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Live Text Commentary
2010 IRB Hong Kong Sevens - Day 3

IRB Hong Kong Sevens - Sun 28 March 2010 (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Perth, Manila

UR7s’ Robin Heymann is back where he likes it best. It’s Hong Kong Sevens time! The sixth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series sees leading contenders battle it out for 30 valuable IRB points. It’s a definitive part of the season with New Zealand holding a two point lead over red hot Samoa. Join UR7s for Live updates keeping you posted of the action on the pitch and in the legendary South Stand in So Kon Poh.

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com
 

22:13

Thanks for joining me folks, what a three days it has been. This tournament is one of the major reasons that this sport got into the Olympics and he has yet again lived up to the highest of expectations. Samoa and New Zealand in complete control in the IRB race now and I can't wait for the last two tournaments of the year in London and Edinburgh!

21:52

IRB Standings:

Samoa 124
New Zealand 121
Fiji 94
Australia 78
England 74

21:50

Fireworks screaming as Samoa lift the title again, they are in tears with emotion. This means so much to their people back home let me tell you..

21:49

South Stand Text Update: Great final the South Stand enjoyed that and we’re staying for the presentations. Pesamino is awesome. Disco Dave:

21:46

An utterly absorbing final. Thought New Zealand had it but brilliant ticker shown by Samoa. That man Pesamino again did. They now lead the IRB Series and no-one cany say they don't have the tools to win. It's a hat-trick of IRB wins this year.

21:37

Cup Final: Samoa v New Zealand

Tokula breaks and feeds it inside to the man-of-the moment Kurt Baker. 7-0. Baker on absolute fire, fending Fa’osiliva and roaring in from 45m to make this 14-0 already. Huge grin on Kurt’s face, that his ninth this w/e! Ball is loose and Pesamino has it he makes yards..then pulls up with cramp..but he gets the offload away and Mikaele is in. Samoa 5 NZ 14. Some fisticuffs on the far side, Mai and Souness .Mai throws a left hook and is binned. Bad news for Samoa. Bit Otto breaks for them and chips, but is taken out by Baker. Binning for Baker, his third in two tournaments. Mikaele makes NZ pay crashing over under the H. 12-14 to NZ at break.

Otto is a class, sucking men in and releasing Pesamino beautifully and the IRB’s leading man crosses and Samoa have the initiative at 17-14. Great kick from Lawrence pinning Samoa back. OUCH, massive double hit on NZ’s Souness. Is that the game? Samoa break with men scattered all over the park and Treviranus pops in side to Pesamino and who is simply too quick. 24-14 to Samoa. NZ pressurise but Samoan forwards heroic in quelling them. Hooter goes, Samoa has done it, play continues though and Arnold scores for NZ it’s too late. SAMOA WIN HONG KONG.

Result: Samoa 24 New Zealand 21

21:06

Jon Bolter, UR7s Blogger:
Samoa v New Zealand, lovely. Going to be a really interesting game, if history has told us anything then it’s pretty difficult to dominate a nation consistently in the way Samoa have New Zealand. The kiwis are due a win and I thought Samoa looked a little off point against England when defending. Kiwis to stop the rot and win the final by a couple of scores.

21:03

National Anthem time in HK! Flashbulbs going mental.

21:01

Samoa has had the wood over New Zealand for most of this year. They beat them in George, Wellington, Vegas, and last week in Adelaide. Both sides have two wins so far on the Series, with Samoa going for a hat-trick of IRB wins. Can Gordon Tietjens’ kiwis stop the rot? NZ hold the slender two point Series lead though. What a grand finale we have in store.

21:01

Samoa/New Zealand for the crown jewels. Who is going to be crowned 2010 Hong Kong winners? Spine tingling anticipation.

20:58

Plate Final: Australia v South Africa

Brackin-Karauria is so tough to drop he ricochets off a few defenders then feeds Robbie Coleman who is under the H. Wow, take a bow Sampie Mastriet, as he skins his man and shoots in to give the Boks some parity. 7-5 to OZ. Boks push but make some elementary errors that has blighted them for most of the year. Drinks and plenty to ponder for respective coaches.

Boks wins a penalty..and decide to kick for goal. Afrika hooks it badly and the crowd rip into him. Aussies make them pay though with Stannard picking up some loose ball and hitting Coleman who just has the legs for the corner. 12-5 to OZ. Boks make more errors and they weren’t at the races there. Silverware and 12 points to Australia.

