Who will grab the major title? Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand or England? Or someone else...South Africa or Kenya? Who knows. You’d be a nuts to suggest a winner yet...but this is Sin City and gambling is pre-requisite... so who do you think will win?




Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Follow on Twitter: @UR7sLiveText

Dallen's USA 7s Banter: Some thrilling encounters at the end there, the crowd loved the Fiji/SA and Samoa/Kenya games. All in all a great day of action here in Vegas. What a day. Let's see what the night has in store for the thousands of fans...!

Tomorrow's Cup quarter-final line-up is as follows:

New Zealand v South Africa
England v Kenya
Samoa v Wales
Fiji v Australia

It's the last game of day 1 and we have a re-run of last year's final. England and Argentina. England already through of course and will meet Kenya tomorrow. Ben Ryan throws some of his youngsters into the cauldron with Lindsay-Hauge and Powell starting. These two last met in George before Xmas, with England taking it 17-7. A few well oiled English fans pipe up with a drowsy rendition of Swing Low..most of the crowd have made their ways to the casinos.

Twitter action from England coach @benjaminryan: 'Guaranteed to top group here with one game to go. No upsets here bar Guyana drawing with France. Same sides dominating so far today'.

What Japan beating Argentina Ben?!

Samoa v Kenya now, a top of the table Pool C clash. Samoa have been a one man show today, with Mikaele Pesamino scoring five tries in their last game v Fiji. They are without Treviranus of course who got a red in the last game. They take on Kenya now in another beauty of a game in Las Vegas. I love it. Tough to call but Samoa will fancy it I imagine. Winner to face Wales, loser to face England.

Match 22: Pool B – Fiji V South Africa

Fiji look to break the deadlock but Vucago is denied. SA have a chance now setting it up nicely and Horne is in..no the ball is dislodged from his hands over the line! 0-0 and it’s getting nice and steamy. Fiji make them pay with Tuwai giving room to Burotu who thunders over. 7-0 Brutally efficient stuff. Back comes SA with that man Afrika pinning his ears back and going over. 7-5 to Fiji though. Drinks time.

Fiji bossing it as the beginning of this half with Votu and Lutumailagi (Jiuta) looking threatening, Bole gets it and he is flying before cutting past a sliding Benjamin. 12-5. SA are dominant now and making yards through Stick and Horne but that unbelievable ‘D’ from Fiji and they survive. Boks penalty but they can’t get past this inspired Fiji wall and their fans are urging them on. 20 secs remaining. It’s a thriller but Fiji hold on despite the Boks throwing an assault of missiles at them.

Result: Fiji 12 South Africa 5

Match 21: Pool A – New Zealand v Australia

Sterling close-quarter work with Forbes who plays the ‘Punisher’ role to perfection. Its pays dividends though with Tomasi Cama roaring in from 30m for a 7-0 start. But back come the Aussie young guns with Foley chipping through and collecting and it’s 7-7. Slashing stuff form Stowers bringing the crowd to it’s feet with a 50m break. The Kiwis keep it alive thanks to Grant and eventually Forbes just has enough in his locker to score in the corner. 12-7 to NZ. Bob Marley’s Buffalo Solider comes on and the crowd roar. Belter of a tune isn’t it?

Tight start to this half with neither team really dropping the hammer and opening out. NZ dominating possession. Stowers and Raikabula trying to unlock this Australian defence but let’s give them credit they hold on for their dear lives. They are still in this. Kiwis just keep forcing this but keep spilling it. Hooter goes and Aussies have one last chance Sefanaia pops to Sills who is away....! No it’s a forward pass. New Zealand sneak it.

Result: New Zealand 12 Australia 7

Match 20: Pool D – Wales v Japan

All Japan and they look well up for another shock here, they are in the faces of the Welsh and disrupting their patterns. Japanese get some possession and they shift it wide to Matsushita who finishes a delightful move. 5-0 to Japan. Welsh making heavy weather of this but they hit back with a Webb break and Jones try. 5-5. Drinks.

