Thanks peeps...Ultimate Rugby Sevens, For Everything Sevens..

So the end of another season on the IRB Sevens. UR7s has been in Dubai, George, Wellington, Las Vegas, Adelaide, Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh...I hope you have enjoyed it!

So there you have it. It is a perfect weekend for Samoa! Series champions and Edinburgh Sevens winners. Their first overall Series win remember and this will mean so much to the fans back home. Incredible scenes of jubilation...

Another email from Aussie winger Clinton Sills' dear mother Annette. She's a legend who has followed the UR7s Live text since December in Dubai.

Annette Sills (Clinton's mum!):
CANT BELIEVE IT, ANOTHER FINAL FOR AUSSIES. WHAT A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN LED BY A GREAT CAPTAIN. YOU GUYS ROCK, WHAT AN EFFORT!!!!! LOOK OUT SAMOA HERE COME THE AUSSIES!

Sonny Slade, Australia :
I am so happy for the Samoans, what a proud moment for a nation of only 178,000. I would have never given have thought they had a chance when they bombed out in the very first tournament. I can only imagine what this does to inspire and uplift the tiny nation.With Australia's foxtel not showing any live coverage, who better than to get live commentary from the ever reliant UR7s site. I always love your work, gang. Next stop: Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Congratulations to the Samoan rugby warriors!

Plate Final – Scotland v Argentina

Scrappy start with both sides not wanting to make any silly errors. Greasy surface and pill not making attractive sevens really an option. Scotland need to give their speedster Andre Turnbull some room...and they listen to me for one and shift it right. Houston makes yards and Turnbull lights up 80m of turf. 5-0. Grant has been on top form all day, he breaks away on the near side and passes to Shaw who is under the H. 12-0. Time for a breather and my 9th cup of tea.

Wowza! Hit of the weekend from Colin Shaw on Diego Palma. Crowd loved that. Argentina desperately trying to get back in this but Scotland doing really well and I think deserve a trophy. Scotland break and this is where they have proved so dangerous on the counter. Houston runs into space and finds Cairns on a scissors and its TRY time. 19-0 to Scots and that was classy.

Result: Scotland 19 Argentina 0

Bowl Final - Wales v Kenya

Backs-against-the wall stuff for Wales this, but they dig in early. Kayange, the Kenyan captain, as had a indifferent season really but he strides away here to open the scoring. 0-5. Wales hit back with a try for Lloyd Williams. 7-5 to Wales. Injera does well making room and finding his brother Kayange who is off again to give Kenya the lead. Conversion missed from in front of the posts. 7-10.

Kenya get sucked into a ruck and Wales moves it right with Craig Hill having too much pace from 40m. Wales 14- Kenya 10.Rhys Webb gives the Welsh a cushion with a good score and this is remarkable bravery from the depleted Welsh. Rhys Jones adds another score after some assistance from Ifan Evans to take this to 26-7.Another Bowl for Wales, they have won a few of them this season. Not sure how their coach Paul John will gauge their mixed season?

Result: Wales 26 Kenya 10

Shield Update: Russia stun Canada to claim the Shield 26-7. Igor Galinovskiy scored two tries with Vladimir Ostroushko and Roman Timofeev also getting tries for the Russians.

First time in eight years that Australia have beaten New Zealand FYI...

Samoa v Australia in the final then. ‘Big up’ to New Zealand who have fought tremendously hard this year but it just wasn't to be for Gordon Tietjens. I'm sure he will be first to admit that Samoa deserves this one.

New Zealand will battle on and at least try to join the Samoans in the final.

The Trans-Tasman clashes between Australia and New Zealand haven’t been that competitive in years gone by. In-fact the Aussies haven’t beaten NZ for eight years, despite getting close this season. This is the Kiwis best squad they have had all season. Aussies want back-to-back IRB title remember after winning in London last week.

