NEWS
more »Top four on track at USA Sevens
Robin Heymann in Las Vegas
The top four ranked teams on the IRB Sevens World Series all won their groups on day one of the USA Sevens from Las Vegas.
Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and England all went unbeaten to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals. They will be joined by South Africa, Kenya, Wales, and Australia’s in tomorrow’s main draw knockouts.
Japan also impressed on their first IRB outing of the season beating defending champions Argentina the biggest upset of the day. Guyana also enjoyed their first IRB outing drawing 12-12 with core side, France.
Fiji hold improved Boks
Wellington winners Fiji showed an impregnable defence in shutting out South Africa in thrilling Pool B encounter by 12-5. The Boks were much improved throughout the day led by the incisive Cecil Afrika who proved a threat all day, especially in wins over Canada (33-0) and hosts USA (33-12). Fiji also had to work hard to get past the North American teams in an absorbing group.
USA gave their fans something to shout about though with a big win over Canada giving them an easier passage through to tomorrow’s Bowl.
Pesamino a try-machine
Mikaele Pesamino dominated proceedings for Samoa on the opening day’s play at Sam Boyd stadium. His hat-trick against the Scots helped his side to a convincing 41-12 win to open their account. The winger went two better against South American qualifiers Chile going over an incredible five times in the 29-12 win, which was marred by Treviranus’s red card for Samoa.
The Samoans also beat Kenya to cement their position at the top of the group, with the Africans themselves going through with wins over Scotland (17-0) and Chile (33-7). Scotland managed the consolation of a win over the South American minnows with a 26-10 win with Lee Jones bagging a double.
New Zealand edge it
New Zealand faced an Australian onslaught in Pool A but survived in an epic encounter 12-5 thanks to captain DJ Forbes’ try.
Eartlier the Kiwis had brushed aside France (31-12) and given their replacements a run out against Guyana (49-0). Australia had already qualified for the last eight by the time they met Gordon Tietjen’s men with big wins over both France and Guyana.
Guyana’s 12-12 with France was another crowd pleaser despite the French equalising late on.
England made to work
Last year’s USA Sevens runners-up England had to settle with a 12-12 draw against Argentina on the last game of the day. Ben Ryan’s side had already qualified as top of the group with wins over Wales (26-10) and Japan (24-5). Both matches were closer then the score suggested with England occasionally struggling at the breakdown.
Wales joins England in the last eight, their first of this season. Paul John’s side crucially beat the Pumas (21-15) and Japan (22-5) to seal their route through.
USA Sevens, Las Vegas: Day 1 As it Happened
USA Sevens Cup quarter-finals:
New Zealand v South Africa
Fiji v Australia
Samoa v Wales
England v Kenya
USA Sevens Bowl quarter-finals:
France v Canada
United States v Guyana
Scotland v Argentina
Japan v Chile.
USA Sevens - Day 1 Results:
Match 1, Pool A: New Zealand 31 France 12
Match 2, Pool A: Australia 33 Guyana 0
Match 3, Pool B: Fiji 14 USA 12
Match 4: Pool B: South Africa 33 Canada 0
Match 5: Pool C: Samoa 41 Scotland 12
Match 6: Pool C: Kenya 33 Chile 7
Match 7: Pool D: England 26 Wales 10
Match 8: Pool D: Argentina 0 Japan 7
Match 9: Pool A: New Zealand 49 Guyana 0
Match 10: Pool A: Australia 38 France 0
Match 11: Pool B: Fiji 26 Canada 12
Match 12: Pool B: South Africa 33 USA 12
Match 13: Pool C: Samoa 29 Chile 12
Match 14: Pool C: Kenya 17 Scotland 0
Match 15: Pool D: England 22 Japan 5
Match 16: Pool D: Argentina 15 Wales 21
Match 17: Pool A: France 12 Guyana 12
Match 18: Pool A: USA 26 Canada 5
Match 19: Pool C: Scotland 26 Chile 10
Match 20: Pool D: Wales 22 Japan 5
Match 21: Pool A: New Zealand 12 Australia 7
Match 22: Pool B: Fiji 12 South Africa 5
Match 23: Pool C: Samoa 19 Kenya 7
Match 24: Pool D: England 12 Argentina 12
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Flickr
COMMENTS
No comments have been posted yet.
POST A COMMENT