Nice from Wales, going up the short side which surprises the Japanese and Will Harries is in. He’s looked decent today. 10-5 to Japan. Reverse of the first half this with Wales suffocating Japan and starving them of ball. Wales go from side-to-side and move it to young Lloyd Williams who scores a nice team try. 15-5. That’s surely the Welsh in the Cup quarters now with Shellard cutting inside for a try, his second of the day. 22-5.

Result: Wales 22 Japan 5

Japan/Wales. Winner of this goes through with England to tomorrow’s Cup Quarter. Surely the Japanese can’t cause another upset? (See 14:43)

IRB Las Vegas Gossip: The media and press have been enjoying themselves in Vegas. Legendary commentator and UR7s lead columnist Nigel Starmer-Smith has been party catalyst. Leading the troops in the Roulette table, hitting concerts, helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon...the life and soul of the party is NSS. Still a consummate pro in the commentary booth with the amalgamated press enjoying his dulcet tones.

Battle of North America now. Canada and USA from Vegas. Sounds beautiful. These two have played 19 times on the IRB Series with US winning 7 of them and Canada taking 9. Surely home advatnage could work in the favour of Al Caravelli's Eagles? This could be close and the home fans don't want to lose their big rivals. Both will be in tomorrow's Bowl.

Match 17: Pool A - France v Guyana

Seems to be a common occurrence today for sides to kick and that’s what has happened here in the first few phases of play. Dominic Lespierre of Guyana finds himself in some room jinks in and out past a stranded Frenchmen and opens the scoring. He’s a Rugby League player in the UK by trade. Back come the French with a little bit of spark injected by Albaladejo finding Acebes. 5-5. Can Guyana win their first ever IRB game?

Nice from Guyana, they can play a bit but just need to believe in themselves. A sweeping move is blown by Kevin McKenzie and Guyana surely had to go in then. Both teams gasping here as this once is turning into a mush of shattered bodies scrambling for the ball on half-way. Albaladejo thinks he is in for France but mon dieu it’s a forward pass. McKenzie goes round his man and Guyana are in!! Great run and its 12-5. Guyana gets control of the ball but that’s turned and it is France breaking and a try for Ruel to save French blushes.

Result: France 12 Guyana 12

Alun, New York:
I'm a welshmen living in NYC...wish I was in Vegas though it's freeezing here. About time Wales made a quarter-final,great to see. South Africa v Fiji later could be an epic one later..

Match 16: Pool E – Argentina v Wales

Apologies guys a few technical issues for that game. I’m not an IT man and just had a ten minute panic. All you need to know is that Wales beat Argentina 21-15 (three tries apiece with Wales hitting all their conversions proving the difference and they are now favourites to go through with England to the Cup QF. The Welsh play Japan later. Bowl time tomorrow for the Pumas.

Result: Argentina 15 Wales 21

Match 15: Pool D – England v Japan

England started slowly earlier against the Welsh, and it’s the Japanese that go on the offensive from the kick off forcing some English mistakes and Matsushita goes over after a clever line-out and reverse. It has been all Japan and crowd is loving it. Brilliant by Wade, a break from the English flyer opens up the field and the English move the ball the other way and Jake Abbott finds the space for the score. All square at the half.

A rocket from Ryan at the break, I think so, England have come out looking a lot more physical. Class from Norton, quick feet before finding his lightning fast mate Wade who goes in under the posts. After showing his speed in the last score, Wade shows his footwork for his 2nd score beating Japan in the midfield en-route. It’s another of the England flyers getting in on the action now with Caprice showing his strength for the score, England have shown versatility with contrasting scores. Japan still in with a sniff for a shock quarter-final.

Result: England 22 – Japan 5

Match 14: Pool C – Kenya v Scotland

The Kenyan fans are going wild in the sunshine; we could be in Nairobi at the Safari Sevens. After an even start that the Scots probably just shade, its Kenya that break the tackles and put Injera clear to go the length. Scotland are walking a fine line with the Referee with a high penalty count but they make it to the half with only one score being the difference.

