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more »IRB Adelaide Sevens Day 2 - As it Happened

G'day Sevens fans! Robin Heymann is Down Under bringing you up-to-date action from the fifth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Adelaide (19-21 March). New Zealand still top the pile but the likes of Samoa and Fiji are closing in fast. Let UR7s talk you through all the big hits, tries and banter from the historic Adelaide Oval this weekend.
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21:25
Tomorrow is set to be a humdinger. So many cracking games. South Africa's route to the final seems easier then then NZ,Samoa, and Fiji - but its foolish to predict, such is the uncertainty in IRB Sevens. Have an awesome night UR7s lovers and I will see you bright and early tomorrow AM. For Everything 7s... Ciao.
Reaction and Summary to come on UR7s.
21:21
Paul, Melbourne :
Shame I couldn’t make it to Adelaide this year. Aussies look good but Fiji will be so tough tomorrow. Nice to beat the Poms and send them into the Bowl!:
21:17
Bowl quarter-finals:
Tonga v France
England v PNG
Kenya v Niue
Japan v Scotland
21:14
Who would have though a Wales v USA quarter-final?! Great to see them both up there mixing with the big boys though.
21:11
England denied and this what the Cup quarter-final line-up will look like:
New Zealand v Samoa
Australia v Fiji
Wales v USA
South Africa v Argentina
21:08
Match 24: Pool D – England v Australia
Advantage England with some good build-up phase play and Turner dummying to Wade and stepping in to give England a 7-0 start. Back storm the hosts with 18-year-old Ed Quirk palming off Gollings, its recycled to Kimami Situati who levels things for the Aussies as he steps inside Brightwell. England happy to keep it tight, and it pays dividends with Turner breaking and flipping a cracking ball to Powell. 12-7 to the Poms.
Early pressure for Oz and they earn a penalty, because England are trying to keep the play cramped there is acres out wide and Kimami Situati gets his second. Conversion is missed. 12-12. England pressing hard, using Abbott, Rodwell, and Powell as battering rams and almost getting through but ref Fraser pings them. More penalties for Australia and Karauria-Henry flicks it brilliantly to Gill and its curtains for England 12-17.Or is it? England press and Wade is almost through, but is held. And England are pinged again. All over.
Result: England 12 Australia 17
20:49
Last game of the day. It’s the Ashes all over again. Australia v England. England must win to go through, if Australis take it, USA will join the Aussies in the quarter-finals. This is too tight to call...Australia are on fine form with England stuttering. But the record books favour England in IRB Sevens 21 wins compared to 14 for the Australians. The crowd are energized as ACDC pumps out at the Oval. Sensational scenes!!
20:44
Match 23: Pool A –New Zealand v Argentina
All NZ as Tokula, who starts for the first time, paces away and finds a grateful Baker for a 7-0 start. Mikkelson is all legs and is tough tow down, he shakes off a challenge, steps and cruises in. 14-0. Tokula causing all sorts of problems and his hand-off powers him away for a nicely taken try. Cama goes over before the break to make this 35-0 and it could get nasty.
Arnold picks up a loose ball and that often confuses defences, he races away 40m and does a bunny rabbit celebration (will find out what that is all about). Tupuola grabs another for NZ but Pumas show their silky skills with a no-look reverse pass from Todeschini for Tuculet, who races over for the tiniest of consolations.
Result: New Zealand 47 Argentina 7
20:31
New Zealand/Argentina now. Both are through so is just to see who will top the group. Winners will play Samoa, losers to meet South Africa. They last met back in Dubai with NZ winning 38-5. Interesting this as reckon NZ would rather face Boks then Samoa...?!
20:23
My maths tell me Wales will top Pool C through points difference with Fiji in second. Tough break on Kenya and all their fans...
20:22
Match 22: Pool C - Fiji v Kenya
Kenya start off with a high tempo but Fiji are rock tight in defence. Kenya’s tactics are to play patiently and find room for Injera, but they are being shut down. Simiyu now having a dart but to no avail. Cakau goes for a canter, spins and paces away. Votu is on his soldier and is under the H. 7-0 to Fiji. Kenya have all the ball here but Fiji shut out Simiyu.
Kenya going full tilter again but Fiji turn it over after a loose ball from Simiyu and when Tuwai spins it wide it finds Lutumailagi who might have delivered the key blow for Fiji. 12-0. That has settled it for Fiji with a quick line-out taken and it goes wide to Tuwai who uses his 17st to good use. 21-0. Great loop from the Africans and Kayange is on hand, he chips, gathers, and scores nicely. 21-7 but it is all in vain.
