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Live Text Commentary
2010 IRB London Sevens - Day 2

London Sevens - Sun 23 May 2010

UR7s’ Robin Heymann brings you Live Text Commentary from finals day at the penultimate leg of the IRB Sevens World Series from London’s Twickenham. With just two tournaments remaining front-runners Samoa and New Zealand are in a race for the overall title in one of the tightest finishes for years. Keep updated all weekend as UR7s lets you know all the goings-on both on and off the pitch.

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com
Follow on Twitter: @UR7sLiveText

19:39

Thanks for following folks, hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Keep the emails coming in and thanks for keeping me amused. Twickers is empty but the for the Aussies the party is only just beginning. See you at the bar boys! See you all next week at Murrayfield. Big kiss and hugs xx

19:37

All to play for next weekend's final leg of the season at Edinburgh. Samoa lead by seven points to New Zealand in the race for this year's overall crown.

19:23

IRB Sevens World Series:

Samoa 140
New Zealand 133
Australia 102
Fiji 102
England 80

19:19

Tommy, Aussie in UK:
Aussies ruling Twickers. I love it! Well done boys, you have made me very unpopular with my South African housemates!!

19:16

What a performance from Australia's youngsters. They have just got better and better all season and this is what hard work brings. An IRB title. Scenes of jubilation and coach Mick O'Conner is mobbed on the side of the pitch. James Stannard, my weekend's MVP, put in one of the best cover tackles you are likely to witness to save the day then. What an engine.

19:14

Cup Final – Australia v South Africa

Nervous start understandably and Aussies lose Sills with an injury early on. Benjamin (SA) thinks he was tackled high, play continues and Karauria-Henry scorches in to get the ball rolling. 7-0 to OZ. South Africa work their way inside the Aussies 22 through Afrika and slow it down but they get pinged and the Aussies survive. The boy has still got it! Juries scoring another key try from a great chip and collect. 7-7 at drinks...

Lovely stuff from Jacob Taylor driving it up and sucking Boks in. Eventually Stannard snipes blind and the Aussies skipper restores the lead. 12-7. Juries is back his old form it appears! He races in for his 176th IRB try after a couple of ruthless hand-offs and Taylor is clasping at thin air. 12-14 to Boks. Brilliant work from Stubbs carving an arc in the Boks defensive line and Vanderglass supports. 19-14 to Australia. Afrika is now off but an incredible saving hit from Stannard keeps the Aussies in front. That’s it!! AUSTRALIA WIN THE LONDON SEVENS!!

Result: Australia 19 South Africa 14

18:48

Australia/SA have played each other 43 times in the IRB Sevens World Series...none bigger then this. It's the London Sevens Cup final!

SA haven't won a title since Adelaide last year, Australia last won one back in 2002 in Brizzy aka Brisbane. Fair play to both of these teams, they have stuck to their game plans and you can see the increasing confidence in the way they have worked up this final.

18:48

Australia/SA have played each other 43 times in the IRB Sevens World Series...none bigger then this. It's the London Sevens Cup final!

SA haven't won a title since Adelaide last year, Australia last won one back in 2002 in Brizzy aka Brisbane. Fair play to both of these teams, they have stuck to their game plans and you can see the increasing confidence in the way they have worked up this final.

18:44

UR7s reporter Tom McArthur has caught up with Canada's Sean Duke who scored the winner against USA to win Bowl.

"I honestly didn't think I had anything in the tank left, I kept expecting to get chopped down from behind at any moment!

"It's always good to beat the USA. As our closest rugby rivals, the games can get quite heated, but it's all quite good natured. We are both flying the flag for rugby in North America, which is important."

18:42

Kiwis take 12 valuable IRB points. How crucial could that be in the race for the IRB Sevens World Series.

