Uruguay have completed one of the most remarkable days in Sevens history as they upset league leaders Fiji and New Zealand at the Perth SVNS at HBF Park.
They started their day with a 24-17 win over the Olympic silver medalists in an epic comeback victory
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The Uruguayans went down to Fiji 70-7 in Cape Town, ensuring a near 80-point turnaround from their defeat last month.
Fiji entered as the team to beat and with the number one ranking following their win in Dubai to start the season looked destiny for a heavy win thanks to a 17-0 lead right before half-time
This is where Uruguay’s comeback began as they caught the Fijians napping before and after the break.
Dante Soto showed off his soccer skills to kick ahead and dive on the ball to give the South Americans hope entering the intermission. This only grew when Ignacio Facciolo dived over with four minutes to go, reducing the margin.
Juan Tafernaberry dived over with three minutes left before Pedro Hoblog sealed the famous win.
“It may just be the biggest upset in SVNS Series history,” remarked commentator Sean Maloney as Uruguay kicked the ball out from the scrum for the win.
“It's a huge win for us,” Uruguay captain Diego Ardao said after the win.
“Before getting on the pitch, we didn't think about Fiji. We thought about ourselves. The last game against them in Cape Town when it was 70 points (loss), we knew that that wasn’t the margin of difference between us and them.
“…We proved to ourselves that we are more than the last tournament. Now we have to go for more. It's New Zealand next, so we need to do the same and go for it.”
That they did.
With a host of South American supporters behind them, Uruguay showed it was no fluke with a thrilling 17-12 win over the All Blacks Sevens.
Ignacio Rodriguez's first-half double and the goalkicking of Juan Manuel Tafernaberry proved the difference as New Zealand were left to bemoan a scoreless second half that ticked away from them.
Alfonso Vidal's turnover was critical in the dying minutes as Uruguay expertly milked the clock with Tafernaberry's late penalty goal icing another famous win.
"I'm really, really happy with these guys, it's an incredible effort," coach Gabriel Puig added.
"They don't care about their body which you see in how they tackle.
"I'm very happy with them and looking at them enjoy it, they deserve it."