Result: Fiji 21 Kenya 7
20:07
Sanya Noel, Kenya :
Viva Shujaa, hope you reduce those mistakes against Fiji. Top the Pool!:
Sanya the Kenyan fans are going mad now but there are a fair few Fijian fans in the mix too enjoying the party! These two nations love their Sevens more than anyone!
20:06
Kenya and Fiji now. Straight shoot out between them to go through with Wales from Pool C. If Kenya win by 14 they will top the group, if Fiji win by 15 they will be group winners. Kenya have never beaten Fiji on the IRB Sevens. Fijian haven’t really clicked into gear yet, whilst Kenya are unbeaten and were clinical against Wales earlier today. Injera is looking hot but Fiji’s Beci is also on decent form.
20:02
Match 21: Pool B – Samoa v South Africa
Physical stuff from both sides, with Aiona and Mikaele getting stuck in. The Boks may be smaller but they are tough cookies and they hold on. Now its Horne for the Boks leading by example sucking in men with Mastriet again looking elusive for SA. Brilliant from Mikaele with sensational hands and Pesamino is on hand to round Mastriet for his eight try of the tournament. 7-0 to Samoa. Back comes Boks and that man Sampie Mastriet who takes a cracking ball off Frankie Horne. No extras. Gripping stuff Samoa 7-5
Danger for the Boks as a wild throw from a line-out sees Pesamino chip through but Du Preez makes up from his mistake with wonderful cover. Boks looking every inch the champs playing some composed Sevens. Samoa on the break though are just so lethal. Samoa get a penalty and Pesamino take it quickly cuts past a couple, then its Fa’osiliva giving it to Otto. 12-5. But the Boks aren’t finished and Afrika is breaking and Horne scores! 12-10 and kick to draw...Boks have points different advantage..so they need this one. And Afrika hits a wobbly one and its over! Boks top group.
Result: Samoa 12 South Africa 12
19:41
First up it is a Pool B decider between Samoa and South Africa. Vegas winners against the defending champions. The Boks have the better record but Samoa are the class act here in my book. It’s going to be close and tight I feel. Winner of this plays the second place team in Pool A in tomorrow quarter-finals...likely to be Argentina. Loser in all likelihood to face New Zealand. Makes this one a key clash indeed.
19:34
OK so we into the big juicy fixtures now with the top ranked 8 teams battling it out. Line up is for the last four games of the day: Samoa v South Africa, Fiji v Kenya, New Zealand v Argentina, England v Australia. The business end of Day 2.
Rather excited by that...
19:34
Al, USA:
C’mon USA, just got to hope Australia beat England now. Great work if we make the QF! :
Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com
19:28
Match 20: Pool D – USA v Nieu
Great start for Nieu with their go-to man Tony Pulu breaking a limp US tackle and racing in for an early 7-0 lead. Back comes USA though looking strong with Emerick doing some stirling work as ever. Its worked right to left and The Polar Bear himself, Matty Hawkins is in to cut the lead. Conversion is missed Malifa though. 7-5 to Nieu. US looking for points but are hunted down. Drinks.
Swiryn makes a break and feeds the danger man Edwards who races in with ease, 10-7 to USA. Swiryn is now showing his class attacking up the midfield with courage and guile. 15-7 to the US. Now it’s Barnard showing some power despite his size to make the 22-7 tally. Zac Pangelinan seals the deal with a late score and that’s 29-7 to USA. England must beat Australia to make the Cup QF, otherwise its USA who will go through.
Result: USA 29 Nieu 7
19:12
Ok so this isn’t quite the Fancy dress mecca a la Wellington/Hong Kong/Dubai. But I’ve seen some courageous attempts, we have some Smurfs, Star Wars, Panda Bears, Gladiators (with fake six packs), American Indians, Where Wallies…
USA/Nieu...if the US beat Niue, the English will need to win their final match against the hosts to qualify.
19:05
Match 19: Pool A - Scotland v Tonga
Tonga get the better start with an early try to put pressure on the Scots. Then it’s the experience of Mateo delaying the pass and being patient in finding Ma’afu. Wow, try of the tournament. Turnbull for Scotland is often having to do it himself and he steps two men then kicks ahead and touches down just before it goes dead. Great commitment. 14-7. Mateo causing real headaches for Scotland though and he breaks through again and unselfishly gives it Fifita who is under the H. 17-7 @ drinks.