18:25

Cup SF - Fiji v New Zealand

As always when these two play it is about as entertaining as sevens can get. NZ strike first with Baker, one of the players of the tournament, breaking and Souness supports. 7-0. Classic Fiji breakout though with everyone getting a touch and Keli stepping Forbes and Baker. 5-7 to NZ. Raikabula breaks and Mikkelson floats a lovely ball to Souness who dummys and gets his second. 7-14 to NZ. Kamea pulls one back for Fiji just before the break after some tough work at the breakdown. 12-14 to NZ at drinks.

Fiji hurl the ball from side to side with gay abandon and it is tiring the Kiwis out as Katonibau breaks out and Naiyabo is on hand to just beat Forbes. 17-14 to Fiji. Raikabula now on the attack for NZ and Baker loops him and blazes in for his 11th of the weekend. 17-21 to NZ. What a game this Fiji’s Katanibau now running a scintillating scissors put Fiji up 24-21. They need to kick it out from the kick-off but they don’t and Stowers makes Fiji pay by racing in from 70m! Amazing.

Result: Fiji 24 – New Zealand 26

18:19

The Kiwis will be delighted that South Africa beat Samoa earlier. It means they are well and truly fighting still in the overall race to the IRB Sevens World Series. If they win this Plate final against Fiji now, Samoa will hold a seven point lead at the top of the standings, with just one leg to go at Murrayfield next weekend. In the last 13 meetings between NZ and Fiji the Kiwis have won 12 times.

18:16

UR7s reporter Tom McArthur has caught up with Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange.

“This tournament was a great experience, and winning the shield was a great experience for us, too. We can improve, and we need to learn from our mistakes. It is very humbling to see our supporters like this, they make me very proud and I hope our team makes them proud too.”

18:16

Bowl Final – Portugal v Canada

Goncalo Foro opens the Scoring for Portugal. Good finish in the corner.5-0. Nathan Hirayama levels up for Canada near the end of the first half. 7-5 Canada. Portugal regain the lead through Aderito Esteves, he’s been good this weekend. 12-7 Portugal and half time.

Scintillating pace shown by Sean Duke at the start of the second half. He touches down and it’s 14-12 Canada. Esteves is almost in again but he offloads near the line for Pedro Leal to finish the move. 17-14 Portugal. Justin Mensah-Coker tips the balance back to Canada with a score in the corner. 17-19 Canada and that’s the Bowl.

Result: Portugal 17 Canada 19

17:56

UR7s reporter Tom McArthur has caught up with Argentina's Ramiro del Busto who lost out in the Cup semi-finals:

“I love the crowd, it is the best in the world! It is so much fun and an honour to play for you all! Argentina loves you all! I have had a beautiful time here in London this weekend. Thank you for having us, we will be back next year.”

17:55

Superhero Sevens Squad: Superman

Superman possesses extraordinary powers, with the character traditionally described as "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound". Superman's famous arsenal of powers has included flight, super-strength, super-speed, vision powers super-hearing, and super-breath. Super sevens player then and he completes the team...

Superheroes VII: Batman, Captain America, Spiderman, Iron Man, Optimus Prime, The Incredible Hulk, Superman.

Handy side that.

17:51

Shield Update: Kenya steal the Shield with a last minute try against the French (21-24) much to the delight of Twickenham!

The Kenyans parade their shield in front of the West stand and join in to the ‘Macarena’. A huge cheer from the crowd. Heyyy Macarena... AYYY.

17:36

Total weekend's crowd here at Twickers is 78,197 - a record! 100,000 for next year?! London Sevens looks like it is joining the likes of Dubai, Hong Kong and Wellington as outstanding events on the circuit.

17:23

Who would have thought hey? Australia and South Africa to challenge for the London Sevens crown. 16 IRB Sevens points to Samoa, the best NZ can get form winning the plate is 12. Samoa could have a seven point lead in the standings by the end of today.