A loose lineout from Scotland deep in Kenyan 22 sees the Africans break with lethal efficiency. The ball is moved out of contact well and is worked into the hands of Weru who goes over. The scots are kicking away a lot of ball and getting hurt by the speed of the Kenyan side Good work by Simiyu results in the skipper Kayange finishing brilliantly in the near corner. Scoreline is a fair one, Scotland have been punished ruthlessly for their mistakes.

Result: Kenya 17 – 0 Scotland

Match 13: Pool C – Samoa V Chile

Good start for the Samoans flooding the South Americans with their physicality and spoeed. Pesamino goes in and he really one of the class players in the world currently. 7-0. Ooof. Late and high tackle from Treviranus pole-axes a Chile player. And it’s a RED card. Doesn’t seem to make a difference though with Pesamino winning the race to a nudge through. 12-0. Chile finally makes the extra man count when Leon goes through. 12-5. I need a breather.

Samoa gets a cheeky penalty and it’s moved wide to Mai who hits Pesamino for his hat-trick. Bit too easy that especially with a man down. 17-5. Chile work themselves into a decent position but that’s the danger, it’s a turnover and Lui pops to guess who...Pesamino...and he’s now the all-time leading Samoan try-scorer (119). Samoa 24-5 up. End-to-end with Leon picking an interception and going the distance. 24-12. Pesamino is off again, running diagonally and going in for his fifth! That’s time gents.

Result: Samoa 29 – Chile 12

Rick, Scotland:
I love my Sevens and The King of Sevens starts soon here in Scotland. But what is up with the Scottish team on the IRB Series. Is Stevie Gemmell’s job safe?

The voltage at Sam Boyd goes up a couple of notches now with the return of the home team. They face the Boks and wouldn’t be great for the fans if they got stuck into Paul Treu’s men. ‘USA, USA, USA’. Let’s go y’all. Bruce Springsteen is also pumped through the stadium speakers...respect to ‘The Boss’.

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Follow on Twitter: @UR7sLiveText

Match 10: Australia v France

Physical start from the Aussies with a real show of force at the breakdown and from the resulting penalty a show and go from the speedy Karauria-Henry sees him go in untouched. Shortly after the restart, a nice break from Situati, sees Henry go in for his 2nd. France up against it. Would you believe it, just as France begin to play, they once again get bossed at ruck time and the ball pops out straight to that man Henry, hat-trick. Jacob Taylor goes over for Australia’s 4th after some physical midfield play. 26 0 at the half, one-way traffic.

Better start from the French sees them keep the ball for the first 2 mins before they revert to norm with a crazy cross-field kick option. Both sides a little scrappy now, both appearing to settle for the result as it stands. A 5th score from the Aussies comes after a number of handling errors from both sides. Bigger and better games to come, my eyes are on the schedule. I glance up to see Situati breaking tackles for fun to put Clinton Sills in for the score. Not good by the French.

Result: Australia 38 – France 0

Match 9: Pool A – New Zealand v Guyana

Kiwis start well and they are giving some of their subs a run here. Nafi Tuitavake strikes early for the Men in Black and its 7-0. But Guyana have some ticker and are doing their very best to disrupt their opposition. Lawrence cuts a great line though to double New Zealand’s lead. Again Guyana attempt to build but cruelly it gets turned and Raikabula is breaking and hitting Mikkelson for 21-0. Coach Joe Whipple needs to inspire Guyana now.

Save Tokula, in gleaming golden boots, cuts inside and runs a full lung busting 80m for New Zealand. 28-0. Textbook stuff from NZ, from a set-piece spreading left and right and releasing Waikato’s flyer Tim Mikkelson for his second. 35-0. Grant and Mikkelson smash it up after a Guyana fumble and there are plenty of numbers left and Raikabula dummys and is under the H. 42-0. Tuitavake grabs another, wriggling over to complete the rout.