Scotland try to make something happen but they are being chopped down time and time again but a rampant Tonga. Adamson is almost cut in half there! Tonga get it and build some phases before Ratu Ma’afu injects some genuine gas into proceedings and breaks away from a tiring Scottish line. 22-7 and I’m afraid Scotland will yet again through the Pool stages without a win.
Result: Scotland 7 Tonga 22
18:51
Scotland/Tonga next. These two have played five times on the circuit with Tonga winning three of them. Although saying that the last time they met was back in 2004, so a pretty irrelevant stat there apologies. Scotland are only playing with a squad of 10 here due to injuries so obviously tough for them. In other news some good old fashioned pies have appeared in the press box. Gotta love Oz.
18:48
Match 18: Pool C – Wales v Papua New Guinea
Wales off like a steam-train thirsty for points and Lee Rees, who has been given a rare start, makes hay and feeds Jevon Groves. 7-0. Groves scores again soon after great work by Craig Hill to double the Welsh advantage. Groves finishes his hat-trick a moment later and this is looking very good for Wales now at 21-0. Lloyd Williams darts over before the half is out and actually Williams grabs a cheeky opportunist try also. PNG have Levi binned and it’s been a half to forget. Wales 33 PNG 0.
Wales move on and Darren Daniel makes a min-break and that’s enough for him. He’s scored in every half. Craig Hill scores and they have now got to 47-0, enough to put them through the quarter-finals. But no a wild hack through sees Sova Milfred score for PNG and Wales need another. PNG lose Daniel Honda to the bin for an off the ball hit, Craig Hill makes them pay with that lethal hand-off he has and Wales have the required deficit. 52-5 to Wales. Rhys Jones now cuts inside and has fearsome hand-off himself on John. Ifan Evans late score is enough and Wales are through.
Result: Wales 64 PNG 5
18:30
Wales need to rack up some points here against PNG, to put pressure on Fiji and Kenya. A big win here of over 45 points will see Wales through and leave Fiji and Kenya to battle it out.
18:28
Match 17: Pool B – France v Japan
Not much going on here apart from a rowdy fancy dress crowd building in front of that famous scoreboard. Tupuailei is a brute of a player for Japan and he bounces off tackles to give Japan the lead. They score again soon after with Tupuailei again the battering ram and Tsuiki going over. 0-14 to Jap. France hit back with two scores for Albaladejo who is actually a class act stuck in a mediocre French team. 10-14 to Japan at the half.
France’s Delmas goes over early but crucially conversion is missed. France 15-14 up. France just make too many erros and again they are coughing up the ball here and Koji Wada is now breaking through for Japan and he makes the French pay with a try, and with the conversion nailed it’s 14-21 to Japan. And that’s how it remains despite Les Bleus best efforts.
Result: France 15 Japan 21
18:19
Pools Update:
Pool A: 1. New Zealand (6pts) 2. Argentina (6) 3. Tonga (2) 4. Scotland (2)
Pool B: 1. South Africa (6pts) 2. Samoa (6) 3. France (2) 4. Japan (2)
Pool C 1. Kenya (6pts) 2. Fiji (4pts) 3. Wales (4) 4. PNG (2)
Pool D 1. Australia (6pts) 2. England (4) 3. USA (4) 4. Nieu (2)
17:31
Australian Sevens Trivia: Adelaide Oval has seen some of the true greats of sports grace its turf over the years. None more than the one and only Sir Donald Bradman who scored 299* here, still the highest score. The famous scoreboard is one of the famous and historic landmarks in cricket, apparently it’s made up of bicycle springs...how old school is that! It’s a beautiful sight.
17:23
Australia/USA next! As I said earlier USA looked class yesterday. A bit of continuity in selection and Al Caravelli’s Eagles now look dangerous. Massive power and engine through Hawkins, Swiryn, and Paul ‘Cactus’ Emerick and finesse with Malifa. According to the stats these two have played 14, with Australia winning 12 of those…sod that this match will be an El Clásico.
17:21
Match 15: Pool D – England v Nieu
Gollings brilliantly uses Rodwell as a decoy and hits a perfect pass to Tom Powell who comes from depth and rounds the Nieu sweeper with ease. 7-0. England box Nieu and when its turned over Gollings has the simplest of strolls over for a try on the blind side. 14-0. Pretty comfortable as expect from a hungry England with flyer Royle getting it stepping his man and rushing in. 21-0 to England.
England again look dangerous and a sweeping move sees Turner and Caprice spread it to Barrell who at 6ft 3 and 16 stone can shift and he takes England to 26-0. Nieu make a real hash of that, spilling it and reacting slowly as replacement Jake Abbott capitalising and scoring. Youngster Ollie Lindsay-Hague is on and good interplay with Gollings sees him rush in for his first IRB try. 38-0 to England.