17:21

Cup SF – South Africa v Samoa

First blood to South Africa and it is Cecil Afrika making an early snipe 5-0. Mai is now linking up with the machine Alafoti Fa’osiliva who shows amazing power and strength to finish in the corner. Classic Samoa, 5-7 they lead. Boks happy to go through some phases and when Afrika breaks it is Benjamin finishing. SA lead 12-7 at drinks. Just get the feeling the Boks want this a bit more...

What is going on?! Mai down doing his shoe laces and SA turn it over and use the numbers with Dry scoring. SA 17 Samoa 7. Samoa showing huge resolve as always and they do the basics working it right to left with a sweet delayed pass enough for Fa’osiliva. 19-12 to Boks. Vintage Juries! He bursts down the near side chips and collects for the South Africa win!

Result: South Africa 24 Samoa 12

17:20

Paul, England:
Three losses for England this weekend, not great but the liquid fuelled crowd will soon forget about it!

16:58

Meeting the Aussies will be Samoa or South Africa...

So finally the reigning (for now) IRB champions South Africa have made their first Cup semi-final of the season. Paul Treu’s boys have a tough task against the table topping Samoa now. Their confidence flying knowing they could stretch their IRB lead over NZ considerably here. Can Samoa win an incredible four tournaments in-a-row?!

16:56

Cup SF – Argentina v Australia

Aussies off like a rocket with that danger man Stannard making superb yards, two quick passes and Ed Jenkins scores. 7-0.Great work from Palma making a bulldozing run up the middle. Ball is recycled to Bruzzone who busltles past some green and gold for the try. 7-7. Oz capture the lead though when they overload the near side and the hugely mobile Vanderglas scurries in from 30m. Take a minute chaps.

American football style pass from Vanderglass keeps the ball alive and it is spread to the nearside where Sills slides to put the Aussies further ahead. His 8th of the campaign. Argies not done yet with superb aerial prowess shown by Tuculet setting the platform for an Ameland scores in. 14-24. Jenkins again off-loading beautifully to Sills and Australia could be in the final at 14-26. They are! Delight for them.

Result: Argentina 14 Australia 26

16:42

Clinton Sills' mother has emailed in wishing her boy good luck ahead of this match!

Annette Sills:
All i can is well done to the Aussies and my boy! Hope they can pull it off!

16:30

Argentina and Australia fight it out for a rare Cup final on the IRB Sevens World Series. Both thoroughly deserve their rewards for an outstanding couple of days work. Can the relentless Argentine defence stop the free-flowing Australians whose off-loading and pace on the ball have caught the eye. Credit to both coaches Lobbe (Arg) and O’Connor (Aus) for bringing the best from these two squads.

16:25

Music pumps out as we wait for the Cup semi-finals! Arg/Aus followed by SA/Samoa. Bit of Black Eyed Peas, Calvin Harris, Bon Jovi...boom.

16:21

Paul, England:
Three losses for England this weekend, not great but the liquid fuelled crowd will soon forget about it!

Vaughan McMillan:
The "ref" who took part in the last two England matches should be sent back to Under-12 matches. They were both awful

16:20

Ouch, hosts go out and England coach Ben Ryan is livid about something at the end of that. He is having a right old barney with the officials gesticulating about something that when on the far side.

Fiji/NZ Plate final. Kiwis looking for the 12 IRB Sevens point to keep pace with Samoa.

16:15

Plate SF - England v New Zealand

Tim Mikkelson opens the scoring for New Zealand early on and its 5-0. God save the Queen rings out from Twickenham however as the English support kicks in. Its all NZ out on the field though as Kurt Baker strides. He leads the top try scorers list this weekend with 9. England attack from a penalty and have good field position. Tom Powell breaks through to score and NZ lead 12-7. Great burst of pace from Christian Wade but his offload is unsuccessful. That’s the half. NZ lead.

