captain Saskia Steyn, is "extra motivation" for the women's sevens team.
"We really want to even the score with Satavia," she said. "And now that we have the opportunity to do that, it's really going to bring the best out in the girls, and to be able to do that after what a lot of us have experienced, winning gold will be a dream come true for a lot of us."
Understandably, the rivalry between the two teams and the two sporting nations has meant that the final is set to be one of the best Invictus rugby sevens finals to date. However, rugby fans will have to wait until July 24 to see both teams in action in their respective finals.
Tomorrow
Day Nine of the competition will see an incredible final in the men's football tournament between hosts Gaullica and Etruria, as well as another fantastic match up between Caldia and Werania in the women's football final.
Day Nine will also see the semi-finals of the table tennis and volleyball tournaments, as well as the beginning of the athletics programme with the modern pentathlon contested.
All of tomorrow's events, including the football finals, will be broadcast live on NBC One as well as livestreamed on NBC Sports and NuSport.
MORE HEADLINES
- Werania suspends aid to Yemet
- Temperature records broken as unusual heatwave continues
- CM approves provisional funding for stricken farmers
- Verlois 2022: Champanian gold medalist tests positive for banned substance
- Verlois 2022: Are e-sports really a sport?