Result: New Zealand 49 – Guyana 0

Match 8: Pool D – Argentina v Japan

Japan dominating proceedings early always looking lively and looking for work. Pumas are a resilient bunch though and just won’t let them through. The Japanese are now prodding kicks forward but that’s just squandering possession and the small dead ball lines aren’t conducive to that tactic. Not the most aesthetically pleasing game we will see in Vegas this weekend with some errors taking us into the drinks. 0-0! Thriller...

Loose Japanese pass but it’s a breakout and a chip through for Tomoigawa works as he gets it down for a 7-0 lead. Argentina coming back into things but fair play to Japan who aren’t letting them through. Time is ticking for the defending USA champions and this could be a big, big shock. Brilliant hands from Passeroti but a bad pass from Todeschini doesn’t help matters for Argentina. It’s over. Japan has hunted down the Pumas!! First upset of the weekend.

Result: Argentina 0 – Japan 7

Match 7: Pool D – England v Wales

It’s all Wales with England struggling at the break down. The Welsh go wide early here and a lovely sneaky inside ball gives Williams the opener. 5-0. Swarming Wales score again as Jones scores for Paul John’s team. OUCH...in the process of scoring dislocates his pinky. Pain. England get back in though from a scrum with Gollings breaking for a vintage score. How many times has he done that?! Wales up 10-7 at the break.

Wales seems to be all over England and the breakdown is a real problem. But they have grease lightening speed. Norton retreats backwards then explodes forward and round the Welsh sweeper magnificently. 12-10. Welsh kicking the ball away aimlessly and England take advantage with Rodwell going blind in the corner. Great nudge from Gollings. 19-10 to England. Royle is dancing in-between defenders and setting Gollings away for another one under the H. 26-10 to England doesn’t do Wales justice for their efforts.

Result: England 26 – Wales 10

UR7s columnist and former USA Eagle is giving some updates from around the big screen for the thousands of fans this weekend. He is also giving me some exclusive UR7s chat too, so....

Dallen's USA 7s Banter: Robin, greeting from inside the Kenyan crowd here, its mayhem here, thousands of exciting fans going mental for the Shuuja. Win or lose it’s a 72 hour party in Vegas!!

South American minnows Chile aren’t strangers to the USA Sevens, last playing in San Diego in 2008. Like Guyana they qualified courtesy of their regional championships in Mar del Plata. Kenya are their opponents next here at Sam Boyd stadium. The Shuuja, still looking for their maiden win on the IRB Sevens, need to kick-start their season this weekend and what a place to do it with the Africans always receiving great support from the large chunks of Kenyans who reside in the US. Kenya call up forward Allan Onyango in the place of Sidney Ashioya.

Match 5: Pool C – Samoa v Scotland

Samoa exploit Samoa’s major frailties of not having the ability in controlling the ball at the breakdown. Two turnover releases arguably the quickest man in IRB Sevens rugby, Mikaele Pesamino for two scores. 10-0. Samoa again playing a dynamic brand with their work-rate phenomenal and Otto goes in. 15-0. Veteran Uale Mai goes blind from a breakdown and goes in for his 118th IRB try for Samoa.

Stevie Gemmell gave the Scots a rollicking at half-time and the ‘hairdryer’ treatment seems to have paid dividends with Lee Jones getting the Celts on the board. That didn’t last long, superb continuity from Samoa releases Otto for another Samoa try. 27-5. Samoa are ruthless here as Fa’osiliva cuts inside against a flimsy defensive line for 34-5. Nasty. Another one back for the Scots as Jackson runs a neat line, for 34-12. But Pesamino has the last laugh screaming up the inside past Shaw for his hat-trick.

