IRB Sevens: Hong Kong, Day Two
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:49
Top seeds New Zealand marched untroubled into the Cup quarterfinals on Day Two of the Hong Kong tournament, Round Five in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series.
The runaway Series leaders, New Zealand, scored 85 points - against Tunisia and the USA, while conceding just one try - on the second day.
The Kiwis have now won 39 consecutive matches and will be favourites on the final day, Sunday, to land a title which has eluded them since 2001.
They are joined in the last eight by the other pool winners Fiji, England, Australia, Kenya and South Africa - while Wales and Samoa, who qualified as the two best second-placed teams on points difference, also advance to the Cup quarterfinals.
Earlier China provided the tournament with its first major upset early on day two, coming from behind to beat the Scots 19-12. Hong Kong might have made it two upsets for Chinese teams later on, but France fought back for a 21-21 draw to deny the hosts their first win.
With 24 teams competing in Hong Kong across six pools, rather than the usual 16 across four, only the two best runners-up will qualify for the Cup quarterfinals alongside the pool winners. As a result, points difference is crucial in determining the quarterfinal line up.
Cup quarterfinal line-up:
New Zealand v Wales
Kenya v Fiji
South Africa v Australia
Samoa v England
Follow all the Day Two action here!
Day Two - Saturday, 29 March:
Pool A
(New Zealand, USA, Tunisia, Chinese Taipei)
New Zealand's forward power was again the driving force and inspiration behind their continued dominance as they followed their 50-5 win on the opening day against Waisale Serevi's Chinese Taipei side with a comfortable victory over Tunisia, 38-0 and a final victory over the USA 47-7, in which Zar Lawrence and newcomer Nafi Tuitavake both scored two tries.
The USA finished a creditable second in the pool after battling wins over Tunisia and Chinese Taipei, but their points difference was not strong enough to secure them a prized place in the Cup quarterfinals as one of the two best runners-up. Tunisia romped past the Taiwanese in the remaining fixture.
Fixtures/results:
Match 18: USA 38 Chinese Taipei 17
Match 24: New Zealand 38 Tunisia 0
Match 30: Tunisia 66 Chinese 5
Match 36: New Zealand 47 USA 7
Pool B
(Samoa, England, Canada, Sri Lanka)
England responded to the Hong Kong crowd's considerable support by beating defending champions Samoa to top the pool. Samoa do, however, still reach the last eight where the two sides will face off again.
Samoa had looked odds-on to take the decider following their wins over Sri Lanka and Canada, Alafoti Fa'osiliva again impressing for the islanders. England's young side, though, rose to the challenge and Ben Gollings' crucial conversion of Simon Hunt's try gave them the crucial 7-5 win. Earlier Phil Mack inspired Canada to a crushing defeat of Sri Lanka.
Fixtures/results:
Match 17: England 47 Sri Lanka 7
Match 23: Samoa 36 Canada 12
Match 29: Canada 53 Sri Lanka 0
Match 35: Samoa 5 England 7
Pool C
(South Africa, Argentina, Russia, Japan)
Renfred Dazel sprinted clear on the final whistle to dash Argentinian hopes of reaching the Cup quarterfinals. The Pumas had outplayed the Boks for much of the match and led until Dazel's quick thinking clinched top spot, in doing so promoting Wales in the pecking order of second-placed sides.
The world's leading Sevens marksman Santiago Gomez Cora was earlier back on the score sheet in the Pumas' 19-5 win against Japan, while Russia finished third in the group after seeing off Japan.
Fixtures/results:
Match 16: Argentina 19 Japan 5
Match 22: South Africa 48 Russia 0
Match 28: Russia 24 Japan 12
Match 34: South Africa 19 Argentina 14
Pool D
(Fiji, Wales, Zimbabwe, Korea)
Tries by William Ryder and Lepani Nabuliwaqa helped Fiji to a 15-0 victory over Wales to top Pool D. The Welsh defended valiantly to keep out the exciting Fijians and in restricting them to three tries also protected their own points difference enough to qualify for the Cup quarters.