Result: England 38 Nieu 0
17:05
Didn’t pump into Ben Ryan yesterday following his side’s loss to USA. I’m pretty happy about that as he would not have been amused. To use a Ryan-ism his team were ‘schooled’ by the USA. It now makes their Ashes clash with the Aussies later must-win, which is going to be tough on their own patch with an increasingly partisan crowd. English first have to put aside Nieu…
17:01
Match 14: Pool A – Scotland v Argentina
Nice from the Scots with Adamson making yards and Hutton, the playmaker, busting a gut to support him and takes the pass and is in. 7-0. Pumas strike back immediately with Todeschini breaking and feeding little Diego Palma who is in. Conversion is good though and the Scots hold an advantage at the break. Big set of 7 coming up for them. Drinks.
Cracking start for the Argies here with Palma going the distance from the off. That’s his third of the tourney. Super touchline conversion to make it 14-7. Scots looking good though building and going up the middle with support coming in the pocket. Turnbull is hauled down by a swarming Pumas defense though. Great stuff. It’s turn into a scrapathon with neither side really having the flair to break each other down. Argentina do enough though and qualify for the Cup quarter-finals.
Result: New Zealand 26 Tonga 0
16:43
Can the Scots turn around their fortunes against Argentina’s Pumas here. They both met at the last leg in Vegas with the South Americans just edging it. The Pumas had to rely on a wobbly Todeschini kick to beat Tonga last night.
Katie, Christchurch, New Zealand:
Go NZ! Love the Sevens and it looks a beauty at Adelaide’s cricket cathedral! Can anyone stop Samoa though, they look awesome, :
16:40
Match 13: Pool A – New Zealand v Tonga
Kiwis start well with incisive passing as per usual with Nafi Tuitavake opening the scoring. 5-0. Moments later Toby Arnold thinks he has scored but no...ref is speaking to the touch judge and they are binning Zar Lawrence instead for foul play in the build up?! Replays show that is ridiculous as it was infact Lawrence getting speared at the breakdown! Souness grabs a score just before the break after good work from DJ Forbes. 12-0.
Scrappy start for both sides with Tietjens’ NZ side not really hitting their stride so far. Tomasi Cama, the veteran half-back restores order though for the Men in Black and converts his own kick, 19-0 to NZ. Oooh Mateo almost grabs a cheeky intercept but can’t keep hold of it. Typical stuff from Forbes leading from the front and powering through four Tongan tackles for his 60th IRB touchdown. 26-0. Kiwis through to the last-eight...standard.
Result: New Zealand 26 Tonga 0
16:21
Australian Sevens Trivia: The average age of the Australia team here is 20.3. Used as a conveyor belt for Super Rugby and Wallabies action, the likes of James O’Conner, Richard Kingi, and Luke Morahan are all products of Sevens who have recently got picked up by Super 14 franchises and represented their country in the 15-a-side game.
16:18
Match 12: Pool C – Kenya v Wales
Feisty start this with both sides going up the middle trying to suck each other in. Wales looking solid though with aggressive and swarming like beers in their ‘Away’ yellow strip. Asego gives a cracking ball to Injera who is away and twists the Wales sweeper inside out for the first try, 7-0 to Kenya. Wales come back with Williams trying his best but Kenya look rock solid, their defence has improved so much. Welsh get a penalty though and it’s worked wide to Daniel for the try. 7-5 to Kenya at half-time.
Kenya blitz Wales for the start and Injera get his hands on it and motors away. What an athlete he is. 14-5. Both sides have made a fair few errors thus far with another Kenya spill, their 4th mistake of the match. Kenya get it back and that could be the crucial blow with Simiyu showing explosive power to get away from Daniel. 19-5. Kenya into the Cup quarter-finals.
Result: Kenya 19 Wales 5
16:01
Big game now. Kenya/Wales. These two are in charge of Pool C currently and a win for either team confirms their quarter-final place. What a confidence boost yesterday’s result was for Paul John’s young guns and they will fancy it against the Shuuja. First time these two have met this season. Some Welsh fans in today, about 30 of them dressed as daffodils. Standard Kenyan contingent of course as well. Lovely.
15:56
Match 11: Pool C – Fiji v Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Great early stuff from PNG who are getting in the faces of the Fijians and trying to disrupt their rhythm. Superb tackle from PNG’s Dan Ponda but the ball is spun wide to Roko who cuts in to break the deadlock. 5-0. Tuwai is a the lynchpin for Fiji with the lanky twirling forward jinking inside and making room for a Votu score. 10-0. PNG press but its stolen by Vucago, Fiji’s captain, who races away for the try. Beci grabs another before the break and its 22-0.