Result: Australia 12 South Africa 5

20:38

Australia/South Africa now for the Plate. Interesting match-up that could go either way. Think the Boks might have too much though with Mick O'Connor's Aussies suffering from a few injuries.

20:35

Streakers v Security : Right we've had a couple more. One little boy ran on and just made it back, but that wasn't a proper streak. Now we have another kid in a tiger's costume. He legs it from the North Stand to the adoring South Stand fans and climbs the posts! He is now dancing on the crossbar?!! He gets down skins three security guards but is slammed against the horadings eventually. I salute you sir. Streakers 2 Security 3

20:31

Bowl Final – Wales v Canada

Canada all over the welsh and an early Thyssen de Goede try after Dala’s break is what they deserve. They are then coming down the near side and using their forwards to make in-roads. They have acres left and they use it well with O’Toole on hand. 14-0. Wales really flat and just can’t get the ball, missed tackles and Ciaran Hearn is in. 21-0. Horror show for Wales. Canada work the phases, Wales slow to retreat and Mack in for Maple Leafs.28-0. What can Wales coach Paul John say to his troops after that?!

Welsh finally on board with the industrious Rhys Webb giving a long ball to Shellard who is in. 28-5. Wales tackling is poor and Mack pulls the strings for Canada giving Trainor a score. 35-5. Individual brilliance from the diminutive Lee Jones winning the race to his kick. 35-12. Evans grabs another for Wales but they lost this in the first half’s debacle.

Result: Wales 17 Canada 35

20:14

Wales/Canada now for the Bowl. The Maple Leafs actually beat them the last time they player, here in Hong Kong last year. Who is going to walk away with the 5 IRB points?

20:09

South Stand Text Update: Wow crowd gone wild here for that Hong Kong win, pumped us up after the England loss. Bring on the finals and our final night in Hong Kong Disco Dave:

20:06

Shield Updates : Hong Kong delighted the 30,000 fans with a win in the Shield, Rowan Varty's try proving the winning one in the 17-19 win over Russia. Great scenes here as the fans lap it up and Dai Rees and the rest of the Hong Kong team ecstatic! Adding to the magic in So Kong Poh. Good on them, delighted for Rowan Varty, watch out for his blog next week!

19:58

Hong Kong Sevens Flashback: Samoa last won the Hong Kong Sevens back in 2007 with Mai, Lui and Pesamino all involved. They beat Fiji 27-22 with a national holiday called back home.

19:53

Marshal, Samoa :
Three titles-in-a-row please Samoa you can do it. Please do it for us back home!

Tony, NZ :
New Zealand coming good at the right time. Baker on fire!

19:26

Fair play, Samoa and New Zealand had the edge over the rest this weekend. The two in the IRB Sevens to battle it out for 30 points and the glory of 2010 Hong Kong winners. Both have two title apiece so far this season. It couldn't be poised better.

19:22

Cup SF – Fiji v New Zealand

This is going at a million miles per/hour as Fiji break the deadlock. Votu doing brilliantly to sweep up some loose ball and finds Etonia Naba. 7-0. Back comes NZ though through Kurt Baker, who really is a class act. 7-7. Roko punts it forward and that is an outrageous bounce with Votu collecting and dotting under the H. Forbes is so determined and he is light on his feet evading men. Cama nails the kick and we have a 14-14 ball game. Tokula pulled down just short but Baker goes in blind and NZ has lead at 14-19.

Forbes having a massive game and he fends off Kolinisau and feeds Baker who is over for his hat-trick in front of the South Stand. 14-26 to NZ. Plenty of time for Fiji though and Vucago explodes, hands-off his man and finds Rokobuli who canters in. 21-26 to NZ still. Mikkelson cuts in off his wing for NZ and guess who is on hand. Yep, Kurt Baker’s 4th try and NZ up 21-33. Late one for Fiji’s Waisale Beci, but the hooter goes and NZ will face Samoa in the final.

Result: Fiji 28 New Zealand 33

19:06

When you think of Hong Kong, you think of amazing New Zealand/Fiji. Here they meet yet again in what could be a special semi-final. Again so tough to call because defending HK champs, Fiji, are so unpredictable and both sides have looked sharp this weekend. They met last weekend in Adelaide in the Plate with the kiwis giving them a bit of a spanking. This will go the wire though.

19:01

Cup SF – Samoa v England

Advantage Samoa, Pesamino receives an inside ball and just lights it up on a diagonal run past Lindsay-Hague. 7-0 to Samoa. Brilliant strength form Brightwell going through three Samoans to pull one back for England. Gollings nails his kick. 7-7. England missing tackles and against these boys that means points. Ever-present Fa’osiliva on hand to restore Samoa’s lead. 14-7. Series of penalties for England and Lindsay-Hague’s quick tap and shimmy gets him in. No extras though. Samoa 14 England 12.

