In the quarter-finals of the World Rugby SVNS Series in Los Angeles on Saturday, undefeated season leaders Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals with two wins in the pool stage, while unbeaten Australia and Fiji also topped their group.
The Argentina national team is aiming for its fourth consecutive title following victories in Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver. Last weekend, the South American team won their third consecutive title in Vancouver.
The second half of the quarter-finals on Saturday night will feature Argentina against Ireland, Australia against Great Britain, Fiji against Spain and France against hosts USA.
Argentina defeated South Africa 17-5, including two tries from Luciano Gonzalez, and Ireland 26-14 to win the Pool A title.
Australia won Pool B with a 17-12 win over hosts USA and a 28-19 win over Samoa. Henry Palmer scored one try against the Americans and two in the group match.
Fiji defeated Canada 40-0 and France 14-10 to advance from Pool C, while France also defeated Great Britain 19-12 to advance to the last eight.
Perry Baker scored tries in the second and third minutes and the Americans defeated New Zealand 28-19, finishing second in Pool B and earning the final spot in the final eight.
As a result, Ireland and Great Britain, who finished third in their pool, also secured spots.
Antoine Dupont, former World Rugby Player of the Year and full captain and scrum-half of the French 15-a-side team, is on track to switch to seven-a-side with the aim of winning gold at the Paris Olympics later this year. He said he was there.
The Frenchman finished third in his Dupont series debut in Vancouver.
“Every time I step on the field, I'm growing,” Dupont said. “I don’t do health checks every day to know how I’m doing, I’m still learning.
“Every time I go on the pitch, I talk to the players and analyze them. I'm still getting used to the sport. So far it hasn't been too bad.”
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