At the start of the second England win a penalty inside their own half. Mat Turner takes it quickly and finds Gollings. He’s in ! Good strength by England’s double centurion try scorer to make it 14-12 England. Christain Wade now has space out wide and he uses it. Powerful hand off on Baker to score. England dominating after the restart and they lead 19-12. England bossing the break down but NZ win it back. Numbers wide..and Toby Arnold races in. 19-17 Eng. Hooter goes but NZ have it in their own half. Baker shows blistering pace to outrun Wade, and then Young can’t make it tackle. Curtains for England. NZ into the plate final. 22-19.

strong>Result: England 19 New Zealand 22

15:51

Plate SF – Wales v Fiji

Fiji looking the more determined here using an off-loading game to great effect. Naiyobo enjoying some freedom and his support play is good enough for a couple of tries. Both conversions missed. Just realised Rabeni and Satala (both banned from playing for Insurance issues) bringing on the drinks, what a waste! Burotu adds another one before the break showing trademark power and commitment. 0-15 at drinks.

Better from Wales with Evans making a break before getting smashed. Ball is recycled and Lloyd Williams finishes smartly. 5-15.Nice from Randall Kamea, whose line make an incision into Wales’ defensive line and the fat lady is warming up her voice. 5-22 to Fiji. Jones is hot stepping for Wales and spinning it wide to Williams to give Wales a small opening. 10-22 to Fiji though

Result: Wales 10 Fiji 22

15:51

Plate semi-finals coming up. Wales v Fiji, New Zealand v England...

15:32

Bowl Update: Portugal beat Scotland (19-24) to book up a meeting with Canada who won the all-North American clash with USA. The Maple Leafs required extra-time with Sean Duke getting the winner.

15:30

Superhero Sevens Squad: The Incredible Hulk

The Hulk is cast as the emotional and impulsive alter ego of the withdrawn and reserved physicist Dr. Bruce Banner. As the Hulk, Banner is capable of significant feats of strength, which increases in direct proportion to the character's anger. As the character himself puts it, "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets!" That’s our ball winner then. Done!

Squad so far: Batman, Captain America, Spiderman, Iron Man, Optimus Prime, The Incredible Hulk.

14:52

Stephen Betham, Samoa coach

"Well it could have gone any way, it was that type of game. I would just like to thank Titch and his boys. We have to lift every time we play them; like I said before it is a team you have to measure yourself against," speaking to the IRB.

James Stannard, Australia captain

"The Fijians came out firing from that one and we didn't really expect that. But we really stuck to our guns, held our composure and we got through in the end."

14:50

Seth, Samoa Fan:
6th time vs NZ and Samoa win - give 'em some credits - they deseve it - they aren't a bogey team it's more like the better team.

14:46

Shield Update: A Camille Canivet hat-trick gives France a semi-final win over Italy. They meet Kenya in the final who were made to work hard by the brave Russians in the 17-21 win.

14:45

We have an official Guinness World Record™ here at Twickers. The most amount of Superheroes in one place! Hilarious scenes as the ground staff here, dressed as Superheroes of course, join in with the cheerleaders for a spot of YMCA to celebrate the record.

13:57

The emails and comments are flying into UR7s from Samoan fans...lot of support out there for Betham's boys. They must be ecstatic.
New Zealand are still stretched out on the side of the field, utterly demoralised. They must make sure they win the Plate now to keep World Series hopes alive.

13:53

Samoa surely now have one hand on that first-ever IRB Series title?! Superb. Their ability to move the ball away from contact is unbelievable at times. So skillful. That's their sixth win over the Kiwis this year.

Cup semi-finals:

Argentina v Australia
South Africa v Samoa

Plate semi-finals:

Wales v Fiji
England v New Zealand

13:51

Cup QF – New Zealand v Samoa

New Zealand strike first in this mouth watering encounter. Tim Mikkelson with a classy dummy and turn of pace to finish in the corner. 5-0. Yet another Pesamino interception against NZ, and his 50th try of the season, gives Samoa the lead at 5-7.. He has the pitch to himself and swan dives majestically under the post. Lui does the extras. That’s all for the first half.

