Vancouver 7s: BlitsBoks dazzle Canada
The BlitzBoks stormed past hosts Canada with 36-7 win that had the hallmark of champions all written over it.
The unbeaten United States defeated Argentina 14-12 with tries from Danny Barrett and Kurt Baker and will face South Africa in the first of the Cup semifinals.
England defeated defending Canada champions New Zealand and will play Fiji, winners against Australia, in last four.
US Eagles coach Mike Friday had a few words of warning ahead of their clash with South Africa.
"I am a bit disappointed," Friday said on Sunday.
"We haven't delivered. That is not the performance we should expect of ourselves and we need to go and have a hard look at ourselves."
England superstar Dan Norton admitted their two-point win over the Kiwis was hard work.
"We knew it would be a scrap but we stuck to the game plan, held up our hands and performed how we should do.
"An amazing stadium, we love playing here, now we just need to keep working hard."
We look at all the quarterfinal action!
Cup quarterfinals
South Africa made a huge statement from the outset of their encounter with hosts Canada. They silenced the crowd inside the first minute as Rosco Speckman raced through the traffic and gassed Canada's speedster Justin Douglas. Then, Siviwe Soyizwapi scrambled over after Specman turned provider.
Canada got themselves back in the match when Douglas finished off a lovely, sweeping move before Chris Dry got himself on the board too for the BlitzBoks.
Branco du Preez broke clear for the BlitzBoks before Cecil Afrika spun out of a last-ditch tackle to roar over the line. South Africa have so many weapons, and nullifying them all is a huge task.
There was no stopping Neil Powell's men – they were simply on fire! Cecil Afrika delivered an inch-perfect kick-pass for Siviwe Soyizwapi, who was on hand to dot down his 16th Sevens Series try, and he ices his country's win in the closing moments by completing his hat-trick in the corner.
It was seven versus six early on – as America was a man down – and Perry Baker was keeping tabs on two players. He could not stop them both, though, and Franco Sabato had great awareness of where the space was and played in Bautista Delguy to put Argentina head.
Baker responded with his electrifying pace. He's so smooth across the ground and is still one of the best finishers in the business. It's 98 tries and counting for the American speedster.
Matias Osadczuk restored Argentina's lead before the break, as American coach Mike Friday asked his team to be more physical at the breakdown in the second period.
Danny Barrett showed why he's one of the best players in the game by dotting down after showing incredible strength to fend off Fernando Luna's challenge.
Sweet conversion by Madison Hughes and the Americans lead and they held on for the win.
It was a tense start, with Dan Bibby breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute. He skipped through DJ Forbes' challenge after England sent it through the hands quickly.
Tom Mitchell sent another conversion sailing between the sticks and England hung to the break for a 7-0 lead at half-time.
DJ Forbes was at the heart of everything good about New Zealand, and the All Black Sevens star – playing in his 85th tournament – did what he has done time and again in his career by using his strength to ride tackles and dot down for his country.
However, replacement Ruaridh McConnochie produced a moment of magic for England. He came from the outside in and collected the ball from Tom Mitchell, and finished on the inside after some fancy footwork.
England then hung on to the end for a hard-earned 14-12 win.
Nick Malouf got Australia on the board after two-and-a-half minutes. James Stannard went close but didn't have the reach to dot it over the line, so Malouf grabbed it and pumped his legs across the tryline. A word too for Alex Gibbons who was also impressive in the opening stages with some quality handles of the ball.
Fiji went coast-to-coast at the other end with a bamboozling move finished off by Jerry Tuwai and the drums were banging at BC Place.
Masivesi Dakuwaqa swooped in and pounced in a flash to strike for the Fijians on the stroke of half-time.
Following the restart, we saw Fiji at their best as Mesulame Kunavula made the metres and Apisai Domolailai landed try number three.
Fiji have such class right across the field. Off went Jerry Tuwai and on came another pocket-rocket in the form of Waisea Nacuqu.
He went the distance to score his 27th Sevens Series try and seal a semifinal spot for Fiji against England. The noise blazes up another level as the awesome Fiji fans bang their drums in approvel again.
Results
South Africa 36-7 Canada
United States 14-12 Argentina
New Zealand 12-14 England
Fiji 28-10 Australia
Challenge trophy quarterfinals
Kenya will play France and Chile – who have won their first World Series match since Las Vegas in 2010 – will face Wales in the Challenge trophy semifinals.
Kenya came from behind to edge Scotland 19-17.
France and Samoa went into extra time, after being level 21-all at regulation full-time. Samoa came up with the winner.
Chile were rock solid on defence and held on for a 10-0 win against Russia.
Japan simply had no answer to Wales, who won 33-0 in a one-sided affair.
Results
Kenya 19-17 Scotland
France 21-26 Samoa (extra time – 21-all at regulation full-time)
Russia 0-10 Chile
Wales 33-0 Japan
Source: @WorldRugby7s
