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London Sevens Day 2: As It Happened

Monday 25 May 2009 (UR7s)

20:19
Right that's all from me at a rapidly deserting Twickenham...what a day! Definately one that will long live in the memory. I'll be up at Murrayfield next week for the culmination of this years IRB World Sevens Series. Stay tuned to UR7s for a full round up of the day. Mine's a lager top please, I'm thirsty after all that!

20:15
This game never fails to surprise me. That was almost a carbon copy of the Wellington final, with England coming back from absolutely no-where. What steel and determination from Ben Ryan's boys who have had such a topsy turvey time of it lately. That's their first title here for five years and the skipper lifts the Emirates Trophy aloft in front of the adoring fans.

20:05
Extra Time:

England camp on the New Zealand line and are pressing hard. Scrum time to New Zealand but it squirts loose and Young goes blind to win it for England!! Incredible comeback from 19-0 down as they did in Wellington. The IRB title is still up for grabs!

20:05
England v New Zealand

First blood to the Kiwis as Savea hits Kurt Baker on slashing angle. He has been the genuine find of London this weekend. 7-0. Not good news for England as Savea cuts in past two flat footed Englishmen and is under the sticks. Sea of black at the moment as this time it’s a Lawrence kick which floats in the corner and Savea bags his brace. 19-0. England suffering at the breakdown as referee Neil Patterson pings them twice for not releasing. Take a break boys.

England looking bereft of ideas here as they simply can’t break this black line, this is when having a Varndell can be useful. Gollings finally finds some room and it’s Oduoza who's in past Lawrence to gain some parity for the hosts. Again cracking work from Gollings and now Mickey Young who belies his size to courageously wriggle over in the corner to send Twickers nuts -19-12 to New Zealand. Amazing scenes with a penalty giving England field position and it’s Rodwell running the most scything of runs to bring England level. Not for long though a burst from Nanai-Williams eventually allows Lawrence in and NZ are so close, 26-19. This is ridiculous! Brave yards from Cracknell and Vickerman gives flyer Norton a go and he’s so fresh and has too much in his locker for the Kiwis cover... Gollings 2000th IRB point is enough and it’s extra time 26-26!

19:25
Right it’s the biggie, it’s what the 43 matches we have had over the weekend has been all about. England v New Zealand for the Cup Final. Can the Kiwis get revenge for their agonising defeat by the English earlier this season in the final in Wellington. Or can England take home their first London Sevens title for 5 years and keep the race for the IRB World Series Sevens alive till next week in Scotland? Whatever the outcome Twickenham is electrical in anticipation...IT’S SHOWTIME.

19:22
Plate Final – Fiji v Portugal

Nasoni Roko bursts through a big hole already in the Portugese line to send their all-singing and dancing fans directly below me into raptures. This time it’s Sareki who pulls his man in and finds Vucago busting a cut to hit a flat line and go under the sticks, 12-0 to Fiji. They're running riot now as Sareki gets on the end of a sweeping move which puts him in the corner. Tuwai does his trademark chicken step, pulling two men then finding Kotobalavu. 24-0.

Portugal at last showing some of the form which got them this far with de Cunha getting on the end of some good work from Leal. Portugal back in this now after Fro is shimmying/dummying and handing off his opposite winger to go in. 24-10 still, though, to Fiji. And that’s how it finishes with both sides out on their feet on another gruelling weekend. Fiji take the Plate!

Result: Fiji 24 Portugal 10

18:59
Kenya do a little celebratory jig in front of 40,000 fans who are loving it, their ‘routine’ ends with them going on their back and wiggling their backside, which gets a roar, real entertainers!

18:54
Bowl Final – Wales v Kenya

Biko Adema’s break is a scintillating one and he puts in a flying Collins Injera to open the scoring here. Increasing pressure from the Kenyans, who love to hassle and hurry their opponents making it so tough for them to get any rhythm. A turnover is eventually taken on by Humphrey Kayange who streaks through to open this one out to 12-0.

Will Harries is on from the bench and is looking particularly sharp looping round Craig Hill and swerving past Adema to get the Welsh back in the hunt. Wales pressing, remaining patient, but they don’t have time to play with here if I’m honest and Kenya mange to get a scrum which is kicked just as the hooter goes. Kenya take the Bowl and have only lost once all weekend, against Fiji, which proved costly for the hope of major honours here.

