France delivered one of the crucial dominant performances ever seen on the HSBC SVNS Collection, smashing Argentina by a document margin on the Dubai Sevens – profitable 59-7 in a dramatically one-sided pool stage conflict on Saturday.
After beginning the 2025/26 SVNS Collection with an agonising three-point defeat to reigning world champions South Africa, France regarded to bounce again towards Argentina, who’re the two-time defending League Winners on the circuit.
Los Pumas Sevens have been defeated 26-19 by Fiji within the opening match of their marketing campaign, making their second fixture a must-win. With a brand new competitors format sending the highest two groups from every pool to the semis, Argentina wanted a constructive consequence to maintain their title hopes alive.
Jordan Sepho and Celian Pouzelgues crossed for early tries as France took a 12-0 lead, earlier than the Argentinians hit again by way of Santiago Vera Feld within the fourth minute. It had been a one-score sport deep within the first half, however Les Bleus Sevens took management nearly in a flash.
Sepho accomplished a double earlier than Antoine Zeghdar added to France’s lead, because the Paris Olympics gold medallists took a commanding 19-point benefit into the break. Sepho made it a hat-trick of tries with a ninth-minute effort, as France really took over in record-breaking vogue.
Andy Timo scored two tries, earlier than Ali Dabo accomplished the one-sided victory with a swan dive within the closing play of the match. Enahemo Artaud took a faucet earlier than passing the ball onto the try-scorer, who strolled by way of a spot in Argentina’s defensive position.
“That’s a great way to punctate this efficiency which has been excellent from France. It’s a document rating, essentially the most factors France haver ever scored towards Argentina in HSBC SVNS by some margin,” commentator Rupert Cox mentioned after Dabo’s attempt.
“The fifth time in historical past Argentina have conceded 50-plus factors in a sport, 59 to France, Argentina [with] simply the seven. One other sport to play for France towards Fiji.”
France secured their place within the semi-finals with a hard-earned 24-19 conquer Fiji, who’re additionally by way of to the ultimate 4. Josselin Bouhier scored France’s closing attempt of the match, with Fiji working out of time in a valiant comeback effort.
Argentina returned to profitable methods 19-14 towards South Africa. Marcos Moneta bought the try-scoring social gathering began with an early effort, earlier than Santiago Mare and Juan Patricio Batac made their mark on the scoreboard later within the contest.
With New Zealand and Australia doing sufficient to progress out of Pool B, the semi-finals have been confirmed earlier than day two. France and Australia would do battle within the first males’s semi, whereas the All Blacks Sevens have been matched up with conventional sevens rival Fiji.
“I really didn’t watch the final little bit of that sport,” All Blacks Sevens consultant Rob Rush mentioned after the group’s thrilling win over Australia on day one.
“I really had my head down. I used to be simply saying, ‘I belief the boys, I belief the boys’. I ought to have mentioned, ‘I belief the TMO, I belief the TMO’.
“It was good that the boys might end actual hearty like that. It was imply.”
