Sign up and win
flash alternate

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use this site, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser.

NEWS

more »

RWC Sevens Final Day Summary: Wales champions in dramatic scenes

Saturday 7 March 2009

80-1 outsiders Wales have shocked the world in Dubai claiming a maiden Melrose Cup win 19-12 over Argentina.

The Pumas had beaten Wales in the Pool stages, but the men in red took control of the final as Richie Pugh broke through for a try within two minutes. Martin Rodriguez seized on a Wales mistake to put Argentina ahead, but Tal Selley's break restored Wales' lead.

The Pumas levelled when Gonzalo Camacho took a cross-field kick to score, but Aled Thomas broke blind from a scrum a minute from full time to seal the historic victory.
Paul John’s Wales had earlier torn the formbook apart edging past New Zealand 15-14 in the quarter-finals then knocking out Samoa 19-12 in the last four.

Against New Zealand Isaacs hacked onto a loose ball and raced through to touch down in the final minute for a shock 15-14 victory. Zar Lawrence had given New Zealand the lead but Wales hit back with tries from Lee Williams and Richie Pugh. The Kiwis looked like they had wrapped it up when Lote Raikabula went over, before Isaacs booked Wales a semi-final with Samoa.

The Samoan team visibly wilted after their dramatic sudden-death last-eight win over England and couldn’t cope with the guile, footwork or incredible Welsh stamina. The English themselves made too many errors and perhaps over-relied on the pace of Tom Varndell losing by a Golden Extra Time try to Samoan forward Mikaele.

Kenya sensationally beat defending champions Fiji in the quarter-finals. To chants of "We can do it" from a sizeable Kenyan contingent in the 35,000-strong crowd, tries from Lavin Asego, Biko Adema, Captain Humphrey Kayange and Collins Injera handed the Africans a historic victory.

Fiji looked flat-footed and Kenya's physicality in the contact area unsettled their opponents who made an uncharacteristically high number of handling errors.

But the Africans could not continue their giant-killing against a rugged Argentine side who impressed over the three days. The Pumas scored tries from Horacio San Martin and Martin Bustos Moyano in each half and successfully closed down the free running game of the Africans.

In the earlier Quarter-Final Argentina had knocked South Africa, currently joint leaders of the IRB World Series Sevens with England, out in another niggly 12-10 result.


The shocks weren’t just condemned to the Men’s though as Australia stunned the world to capture the first ever Women’s World Cup. With favorites England, hampered by the absence of Jo Yapp through injury, were the first to suffer to the creatively incisive Aussies in the Quarter-Finals. The final was another tense affair with Shelly Matcham's Golden Extra Time try the difference to send the Kiwis Men and Women home empty handed from a World Cup once again.

Scotland won the Men’s Plate final following a 21-17 win over Australia. An Andrew Turnbull double and a Roddy Grant try proved enough. Zimbabwe won the Bowl – the only team from Africa to walk away from Dubai with silverware.

Wales Sevens squad:
Lee Beach (Neath, capt), Rhodri McAtee (Cornish Pirates), Lee Williams (Scarlets), Tom Isaacs (Newport), Aled Thomas (London Welsh), James Merriman (unattached), Tal Selley (Dragons), Aled Brew (Dragons), Craig Hill (Newport), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Richie Pugh (Exeter Chiefs), Dafydd Hewitt (Blues).

RWC Final Day: As it happened

Full Men and Women Results from the final day.
 

COMMENTS

team

Kethan Tue 15 Nov 2011 08:46

You really found a way to make this whole prosces easier.

You really found a way to make this whole prosces easier.
Reply | Report this Post

POST A COMMENT