Result: Kenya 12 Wales 7

18:33
Shield Update - Canada blow States away

In the battle of North America it was Canada who prevailed, comprehensively taking it 27-7. Al Caravelli’s young pups just ran out of steam I’m afraid, with Neil Meechan’s brace enough for Canada to win the first silverware of the 2009 London Sevens. They take the plaudits and it’s Wales/Kenya up next for the Bowl.

18:11
Put simply New Zealand must beat England in the final for South Africa to win the Series. If England win here at Twickenham, it all goes down to Murrayfield!

18:05
Cup SF – England v Scotland

Phillips comes to the party yet again after some good pinching from Vickerman gives him an easy run in, Gollings gets the two, 7-0. After Barrett spills it with the try line begging, England eventually re-gain possession and Biggs cuts in past two men and accelerates in to make it 14-0. Great work from Grant on the floor turning it over and Gregor gets a clear run in to eat into the hosts lead. We have a ball game here as John Houston goes inside Gollings to get the Scots right back in the mixer. 14-12 @ the Half.

Advantage England as Phillips again makes the crucial break then giving it to Barden to get nearer the posts. And that could be it for England after Barden, who has put in a tireless display in this one, feeds that man Gollings who is far too sharp, 26-12 England. Scotland desperately having a go but England’s ‘D’ is in a stingy mood.

Result: England 26 Scotland 12

17:45
Right the auld enemies clash now, with the winners meeting New Zealand in the final. Scotland have been the success story here, very much doing a Wales in the World Cup. They know exactly how they want to play and will cause England problems. But the power of the whole of Twickers on your side is a big weapon and you can’t help feeling this is England’s tournament – if that doesn’t curse them I don’t know what will.

17:44
Cup SF – South Africa V New Zealand

These two produce traditionally low scoring but intensive affairs and this one is exactly the same with some bruising hits and sapping physicality at the breakdown. Amazing tackle an inch from the line by Dazel on Forbes and could that prove decisive? After camping on the Boks line for what seemed an eternity Solomon King crashes in for the first points for NZ – it’s getting niggly out there too, boom!

Huge test now for SA, with Kurt Baker who has been one the real finds of this tournament again using those powerful levers to hand off Benjamin and double the Kiwis' lead. 10 – 0. Back roar the Boks. A smart feet from Zangqa hits Aplon with an outrageously good line from depth and it's 10-5. Scrum down to SA, it’s their last chance with Cama being sent to the bin for NZ. And it’s over, the Series is still alive!!! Epic game.

Result: South Africa 5 New Zealand 10

17:23
Two of the very best collide in our first Cup Semi here in London. South Africa are one win away from a title they richly deserve. How ironic it is that they face the mighty men in black of New Zealand who have dominated this sport for a decade and are of course the reigning 07/08 Champions. Ridiculous talent littered all over the paddock with two of the most respected coaches in the world, in Paul Treu and Gordon Tietjens, and I know how much the Kiwis want to crash the Boks party and make up for what’s been a pretty dismal season.

17:22
Atmosphere building nicely as 40,000 fans do the Macarena!! Great thing about these 7s gigs is the accessability of the players, as they walk round the stadium signing autographs and posing for photos...Portugal team seem to have been a hit with the ladies.

16:56
Result: Plate Update:

Fiji were another level for France, winning through 35 -19 and they meet Portugal who yet again illustrated why they are a genuine force in 7s rugby, stunning Australia 19-10! The dreadlocked Aderito Esteves has been on red hot form this afternoon, with his languid Fijian-esque running.

16:49
On my travels on the Twickers concourse I saw a bunch of Fred Flintstones playing rugby against a bunch of Smurfs, truely bizzare site. Saw my colleagues including Stewart 'Gas' Turton who plays a bit of 7s himself...he was parading with his top off trying to overcome the sensational 'farmers tan' he accumalated yesterday, but jeez never seen a rug like that on a chest before, he resembles Magnum PI minus Tom Sellick's tash. I've actually bought my Mach III with me so maybe he can have a word with himself and sort it out...?

16:27
Result: Bowl Update:

Amazingly the same four teams contested the two Cup semi finals at the Rugby World Cup Sevens just two months ago. As they did in Dubai Wales edged home against the Pumas 19-14, whilst Kenya threw everything at Samoa early doors and it was enough for them, 17-10.

16:24
Result: Shield Update:

USA thrashed Georgia to go through to the final but one of the games of the day saw Germany almost beat Canada, eventually going down 24-26.

Rainer Kumm, Germany coach.

"It's amazing because these guys are going to go home now and say that they've played in front of 30,000 spectators, they've played at Twickenham, it's a great feeling.

"We learned a hard lesson on day one, today we were better in defence and then just now against Canada we showed everyone that we can play rugby well.

