Aussies star in London
Sat, 22 May 2010 14:26
Australia were the only side to end day one of the London Sevens with a 100 percent record after the opening day in the penultimate leg of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, at Twickenham on Saturday.
Australia beat England 38-5 in the final match.
Argentina recorded a shock victory against Samoa to bring the islanders' 20-match winning streak to an end and top the group. Samoa also qualify for the last eight, and face New Zealand first up on day two.
South Africa topped their group on points difference after drawing 21-21 with Fiji.
Ben Gollings crossed for his 200th IRB Sevens career try as England claimed their second victory, against Scotland.
Wales make up the Cup quarterfinalists after a 14-12 victory over Portugal.
Cup quarter finals:
Argentina v Wales
Australia v Fiji
South Africa v England
New Zealand v Samoa
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Pool A:
World Series leaders Samoa dominated Pool A early on, but suffered a shock 10-14 loss in their final match against Argentina, who topped the group ahead of the islanders on points difference.
Stephen Betham's Samoa side opened up with a convincing 38-14 victory over USA, including two tries from ever-impressive forward Alafoti Fa'osiliva. They followed up with a 41-0 trouncing of Italy, Uale Mai and Ofisa Treviranus each bagging a brace of tries to confirm their Cup quarter final place, and were expected to fare well against the erratic Pumas but came up short.
In a fine game Nicolas Bruzzone scored first for Argentina and although Uale Mai scored either side of the break, Martin Miguel Nuñez Lasalle's late effort sealed the win. As a result, Samoa finished second in the group and face the winner of New Zealand's group in the Cup quarters.
The destiny of the pool had been far from certain all day. USA recovered from their opening loss against Samoa to haul back Argentina and win 14-12 at the death, but a surprise loss against Italy in their final match gave the Pumas fresh hope of reaching the Cup quarters on points difference. They took their chance against Samoa with aplomb.
Results:
Match 1: Samoa 34-18 United States
Match 2: Argentina 29-0 Italy
Match 9: Samoa 41-0 Italy
Match 10: Argentina 12-14 United States
Match 17: United States 14-17 Italy
Match 21: Samoa 10-14 Argentina
Pool B:
New Zealand responded to Samoa's dominant start by seeing off Wales 43-5 and Portugal 35-12. Kurt Baker again impressed with quick fire hat tricks in both of the Kiwis' first two pool matches.
In the final pool match Kenya and New Zealand played out a draw, although New Zealand left it late when DJ Forbes crossed to make the final score 19-19.
Kenya, Portugal and Wales enjoyed mixed fortunes.
The Kenyans recorded a tight 17-15 victory over Portugal in their first pool match, the difference being Lavin Asego's conversion of captain Humphrey Kayange's second half try. But the African side suffered a narrow defeat to Wales, Ifan Evans, Rhys Evans (2) and Craig Hill all touching down for the reigning RWC Sevens champions and the Welsh also edged Portugal 14-12.
Results:
Match 5: New Zealand 43-5 Wales
Match 6: Kenya 17-15 Portugal
Match 13: New Zealand 35-12 Portugal
Match 14: Kenya 17-22 Wales
Match 19: Wales 14-12 Portugal
Match 23: New Zealand 19-19 Kenya
Pool C:
Fiji and South Africa both recorded two opening victories against Canada and France to secure their Cup quarterfinal places and their 21-21 draw late in the day ensured that the Boks topped the group on points difference.
The Fijians had started with a 28-19 victory over Canada, although Morgan Williams' side nearly caused the first upset of the day - 12-7 up at half-time, the Canadians were eventually beaten 28-19. Fiji then outscored France five tries to two, Randall Kamea grabbing a brace in their 29-14 win.
Reigning IRB Sevens World Series champions South Africa ensured they got off to a winning start. First they won a nervy 19-12 victory over improved France, Mzwandile Stick scoring all 14 of their first-half points, before a try from Hoffman Maritz secured the victory, and then their fitness and overall Sevens know-how proved too much for Canada, Ryno Benjamin scoring a hat trick in a handsome 43-0 win.
The Canadians won the pool's other match against France 26-5, Nathan Hirayama scoring twice.
Results:
Match 3: Fiji 28-19 Canada
Match 4: South Africa 19-12 France
Match 11: Fiji 29-14 France
Match 12: South Africa 43-0 Canada
Match 18: Canada 26-5 France
Match 22: Fiji 21-21 South
Africa
Pool D:
Twickenham hosts and defending champions England won through to the Cup quarterfinals with wins in their first two matches against Russia and Scotland. Twice they came from behind too, rewarding the 38,200 fans with a 29-5 victory against the Russians before coming back from 10-0 down against the Scots to score six tries and win 36-10. Tom Varndell scored his first tries of the tournament and captain Ben Gollings touched down for his 200th IRB Sevens career try.
Australia, who are four points ahead of England in fourth spot in the standings, were one of the form teams and won all three of their pool matches to reach the last eight. A hat-trick from Clinton Sills ensured Michael O'Connor's side ran out 43-17 victors against Scotland and they also crossed seven times in their second match, Nick Phipps and Brackin Karauria-Henry both scoring twice as they beat Russia 47-0.
A 38-5 victory against hosts England in the final match of day one ensured they qualified for the Cup quarterfinals as pool winners, with James Stannard scoring 18 of Australia's points.
Scotland won their pool's other match 24-7 against Russia, with a hat-trick of tries from Andrew Turnbull and one for Ally Hogg.
Results:
Match 7: Australia 43-17 Scotland
Match 8: England 29-5 Russia
Match 15: Australia 47-0 Russia
Match 16: England 36-10 Scotland
Match 20: Scotland 24-7 Russia
Match 24: England 5-38 Australia, 19.28
With thanks to the IRB
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