NZ back in front with Baker just doing enough to break the shackles of Mai to dot down in the far corner. 10-7. Pesamino is again kicking ahead but it’s not bouncing for him. Penalty reversal for NZ. What a try for Samoa! Pesamino cuts in field and Levasa jinks Cama and races in. 10-12 to Samoa. Samoa pressure and must score? Yes their continuity is superb and Trevirnaus boshes over. 10-19! That’s it!

Result: New Zealand 10 Samoa 19

13:34

This is the key crunch quarter-final now. The top two in the standings New Zealand and Samoa go head-to-head. The Samoans have beaten NZ fives times this year already, can they continue this dominance? All their meetings seem to go down to the wire this will be no different. Whoever prospers here will inch that bit closer to the overall title.

13:31

Cup QF – South Africa v England

England’s Varndell has an early canter but dips a toe in touch. Stick steps Varndell now and is surely in..no he’s hauled down and England hold it up. Persistant penalities cost England with Gollings binned. MJ Mentz makes the hosts pay. 7-0 to SA. England knock-on from the re-start and although they dominate the scrum the ball is loose and Benjamin over. 12-0 to Boks. Oh dear. England again get pinged and Afrika coasts over.

Varndell breaks but again get penalised?! Some wires crossed here. England finally string the phases together and after good scrapping by the Boks, it goes wide for a Varndell try. Surprise surprise. England concedes another penalty for coming in at the side and the Boks slow the clock down. Ref Stanley now bins two Boks players, they are down to 5. But England throw a forward pass. Powell scores but it’s all over for the defending champs.

Result: South Africa 17 England 12

13:07

England coach Ben Ryan yesterday:

“We have no intention of giving up this title any time soon. I can guarantee to everybody that the kind of performance that we put in tonight will be nothing like the one we will put up tomorrow afternoon against South Africa,” speaking to the IRB.

Too close to call this. Home support will really kick in today though making it hard for Paul Treu’s Boks. The likes of Stick and Afrika need to pull the strings for the boks to make their first semi-final of the seson

13:06

Cup QF – Australia v Fiji
Andy Lane

Flying start for the Fijians. Watisoni Votu, the Pacific Islanders top player this weekend, finishes off a smart move from the kick off hitting Australia early doors. 7-0. Perfect response from the Aussies though as Clinton Sills touches down his 5th try of the weekend into the opposite corner. Missed conversion keeps Fiji ahead 7-5. Moments later, Australia are in again through Henry Vanderglas. A smart finish from the Aussie No.1 and its 12-7 Aus. Blistering pace from Votu yet again as he finds a gap in the Australian D to run in from just past halfway. End to end stuff. 14-12 Fiji. On half time, Ilai Tinai is pulled down by Ed Stubbs while chasing his chip. That was cynical and Stubbs sees yellow. Penalty try awarded. 21-12 Fiji and Half Time.

Despite being down to 6 men, Aus start well in the second half with a smooth finish from Sills. That’s his second of the game and it 21-17 Fiji. The Islanders fight back, no surprise with the scorer. Votu has his hat-trick with good strength showed to finish in the corner. Yes that rhymes. Huge boo from the crowd as Stannard runs in under the posts for Aus. 28-24 Fiji. Its the Sills and Votu show here as Sills touches down for his Hat trick 29-28 Aus. This is close. Australia hold on to go through to the Cup semis. That’s hard on Fiji.

Result: Australia 29 Fiji 28

12:43

So who will meet Argentina? Australia or Fiji that's who.

Interesting thoughts from Australia coach Michael O’Connor on his side’s improvement’s this year:

"Player selection, getting support from the ARU and I think it is a great event, an IRB Sevens tournament. We have been languishing for the last decade really, at the wrong end of the table and I just think there is a desire to do well now. It is getting a lot more publicity and exposure being an Olympic sport,” he told the IRB

These two last met in a Cup quarter-final in Vegas where the Aussies were totally dominant. Under strength Fiji will have to play out their skin to take this but they have the flair and individual athletes to beat anyone, anywhere.