Result: Samoa 41 – Scotland 12

Match 4: Pool B –South Africa v Canada

South Africa happy to run their pattern here and play their system implemented by Paul Treu. Great steal by Kyle Brown for the Boks and it goes wide to Benjamin who cuts in through the heart of the Canadians. 7-0 to SA. Nice from Afrika spotting a sneaky gap and offloads to the rapidly improving Stephen Hunt. 14-0 @ drinks.

Afrika like a little general (with some dreadlocks to boot) is running the show here making snipes then offloading to perfection resulting in another try and it’s Brown. 21-0 to SA. Canada showing some good hussle though and frustrate the Boks who want to extend their lead. But that’s a yellow for the Canadians reducing them to 6. Afrika takes advantage going up the short side and we have a 26-0 lead for SA. Van Der Valt grabs another for the Boks, with the ginger big fella going up the middle. 33-0.

Result: South Africa 33 – Canada 0

Match 3: Pool B – Fiji v USA

Good start for the US forcing an early turnover and some early territory. Bit’s it is all a bit slow as they go direct usding the likes of Swiryn as a battering ram. 5m Scrum for the US and Barnard wriggles over for an early US lead 5-0! Wowza. Ref is killing Fiji, pinging them for killing the pill and US must convert this possession. Great width from Malifa fizzing it wide for the US but a Swiryn error closes the half.

Fiji look to find their pattern but they knock-on and it’s all US. Attempted off-load goes awry for US and Fiji break with Vucago racing in from 50m. 7-5 to Fiji now. Cracker of a game. Great work from the US working their way up but Malifa is denied a try after a chip through. Ryder is on and throws an outrageous 40m reverse pass, Lutumailagi (Jiuta) uses the ref as a barrier and hits Burotu. 14-5 to Fiji. US grab a late score through Matt ‘Polar Bear’ Hawkins but the US fall just short. Immense effort though from the hosts.

Result: Fiji 14 – USA 12

Pretty decent early crowd here. These early games usually sees the crowd trickle in slowly on the IRB Sevens. But this is ok, I reckon around 12,000 at a rough guesstimate. USA are on next and the crowd pipe up as you would expect.. GO TEAM!

UR7s welcomes Guyana to the IRB Series! They are now up against the Aussies, the first time the two have met. Guyana are the major Sevens powerhouse in the Caribbean and qualified for this with a win at the NACRA Sevens. One thing guaranteed is that they will have plenty of wheels out there. The Aussies are brimming after their Plate win in Wellington. It’s all about consistency though for Mick O’Connor’s young team, can they maintain that level. Watch out for Sills, Karauria-Henry, and Stannard.

Match 1: Pool A - New Zealand v France

Kurt Baker making early inroads but he is held up. But it’s the IRB’s leading try scorer this season Sherwin Stowers who cuts inside and out-gasses the French cover. 7-0. Stowers is at it again this time dropping the hammer on the outside, offloading to Cama who finds captain Forbes. 14-0. C’est facile. Scrappy end to the half as France get some possession. The Kiwis turn it and Souness bundles over. 19-0 at drinks.

Albaladejo’s, France’s best player, makes a dazzeling break and gives it Delmas who finishes. That’s his 14th of the season. 19-5. OooohLala, Les Bleus (playing in white) are back in! Malzieu’s pass and Delmas scores again, conversion is A OK. 19-12 to NZ still though. French get isolated and textbook burrowing from Forbes releases Mikkelson. 26-12 to NZ. Cama changes the direction of the attack and Forbes pirouettes to clinch it.

Result: New Zealand 31 France 12

I want to hear from all you Sevens nuts out there....get in touch on anything from Vucago's Vavavoom, Stowers' shimmys, or does Gordon Tietjens think he is actually Clint Eastwood?




Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Follow on Twitter: @UR7sLiveText

It was only last weekend I was in party fuelled furnace of Wellington for the third leg World Series XI. Fiji reigned supreme beating Samoa in the final and in doing so cutting New Zealand’s gap at the top of the table down to just four meagre points. It’s open – the way I like it.