"Sevens rugby is growing in Germany. Last year we had the World Cup qualifying tournament in Hannover in front of 28,000 spectators for two days, it's getting bigger and bigger."

14:50
Right, I'm off for a wonder. The atmosphere here today is awesome and the South Stand band have had everyone on their feet, so will be good to speak to some people before the mixture of Tetleys/Sun has it's wicked way. I'm starving too so it'll be an outrageously overpriced Fish 'n Chips I expect for me.

14:42
Shield Semi-Finals:
USA 38 Georgia 12
Canada 26 Germany 24

Bowl Semi-Finals
Wales 19 Argentina 14
Kenya v Samoa

14:37
Well thats all done and dusted and the Cup Semi-Final line-ups are as follows:

South Africa v New Zealand
England v Scotland

14:32
Cup QF – England v Australia

Brilliant vision from Phillips switching the play with a fizzing 20 yard pass, Cracknell finds Rodwell with a neat inside ball and it’s 7-0 to the hosts. Biggs was on cracking form yesterday and he’s at it again going inside Foley then racing to go as close under the sticks as he can. 14-0, Running riot here, the red rose, with Gollings expertly chipping over his man and winning the race. He misses the conversion and it’s 19-0 at the break.

Grrr some handbags from the ginger Rodwell and dreadlocked Coridas – on whose got the worst coiffeur? England quite happy to kick the corners here and their tigerish ‘D’ is doing the trick. I spoke too soon as Stannard has acres of room and he feeds Sills to cut the gap to 19-7 to Eng. Phillips again the creator for England, spying a lonely Vickerman on his wing with a great chip. Gollings is red hot with his conversions today, 26-7 to the hosts. Foley gets some brief consolation shirking the challenge of Barden but it’s too late from the 'gold n green'.

Result: England 26 Australia 12

14:31
Phil Greening is standing right behind me and wasn’t happy about that last game, think he fancied England playing Portugal not Scotland, but hang on Phil, they’ve to beat the Aussies first!

England/Australia in the final Cup QF...no need to build this up, we know how massive it is. England need to win to keep SA at bay. Perhaps warming up the cricket Ashes later in the summer, the crowd has been on the Aussies back most of the weekend. They are always a talented bunch of players who too often play in bits and pieces. Ben Ryan won’t be taking them for granted especially after he lost to them in Adelaide a few weeks back. Boom, 40,000 crowd are going nuts.

14:12
Cup QF – Scotland v Portugal

Cagey start this, with big new and nervous territory for these two. That's until good footwork form Esteves fools Hogg and the FIRA champions have the lead! Which they double immediately after more lacklustre tackling allows Leal to break, who feeds de Cunha with ease. This is remarkable stuff as Foro now goes blind and Hogg, an established 15-a-side international, is struggling with the hot 7s pace and is left flailing again. 21-0 to Portugal again!

Hogg makes up for his earlier problems and steps out of a slappy happy tackle to give the Scots a chance. We have a game on here folks. First it’s Thompson ducking and diving under Silva feeding so often Scotland’s rock Roddy Grant , making it 21-12. Then nice interplay between Thompson and Gregor feeds Hefin O’Hare – aka the Rabbit – who steps his man to go in. 21-17 to Portugal. Not for long with the hooter gone they work what seems like 50 phases before Turnbull goes inside Mira and they reach a Cup Semi-Final!

Result: Scotland 22 Portugal 21

13:51
Portugal/Scotland. Who would have thought one of these two would make the Cup Semis?! They were both the success stories of yesterday with Portugal’s draw with the Pumas the key to their qualification. Scotland stunned Fiji 12-7 and played the most aesthetically pleasing rugby in my eye with Gregor and Turnbull a constant menace. Winner of this faces either England or OZ...

13:47
Cup QF - New Zealand v Fiji

Baker, a freshman in this NZ team, cuts an inside line and is away, smartly chipping over Goneva and collecting his chip to the delight of his teammates. 7-0 to the Kiwis. Simple stuff again from New Zealand with Tomasi Cama running a diagonal line which again Baker accepts with a scissors and the IRB Sevens champs (for the next 4 hours anyway) have a cushion at 14-0. Much better form Fiji with the slipper Goneva’s mazy run setting up Roko. 14-7 at the break.

When the Kiwis really need something the ball always seem to find that man Zar Lawrence who yet again has the Midas touch after initial good work from Forbes. Wonder try Fiji! Again Vucago breaks, he finds Burotu who in turn pops to Tuwai who dummy scissors and bluffs the cover, 21-14 to NZ. Could be game over now as Cama slips a challenge and Baker is away again – this kid is quick. It’s his hat-trick and it’s 28-14 to NZ.