Ryder was also sparkling form as Fiji earlier saw off Zimbabwe 42-14 to add to their 42-7 win against Korea on day one. Two tries by Lee Williams had helped the Welsh to victory over Korea, who were also beaten by Zimbabwe.
Fixtures/results:
Match 15: Wales 34 Korea 5
Match 21: Fiji 42 Zimbabwe 14
Match 27: Zimbabwe 21 Korea 5
Match 33: Fiji 15 Wales 0
Pool E
(Kenya, Scotland, Portugal, China)
Two tries by captain Humphrey Kayange and a dramatically improved defensive effort inspired Kenya to a fine victory against Scotland, the Africans topping their pool for the first time since the 2003 Hong Kong tournament.
Earlier, China produced the shock of the tournament so far by also beating Scotland, captain Zhang 'Jonny' Zhiqiang ghosting over for the winner. The Chinese were unable, though, to follow on with victory over Portugal, Aderito Esteves and Pedro Leal each crossing for two tries in a 40-10 victory.
Fixtures/results:
Match 14: Scotland 12 China 19
Match 20: Kenya
19 Portugal 7
Match 26: Portugal 40China 10
Match 32: Kenya 19 Scotland 7
Pool F
(Australia, Tonga, France, Hong Kong)
Caleb Brown's last ditch try clinched victory for Australia against Tonga, 17-15, and top spot in the pool after earlier wins against Hong Kong and France.
Tonga slipped up against France on day one but were clinical in seeing off the hosts 56-5 in the opening match of day two to give themselves a chance before Australia dampened their spirits.
For the hosts baby-faced Keith Robertson was in inspired form as Hong Kong drew 21-21 with France, condemning them to life outside the Cup competition.
Fixtures/results:
Match 13: Tonga 56 Hong Kong 5
Match 19: Australia 17 France 12
Match 25: France 21 Hong Kong 21
Match 31: Australia 17 Tonga 15
Results: Day One - Friday, 28 March:
Match 1: Australia 24 Hong Kong 12
Match 2: Kenya 47 China 0
Match 3: Fiji 42 Korea 7
Match 4: South Africa 40 Japan 7
Match 5: Samoa 35 Sri Lanka 7
Match 6: New Zealand 50 Chinese Taipei 5
Match 7: Tonga 7 France 21
Match 8: Scotland 26 Portugal 10
Match 9: Wales 34 Zimbabwe 0
Match 10: Argentina 26 Russia 0
Match 11: England 24 Canada 12
Match 12: USA 26 Tunisia 21
Fixture: Day Three - Sunday, 30 March:
Match 37: Bowl quarterfinal, Zimbabwe v Chinese Taipei, 09.45
Match 38: Bowl quarterfinal, Japan v Hong Kong, 10.07
Match 39: Bowl quarterfinal, China v Korea, 10.29
Match 40: Bowl quarterfinal, Sri Lanka v Russia, 10.51
Match 41: Plate quarterfinal, Argentina v Scotland, 11.13
Match 42: Plate quarterfinal, Tonga v Portugal, 11.35
Match 43: Plate quarterfinal, France v Tunisia, 11.57
Match 44:
Plate quarterfinal, Canada v USA, 12.19
Match 45: Cup quarterfinal, New Zealand v Wales, 12.41
Match 46: Cup quarterfinal, Kenya v Fiji, 13.03
Match 47: Cup quarterfinal, South Africa v Australia, 13.25
Match 48: Cup quarterfinal, Samoa v England, 13.47
Match 49: Bowl semifinal, 14.48
Match 50: Bowl semifinal, 15.10
Match 51: Plate semifinal, 15.32
Match 52: Plate semifinal, 15.54
Match 53: Cup semifinal, 16.16
Match 54: Cup semifinal, 16.38
Match 55: Bowl Final, 17.25
Match 56: Plate Final, 17.52
Match 57: Cup Final, 18.20
With thanks to the IRB