Lovely from Gollings breaking and then dabbing a chip through to Matt Turner who picks up to give England the lead. 14-19 to the England. Samoa just won’t give you any rest and from a penalty Pesamino has it and his sees a forward in front of him kicks ahead and wins the race. 21-19 to Samoa. All Samoa now and their ball support is phenomenal as Lui goes over and then slots it form the touchline. 28-19 Samoa muck a clearance up and Rodwell is in late but it is too late.

Result: Samoa 28 England 24

18:42

Cup semi-final time. Samoa/England. This really is the big time and you feel the Samoans with their vastly experienced squad are ready for it more then England’s green and raw youngsters. At half-back Uale Mai, the master, against Lindsay-Hague, the young pretender. Samoa doing what Fiji did last year timing their run well after a low-key pool qualification stage. What Samoa don’t have though is the incredible ex-pat support that are going to drive England on.

18:21

What about Kenya?

’Ruggerbug’UR7s Blogger:
We seem to be having a major problem putting ball to hand and don't seem to have any set piece moves. Our only hope seems to be to use the space and that is only the space out wide. We're being shut down so easily we are now confused about where to go. We need to start creating space in the middle as well, to create options, and to keep the defence guessing.

18:20

South Africa just can’t seem to get past that quarter-final stage this season. Must be frustrating for Paul Treu but as he has maintained this is a rebuilding year and he has some wonderfully talented youngsters who can only benefit from these experiences. It’s a re-match from yesterday where South Africa proved far too good for Kenya winning 17-21.

18:15

Plate SF – USA V Australia

USA bossing this but not getting over. Aussies can’t get their hand on the pill with Emerick and Hawkin’s work-rate first class. Eventually they shirt it right to Swiryn who is too strong for the likes of 17-year old Gill. 5-0. Back come Australia though with a typical Karauria-Henry break giving Coleman a try. 5-7 to OZ. Suniula breaks for US and is away but he overcomplicates his pass and its snapped by Stubbs who races in for Oz. 5-14.

Suniula makes up for his earlier blunder and steps off his left past a stranded Stannard and the US are back but still down 12-14. Aussies press but the US hold and they are blowing hard. Got to say the US Skill coach is doing his job, their hands are superb out there. But Situati injects some real energy into the Australian’s attack supporting form his initial break and going over for the winning score. 12-21 to OZ.

Result: USA 12 Australia 21

18:01

Can the USA get the energy levels back up for this clash against Australia? Saying that the Aussies would have been gutted about falling just short against the Poms earlier. US are down to 11 fit men with Nick Edwards not featuring today.

18:00

Sure the four Plate semi-finalists will be pretty gutted they didn’t make it through further in the Cup but there are some decent points left for them if they want it. They are guaranteed eight points already but the winners can walk away with 16 in total.

17:58

Bowl Updates :Wales got the better of Scotland of Wales in an exciting Celtic clash in the first semi-final. Bramwell, Rees, Webb and Cuthbert crossing the 26-7 win. Canada booked their spot in the final, surviving a late Portugal comeback to win 26-24.

17:33

Lot of support for Samoa and Fiji on the UR7s comments boards and facebook fan page. What do you think? Who will be crowned kings of HK this year?

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

17:27

Streakers v Security : One bloke obviously got over excited right after those quarter-finals and made a dash form the West Stand, he covered about 1m of grass before begin slammed down WWE style, boos from the crowd and a prison food tonight for the streaker. Streakers 1 Security 2.

17:24

Shield Updates : Hong Kong went through to the final thanks to Rowan Varty's hat-trick, winners 26-19 over Italy. Russia showed nerve to dislodge Zimbabwe 14-17 with Vladimir Ostroushko's two tries getting his side into the final.

16:13

Traditional parade going on now and it really is a pleasure to be here. Amazing weather, amazing tournament, amazing atmosphere. I love it.