Vucago shows impressive strength, determination and power to score straight after the break right up the middle. 29-0. Beci has it on his own line and he’s going for it...and brilliantly rounds his man and blazes in from 90m PNG looking to get on the score-sheet with Kuso but no its stolen and Votu’s lung busting run gets him his second.
Result: Fiji 41 PNG 0
15:56
Fiji/PNG next. Fijian great Waisale Serevi is now helping out with Papua New Guinea in a bit to improve their Sevens, which makes this match all the more interesting and spicy. With the Fijians getting humbled by the welsh yesterday, you just can’t see them not piling on the points here though.
15:36
Match 10: Pool B - South Africa v France
Try after nine seconds to Boks! Benjamin stops it with his feet from the kick-off and gets a nice bounce and races away for his 66th IRB try. 7-0. SA love that tactic using the kick for their ‘exits’ (flyers) and Afrika’s vision rewards Benjamin with another. France just can’t get out of their half and a power hand off from Du Preez on Ben Letaief gives the Boks another. 19-0 at the half.
Ball is floated wide to Sampie Mastriet, and the 19 year old is very sharp round Delmas (who isn’t slow) with ease to extend the Blitzbokke to 24-0. Explosive speed off the mark from Mastriet with a cracking step off his right for another. 31-0. Hooter goes and Minnaar aims to kick it off but instead miscues it and it works out a treat for Maritz who scores! Typical forwards hoof!
Result: South Africa 38 France 0
15:14
Boks/France. Been a rough old week for Boks coach Paul Treu, who only flew into town a matter of hours before yesterdays play due to his unwell mother back in SA. He’s one of the nicest guys in Sevens so UR7s wishes his family the best. Treu might have found another little young gem in Sampie Mastriet, who scored a hat-trick on debut yesterday.
15:11
Match 9: Pool B- Samoa v France
Samoa start as expected, like a train. Shifting the Japanese left to right before Pesamino shifting through a gap for an early 7-0 lead. 31st try of the season for him. He breaks again, and Aiono is now popping to Mai. 14-0. Carnage here as Mai runs a tempting diagonal run and Pesamino cuts inside for another. 21-0. Wow. Hat-trick time! Mai chips and Pesamino collects. We’ve only had 4min 35! 28-0. Mai causing havoc and he finds Otto whose under the H. 35-0. Japan’s Wada pulls one back for Japan from close range.
More of the same with Mai running that diagonal line and Pesamino again cutting a slashing line. 42-5 to Samoa. 5 for Pesamino! Toelupe feeds him after a turnover and he canters in. Will he match the record six tries in a IRB match? Japan press but no, Samoa turn it over and Iosua canters in from 80m, Pesamino is in support hunting the record but no, he doesn’t want to give it. 54-5. Harsh lesson for Japan who hardly touched the ball there.
Result: Samoa 54 Japan 5
14:52
Samoa are on a hot streak currently and have won their last seven matches on the trot. Their settled starting VII effectively picks itself and they have got to capitalise on this form via IRB points this weekend. Japan stand in their way here and think most people are in agreement that an Asian side should be given core status on the circuit. The Japanese are Asian Series holders and are the most likely team for that. Although they were given a harsh lesson by the Boks yesterday in their 40-0 loss.
14:45
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14:44
Weather Updates : Not quite the scorcher that we saw yesterday but its still warm, sunny and the track, being a cricket deck, is as flat as a pancake. What i'm effectively saying is that it doesn't get much better then this Sevens. Game on.
14:41
Adelaide Sevens Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, Scotland, Argentina , Tonga
Pool B: Samoa, South Africa, France, Japan
Pool C: Kenya, Fiji, Wales, Papua New Guinea
Pool D: England, Australia, USA, Nieu
14:30
Overall IRB standings: New Zealand 80, Samoa 70, Fiji 68, England 50, Australia 46, Kenya 44, South Africa 36.
14:29
Today sees the culmination of the pool games and by the close of play we will know the all important Cup quarter-final line-up for Sunday. Splendid.
14:18
Welcome back to Adelaide ladies and gents for Day 2 of the IRB Sevens. A real rip roaster yesterday evening during the first round of pool games for the sixteen teams here assembled. Shock wins for Wales and USA against Fiji and England respectively with Samoa, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya and hosts Australia looking comfortable.
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