Cup SF – Samoa v England

Samoa’s Pesamino has a go and is past Barden, but Turner saves the day by putting him in touch. Lui meanders up the field with Aiono running an angle off him for the first score. 7-0 to Samoa. England give back chat and are marched another 10m for a penalty. England press but Samoa thwart them at the close quarters and this one is on a knife edge. Samoa are seven minutes away from a first IRB Sevens Series...

Mai knock-on but England not making much yardage at the moment, content to play this tight game. Penalties going in favour of England now and Royle beats Mai and Rodwell is in for England. Great kick from Gollings. 7-7. Will Samoa be denied? No they give it to Mr.Tries aka Mikaele Pesamino who blazes in form 70m. 12-7 to Samoa. They are 62 seconds from the Series. Hooter goes but England have it and Gollings gives to Rodwell who finds Barden who is IN! 12-12. Gollings’ conversion hits the post!!! Extra-time. Unbelievable scenes.

Extra Time: Penalty and Samoa take it quickly. Lui attempts a drop-goal to win the Series...but it is wide! Rodwell binned for England. England slap a loose ball for a 22 drop out. Up to three minutes of extra time now. Lindsay-Hague breaks but loses it. He recovers well though with two superb tackles. Half time of extra-time.

Both sides can’t keep hold of the wet ball here. 12-12 still remember! This is ridiculous! Royle chips but it is blocked by Samoa. This ref is killing this game, some odd calls mostly against England. Royle is now binned for playing with it one the floor. Penalty Samoa and Lui to kick it... to win the World Series! He gets it...SAMOA WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!

Result: Samoa 15 England 12

Samoa can clinch the IRB Series with a win here against England. Can Stephen Betham’s boys turn it on just once more time? With a nation’s expectations on their shoulders. Let’s wait and see.

These two have played each other 38 times with England winning 21 and Samoa 16. Bit in recent times it has been the Samoan who have prospered. They last met in the semi-finals in Hong Kong where Samoa just took it 28-24. England have been a bit unpredictable of late but played the conditions and gameplan to perfection against Scotland.

Plate Update: Scotland came back from a two score deficit to beat South Africa in the semi-finals. Ben Cairns scoring the crucial try, after superb build-up play from the hosts in the 12-19 win. The Scots will meet Argentina in the final, after the Pumas beat Fiji.

Plate SF – South Africa v Scotland

Scotland looking dangerous but they are losing out at the breakdown with the Boks just a bit too tough. The Boks put some width on it and Chris Dry is over. 7-0. Adamson breaks out but is hauled down. Ball back with the Boks and Afrika’s miss-pass to Dry gives SA another one. 14-0. Scotland not to be deterred hit back before drinks with Mark Robertson touching down after winning the chase from a kick through. 14-7. Take a breather ladies.

Mike Adamson is enjoying his first start of the weekend and he goes blind jinking three Boks defenders to score in the corner. Mixture of poor ‘D’ and really nice footwork that. 14-12 to SA still. Try of the weekend?! Great team effort for Scotland, with the support play brilliant and Cairns is in! 14-19 to Scotland. Scotland slow it up and crucially keep hold the ball as the clock runs outs. Season over for SA. Scots into Plate final.

Result: South Africa 14 Scotland 19

Bowl Update: Wales overcame France in an ill tempered semi-final, winning 26-12 with Remi Vaquin and Jevon Groves shown red cards.The Kenyans needed extra time to beat the USA, Collins Injera the match-winner.

Shield Update: Canada thrashes Italy 35-0 with two tries for Justin Mensah-Coker. Russia overcome Portugal with tries for Dmitriy Perov, Andrey Bykanov, and Igor Galinovskiy. Canada v Russia for the Shield final later.

Few emails commenting on my slow reporting this morning. All i can say that there was coffee on laptop debacle that I have managed to get away with....so far. The clear up operation stalled me.

I need some banter from you guys....soooo cold here at Murrayfield, you have no idea.



Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

09/10 World Series Key Moments : Australia show potential

Perennial under-achievers on the IRB Sevens in years gone by, Australia have got their act together. With more resources available from the ARU, coach Mick O’Connor has assembled a talented but very young squad who really showed their potential making the Vegas semi-finals with a thumping win over Fiji. The big breakthrough came last weekend in London, when they broke their Cup winning drought that went back to 2002.

Manuel:
You look awake now Robin, thanks for the info, well done!

Cup QF – New Zealand v Argentina

Jazz feet from Sherwin Stowers, who slips by some weak Argentine tackles to open the scoring for NZ. 7-0. 30th try of the season from him. Zar Lawrence, who scored his 100th IRB try yesterday, breaks out and carries 80m but doesn’t quite have the support and NZ are penalised. Kiwis’ continuity is superb and Mikkelson looks like he might break out, but the Pumas swarm him. All to play for at the break.

Cama pushes NZ further in front collecting his own chip for a 14-0 lead and now it is Baker who cuts Stowers to give NZ a very handy 19-0 lead. Kurt’s mother is right in front of us in the press gallery and she loved that obviously. Mikkelson taps quickly and it’s that is the Men in Black’s 25th try of the weekend and books their spot in the semi-finals against Australia. Convincing.

Result: New Zealand 26 Argentina 0

Cup QF- Australia v Fiji

Aussies with all the pressure and ball and they work it up the field and Foley gives a delicious floated ball to Phipps to open the scoring. Lovely flair from Keli and Votu gets the crowd on their feet but Australia hold firm. Australia looking calm and happy to clear their lines. Kamea (Fiji) is binned and this has been a pretty turgid seven minutes. But wait.. against the run of play Fiji’s Votu and Naiyabo break and they bring it back for Burotu who powers through. 5-7 to Fiji. Drinks boys.

Fiji on top of the turnover charts here at Edinburgh and they are pinching again but Australia show defensive resolve. Lovely from Foley, so elusive and after getting past three men, he finds Karauria-Henry who scores. Oz back in front 10-7. Great spoiling from Stannard and Karauria-Henry paves the way for an Ed Jenkins score and Aussies looking good for this at 15-7. Hooter goes and Australia progress.

Result: Australia 15 Fiji 7

So Samoa v England in one semi-final. Joined by either Fiji/Australia and NewZealand/Argentina

Twitter action from England coach Ben Ryan:

'Another early start. Noisy night-hotel is in grassmarket -stag party central!! Same for all teams I guess. Last tourny day of long year!!'

Cup QF – Samoa v South Africa

Samoa forces a turnover and look the more urgent out of the two sides. They switch the play quickly causing confusion in the SA ranks with Reupena Levasa slicing them open, rounding Stick for a 7-0 start. Lui has been hot this weekend and he breaks and what tracking from forward Fa’osiliva tracking superbly for his 6th this weekend. 14-0! Bosh. Big Samoan hit and Afrika kicks for some reason and Lui nudges it out for half time. SA coach Paul Treu is livid – his team looking v.flat.

Cagey start from both sides now and Pesamino is off injured. Panic? No. Samoa are showing the hunger here and look a different side to the one that got stuffed by Argentina. Penalty and little Uale Mai bundles over. That is his 131st IRB score. 19-0. Curtains. Lui smashes the post from a droppie. But that is it. Samoa win and just need one more victory to get that elusive Series!

Result: Samoa 19 South Africa 0

Manuel:
No live results today, or are you simply sleeping?

Chill out Manuel! Had some technical issues in stadium so sorry if its slow today. Full text commentary coming up of the Cup quarter-finals shortly.

Bowl Update:

France 19 Italy 5
Wales 21 Canada 14
Portugal 21 USA 26
Russia 0 Kenya 12

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Cup quarter finals:

Samoa v South Africa
Scotland v England
Australia v Fiji
New Zealand v Argentina

After 384 matches on this season's IRB Sevens World Series it all comes down to today. D Day. Two questions?

Q: Who will win the overall IRB Series title?
A: Samoa or New Zealand

Q: Who will win the Edinbrugh Sevens title?
A: Your guess is as good as mine folks!