South Stand Text Update: Crowd loved that England game, lot of grown men hugging. Emotional! Really come alive in the South Stand. The best seat in Rugby... Jonty:

16:11

Eric, Hong Kong :
I love this place and this tournament. Go Hong Kong and England. Special times, Sevens is simply the best

Nicky, NZ :
New Zealand are ruthless at the mo, can’t see them losing...But Fiji are well.. Fiji...! Love the magic of HK

16:07

Essential Cantonese:Kin lam yan, sam dim sik,gow do lor pet tung (This Mankini is a pain in the bum)

15:49

Hong Kong Cup semi-finals:

Samoa v England
Fiji v New Zealand

Plate semi-finals:

USA v Australia
South Africa v Kenya

15:47

Cup QF – Kenya v New Zealand

Kenya off to a blistering start with Victor Sudi Simiyu making a lovely break with Kayange, something like back to his best form, cruising in with Baker giving up. 7-0. NZ strike though with Cama’s break, they win a penalty though and Tokula is in. NZ getting more ball and Baker is involved, Souness delays his pass and Cama is in. 7-14. Forbes really is an imposing character for NZ snarling at a breakdown then breaking and finding Mikkelson. 19-7 to NZ at drinks.

Flat second half this as Kenya go on the attack but they are looking a little bit predictable and lacking the energy and their usual spark. Kiwis just containing them but they only have a two try lead – nothing in Sevens. Impenetrable wall from the Men in Black, but it is finally breached when Asego finally get in at the end of one. But the hooter goes and it is going to be yet another Fiji/NZ match-up in Hong Kong later!!

Result: Kenya 12 New Zealand 21

15:31

Last year I watched in disbelief as New Zealand were stunned by Kenya in the quarter-finals. Can lightening strike again? Tietjens’ men have looked really clinical this weekend...but that doesn’t mean much on knockouts day. Kenya’s Shuuja big underdogs here, they need something special from Simiyu, Injera, and Kayange. Who will meet Fiji?

15:26

Cup QF – Fiji v South Africa

Sampie Mastriet makes a break and its recycled right where the Boks have floods of numbers and big bustling Frankie Horne makes it 0-5 to SA. Roko and Kolinisau ripping into SA and Pio Tuwai comes from depth right under the H. 7-5 to Fiji, some try that. Boks cough it up and Jiuta Lutumailagi doesn’t need a second invitation. Fiji has some room at 14-7. This is squeaky bum stuff.

All Boks here and Mastriet again causes panic in Fiji’s ranks. It comes back and Benjamin runs that familiar slashing line for a 7 pointer. 14-12 to Fiji still. Boks enjoying possession but Fiji hold, Naba making an important tackle. Big hit form SA’s Mbiyozo but the clock is ticking and they need some magic now. Ouch big Fiji hit and its heart-break for SA. Defending champs Fiji through.

Result: Fiji 14 South Africa 12

15:08

What a game, the crowd in delirium for England there. They meet Samoa later.

Fiji/South Africa next. In the first three tournaments of the year Fiji beat South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals. But Paul Treu’s Boks did beat the Fijians the last time these two played in Vegas. Just got a feeling about South Africa but saying that Fiji were imperious in their win over USA last night...I don’t have a clue!

15:05

Cup QF – England v Australia

Brilliant feet from Lindsay-Hague and he hits Wade who powers through explosively for an early 5-0 lead for Eng. Aussies put a great kick through and win an attacking line-out. Nice set move and Gill is the architect setting up Kimami Situati, 5-5. England on their own line and it’s spun to Wade who again accelerates, shakes off Karauria-Henry, and screeches in from 75m. 12-5 Eng. This is a defensive horror show, as Aussies breakout with Stubbs finishing in front of the South Stand, 12-12. Half-time and some Lady Gaga.

Turner is dispossessed and the Aussies make him pay with breaks from Coleman and Stubbs and Karauria-Henry going over. 12-19 to Oz. England hit back. Again from their own line and Rodwell, England’s best forward this weekend, gallops in from 60m! 19-19, amazing. Lindsay-Hague saves England’s bacon on their own line and this is pulsating at 19-19 still. England have it! Pandemonium as Turner breaks, feeds Gollings and Powell is over right in front of a rocking South Stand!

Result: England 26 Australia 19

14:46

Reaction from Aussie skipper Pat McCutcheon:
"To get over England, we're going to have to continue to work hard on our discipline and not give away too many penalties while keeping a good defensive structure.”

And England coach Ben Ryan:
“The crowd here are awesome and are giving us that tempo. We haven’t fired this year but they helping massively especially as some of the other teams might be a bit fatigued. We have a chance we are in the quarters...Australia will be the favourites though.”

14:46

Arguably the closest quarter-final tie will be between England and Australia. They met last week Down Under with Mick O’Connor’s men just winning 17-12. This will be just as close. England love Hong Kong though and the ex-pat laden South Stand are right up for this.