12:42

Cup QF – Argentina v Wales

Argentina get some territory and from a penalty work it left with Todeschini going over early doors. 5-0. Ifan Evans really is making an impression this season and the bulky welsh winger carves off his left foot to race in . 5-7. Great energy from Diego Palma busting down the left, nudging ahead and winning the race. 12-7 to Arg. Lovely work from Wales’ Groves finding Shellard on his inside shoulder. 12-14 to Wales in this seesaw affair. Drinkies.

Phenomneal work at the re-start by Del Busto and Palma is released again and the lead is againc with the South Americans. 17-14. Penalty to Argentina and Todeschini decides to kick the penalt. Three points it is. 20-14 to Arg. Is that the money shot? Turnover ball and Bruzzone sees space and wins the race. Another belting Todeschini kick. 27-14 to Arg. Bad to worse for Paul John’s Wales with Shellard now binned.

Result: Argentina 27 Wales 14

12:22

So Wales take on Argentina in the first Cup QF. Who do you fancy? Wales have a good record against the Argies and of course beat them in that World Cup Final. This is going to be very close indeed. Argentina were tremendous in their win against Samoa yesterday with Bruzzone and Nunez Lasalle bossing it. Wales can be flat early on, will the Pumas take advantage?

Not always the most fancied teams on the circuit but one of them will be playing for a spot in the London Sevens final later!

12:00

Today at Twickers there is an official Guinness World Record™ attempt. The largest amount of Superheroes (fancy dress obviously) gathered in one place. I reckon the record, currently standing at 1,016, could well be broken with the big crowd expected later.

Yesterday I started to put together a Superheroes Sevens Squad. I will finish that today. So far we have: Batman, Captain America, Spiderman, Iron Man, Optimus Prime...

Beefy!

11:55

Bowl Updates:

Portugal thrashed Italy (41-0) and will meet Scotland in the Bowl semi-finals. The Scots looked impressive in a 21-12 win over France with Ally Hogg and Andrew Turnbull both on the scoresheet. Canada were too strong for Russia (21-12) and will meet USA who upset a poor Kenya 19-10.

Bowl SF: Portugal v Scotland, Canada v Russia

Mwenda Thianyu:
All eyes will on that Bowl 1/4 between Kenya and Russia!

11:46

Weather Updates : This rare English heat wave continues with temperature set to clock 27 degrees at some point today. Smurf blue skies with no clouds threatening to ruin the big day. Expect some blistered and sun burnt bodies in the stands later today with the players requiring the ice towels to stay cool. Cracking.

11:40

Great to see Australian flying winger Clinton Sills' mother, Annette, my first email in my inbox today!

Annette Sills:
Well a big good morning to you robin how do you think the aussies will go today was up all night so they sound like there on a roll, loving yr work

Yep Annette the Aussies were very consistent yesterday and tore up the script for England in their home tournament. No idea which Fiji will turn up later though in their quarter-final. They blow hot and cold and are only operating with 10 men. Let's wait and see hey?!

11:34

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Follow on Twitter: @UR7sLiveText

11:33

We also have some Bowl quarter-finals coming up:

Italy v Portugal
Scotland v France
Canada v Russia
Kenya v USA

11:29

Elsewhere great to see Wales and Argentina meeting up, a re-run of the World Cup final from last year. Australia were the form side yesterday and they meet the unpredictable Fijians. Will the Boks ruin the party for England in front of an expected bumper 40,000 + crowd?!

11:28

That final between Samoa and New Zealand sees the two top teams of IRB Sevens World Series meet each other. The outcome could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this year's overall Series. Pant-wettingly exciting!

11:23

Cup quarter-finals:

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

10:57

It's finals day at the London Sevens here at Twickenham! It is the business end of the penultimate leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. uR7s will be bringing you all the action from what promises to be a special day of action.