Result: New Zealand 33 Fiji 14

13:28
Cripes this is a tasty Quarter. Kiwis have choked at the quarter-final stage far too often in recent times and looked particularly mean and menacing in their warm-up a few minutes ago. Which Fiji will turn up though? If Tuwai and Burotu turn up there’s going to be fireworks. So many great games between these two very proud 7s nations. Winner to meet South Africa in the last four.

13:27
Cup QF - South Africa v France

Those two combine so well, it’s Zangqa breaking and finding his skipper Mzwandile Stick to open the Boks account. Boks so effective at the breakdown in recent tournaments, nothing to do with their size - more their fitness and technique. Pressure tells and Benjamin collects his own chip and he is just too fast for the French cover. Boks fans know that is crucial. Take a break fellas.

Better from France holding onto the pill in a more competent fashion. A penalty, as it so often does, results in a try from Dalligna who finishes well in the corner. French can’t get out of their own half, and when they concede a penalty it’s that man Zangqa who taps and bundles over to secure their passage...one more win for them and it’s the overall Series!

Result: South Africa 21 France 5

13:08
Right into the big boys action now in the first Cup Quarter-Final, South Africa v France. Boks are going to be so tough to beat today, such is their passion for making history and winning the IRB Sevens for the first time. But I made a promise with myself after San Diego, Dubai, and Hong Kong that I wasn’t going to make Quarter-Final predictions...when it comes to 7s it’s too tough to call in the knockouts. That said I will eat my straw hat (enjoying its first outing this summer) if SA lose. Watch out for Paul Dabrin for France - he looked good yesterday...

13:07
Bowl Update: As expected Wales enjoyed an easy win over Georgia with Ifan Evans and Captain James Merriman enjoying themselves and getting amongst the tries that ended 36-0. We then had a cracking game between USA/Argentina, with the Pumas eventually winning it in dramatic fashion with a ‘Golden Try’ in extra time, 24-19.

Kenya were desperately unlucky not to go through yesterday but those pesky Fijians taught them a lesson in their final game of the day despite the massive support they had. They got some revenge with a well deserved,-gritty 12-7 win over an always tough Canada. In the final shield QF it was Samoa who had too much for Germany, 42-7.

13:00
Right, format for today. We have Bowl Competition Quarter-Finals (for teams finishing 3rd and 4th in their groups yesterday)...losers of that go through to the Shield Semis whilst winners head to Bowl Semi-Final. Losers of the Cup Quarters go straight into the Plate Semi Finals... comprehende? Think I have confused myself now...

12:59
Pretty emotional and eventful trip to the stadium today, with so many fans cramming onto the hopelessly budget London train system. As you’d expect from this city, a plethora of Aussies, Kiwis, and especially South Africans out in force to hopefully see their boys do the business today...

In the fancy dress stakes it’s a different animal today as well, with the trains and concourse around the stadium littered with Kangeroos, Penguins, Smurfs, Cowboys, Scientists, Gorillas, and that old Sevens favourite, The Smurfs....mental.

12:57
Another absolute little ripper weather-wise here in London, glorious blue sky for this bumper Bank Holiday...SCORCHIO. Expecting nigh on 40,000 today - a record here - so it’s going to be electric later, especially if England stay on course. Twickers is looking in fine fettle.

12:43
And to remind you, South Africa only need 13 points to lift the IRB World Sevens Series title for the first time in their history. That’s just two more wins today – England need to go all the way today and hope Paul Treu’s Boks slip up. Could be a very interesting day the way it’s lined up. Can’t wait, this is what it's all come down to. Boom!

12:37
Yesterday (if you missed it you missed out) was another belter with some intriguingly tight Pools which went down to the wire, giving us some unexpected line-ups in today’s Cup Quarters. They are...

South Africa v France
New Zealand v Fiji
Scotland v Portugal (yes you did read the right)
England v Australia.

12:22
Top of the morning to you! How are we all? Sore heads after yesterday’s revelry? Or no idea what 7s is and why you’re here and what on earth I’m blabbering on about? Welcome to UR7s anyhow!

It’s Day 2 of the London Sevens here from the grandiose marvel that is Twickenham Stadium. UR7s is back once again to provide an unique Live Text Commentary of what is going down, on and off the pitch here from the penultimate leg of the IRB World Sevens Series.
 

Tagged in this article: England Sevens

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