14:45

Cup QF – Samoa v USA

Pesamino rounds Swiryn ridiculously easy and is away but his kick ahead is too heavy. Mai snipes and Fa’osiliva runs a lovely inside line and is in. 5-0 to Samoa. US build and Emerick is the American All Action Hero battering the Samoans with Swiryn’s hands superb too. They must convert this pressure. Malifa changes direction of attack and Hawkins’s depth is superb. Kick is good from Malifa. 5-7 to USA! Drinks.

Magnificent leap from Swiryn at the re-start but the Samoans get a a penalty and Mai goes all the way form 60m with the US dozing. 12-7 to Samoa. Samoa so good at that re-start and Otto cuts past Bokhoven like he wasn’t there. 17-7 Samoa. Game Over? Simple hands and the unusually quiet Pesamino finally gets his try in the corner. Brilliant kick from Lui. 24-7. Samoa just turned it on spectacularly there.

Result: Samoa 24 USA 7

14:23

USA got dusted up by a rampant Samoa in last week’s Adelaide final, although as Dallen says it was a massive triumph for the Americans to be there. Can they get their revenge. On paper perhaps not, but Samoa were far too casual yesterday and they can’t afford to be casual here. Great match-ups on show. Mai v Barnard. Pesamino v Swiryn, Fa’osilivia v Hawkins. Let’s do this.

14:13

First quarter-final coming up. Samoa/USA.

Dallen Stanford, Former USA Eagle and UR7s Blogger:
What a result for the USA! Going through to their first ever Hong Kong Cup quarter-final (as far as I know)! Pipping Argentina by 1 point in the points difference to qualify.Times are indeed changing!! Caravelli must now be almost 6 foo...or maybe not!

14:10

South Stand Text Update: “I’m still standing! Just. One day left and the sun is shining in the South Stand with real expectation for the quarter-finals. Lot of morph suits today with a fair few Avatar characters too. Sat next to five Ronald Macdonalds too.." Jonty:

13:39

Plate Updates : Wales dug deep to beat Argentina in the quarter-finals, Nicky Thomas’ try the winner. Scotland got the better of Japan, but only just, with Stevie Gemmell’s team going through 10-12. Canada overcame Tonga 26-0 with the Portugese beating France 17-7 in a fiery quarter-final clash.

13:23

Email views and comments to: livetext@ur7s.com

Rene, Samoa Fan :
Come Samoa make it three-in-a-row for us proud fans. Beware the New Zealander’s though!! Go!

13:05

Message from the stadium's PA:

" South Stand, It is a very hot dayyou must keep up the in-take of fluids."

Don't think that will be a problem mate...

13:02

Shield Updates : Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs swept aside Thailand 43-12 in the first quarter-final, Gardener Nechironga continuing his solid form with two tries. China and Russia, both countries with huge Olympic potential, met in the second quarter-finals with the Russians too strong winning 17-31.

Yiu Kam Shing Salom and Keith Robertson both picked p doubles in the 31-14 win over Korea and Italy sent Chinese Taipei home 45-12.

12:53

Here are what points are on offer today for the teams. With 24 teams here it is slightly different to the usual 16 team offerings.

Cup Winners -30
Cup Runners-up - 24
Cup Semi-Finals (2) - 20

Plate Winners - 16
Plate Runners-Up - 10
Plate Semi-Finals (2) - 8

Bowl Winners - 5

12:49

Streakers v Security : If you remember I started this on Day 1 (Friday). Keeping score on how many naked imposters on the field of dreams can make it past security to the safety of the stands! It was 1-0 to the Streakers from Friday but there was one more yesterday. One chap looked a bit unsteady on his feet and just ran in circles on the half-way line baffling the security in a Laurel and Hardy moment, he was promptly dealt with in the end though. Streakers 1 Security 1. Expect lots more today.

12:46

Weather Updates : It’s a beauty in So Kon Poh! Perfect temp with the sun streaming down on the usual smoke filled skyline in HK. There could be some frazzled characters come this evening in the Spouth Stand if they don’t lotion up. Pitch should be nice and dry (although is cutting up a tad) so we should see some flair filled stuff.

12:41

Check out today's Cup quarter-final draw....mouth-watering hey?

Cup quarter finals:
Samoa v USA
England v Australia
Fiji v South Africa
Kenya v New Zealand

12:40

Hi there. These early starts here at the Hong Kong Sevens are killing me but when it is the knockout stages on the final day of tournament it’s not that difficult to get out of bed. This is it guys...

We’re into the business end and by the end of play we might start to really know who is one step closer to 2009/10 IRB Sevens glory.