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Hong Kong 7s: Fiji, SA in Final again

The USA fought their way back into the contest to level matters with the final play of the game but a Ruhan Nel extra time try ensured that the Blitzboks have not missed out on playing in a Final since the start of the competition.

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Fiji turned on the style in the first Cup semi-final as they walked past Australia to set up the massive encounter.

After enjoying a healthy lead, Argentina found themselves trailing heading into the final play of their match with Canada but dug deep to grab a late, match-winning try to advance to the fifth-place play-off.

Argentina will face New Zealand in the fifth-place play-off after the latter saw off England 21-7.

Scotland fought back from a 12-point deficit to pip France in the Challenge Trophy semi-finals while Kenya were simply too good for Russia. Scotland and Kenya will fight it out for the Challenge Trophy.

In the 13th-place play-off, Wales proved to be too strong for Samoa while Japan coasted past South Korea.

Cup

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USA 24-29 South Africa

Madison Hughes opened the scoring in the first minute and his successful conversion handed the USA a 7-0 lead but the Blitzboks hit back through a Siviwe Soyizwapi try in the fourth minute. Branco du Preez failed with the conversion as South Africa trailed 5-7.

The Blitzboks took the lead in the seventh minute when Dylan Sage dotted down before Phillip Snyman added to that lead on the stroke of half-time. Du Preez converted both scores to ensure a 19-7 half-time lead.

Soyizwapi grabbed a double in the eighth minute to stretch the lead to 24-7 but that seemed to spark the USA into life. An 11th minute Martin Iosefo try reduced the deficit to 12 points with three minutes remaining in the match.

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Perry Baker then showed why he is such a massive threat when he grabbed two quick tries in the closing minutes. Hughes converted the first score but failed with the second – which could have handed his side the victory.

The match went to extra time, where the first team to score would advance to the Final. Ruhan Nel came up with the goods and grabbed the match-winning try.

Australia 12-33 Fiji

Fiji got on the scoreboard in the second minute with a converted try before doubling their lead just two minutes later. There was no letting up from the Fijians as they scored a further two tries to head into the half-time break with a 26-0 lead.

Australia finally got their names on the board in the 13th minute of the game but in true Fijian style, the Pacific Islanders ended the match on the front foot with a converted try to cruise into the Final.

Fifth place

Argentina 20-19 Canada

The first half belonged to Argentina as they applied all sorts of pressure on the Canadians. Three unanswered unconverted tries ensured the South Americans held a healthy 15-0 lead at the half-time interval.

Canada hit back at the start of the second half with two tries, one converted to narrow the deficit to 12-15 after 11 minutes. They then took a 19-15 lead in the 14th minute, only to see victory snatched from underneath them when Argentina dotted down during the final play of the match.

England 7-21 New Zealand

New Zealand took the game to England and were rewarded as early as the opening minute when they crossed for the game's first converted try. There was no stopping them in the opening half as they added another converted score to ensure a 14-0 lead at the half-time break.

England got themselves back into the game in the eighth minute with a converted try to narrow the deficit to 7-14 but New Zealand hit back in the 11th minute with a converted try of their own. The Kiwi's were reduced to six players in the 13th minute but England were unable to take advantage of the extra man as New Zealand advanced.

Challenge Trophy

Scotland 21-19 France

France hit the ground running and opened the scoring in the first minute before Scotland levelled matters two minutes later. France closed out the half with a second converted try to hold a 14-7 lead at the break.

France then put some breathing space between themselves and Scotland when they bagged a 10th-minute five-pointer to stretch their lead to 19-7. But then Scotland launched a comeback and narrowed the deficit to 14-19 in the 12th minute. Scotland sealed the dramatic turnaround in the final play of the game with a converted try.

Russia 5-24 Kenya

Russia were dealt an early blow when they were reduced to six men and Kenya took full advantage as they raced away to a 17-0 lead at the break, following three unanswered tries – one converted.

The African side then continued to apply the pressure and scored a further try in the 11th minute to ensure a 24-0 lead. The Russians had something to smile about in the final minute when they dotted down to avoid a whitewash.

Thirteenth place

Samoa 12-26 Wales

Samoa got the opening try in the third minute but found themselves back to level at 7-7 after five minutes as Wales got their first try of the game. Wales went into the break with a 14-7 lead as they were awarded a penalty try, following a yellow card to Samoa.

Wales extended their lead to 19-7 in the 10th minute before scoring another converted try to ensure a 26-7 lead after 13 minutes. Samoa had the final say of the match though as they dotted down in the final play to narrow the margin.

South Korea 7-36 Japan

Japan were in an unforgiving mood as they put Korea to the sword. They got the scoring underway in the second minute before scoring a further three tries to claim a 24-0 half-time lead, despite going down to six men in the sixth minute.

Japan grabbed an early second half try to ensure a 29 point lead before South Korea got something to smile about when they dotted down for their only try of the game. There was time for one final Japanese try though as they claimed the emphatic victory.

Finals fixtures: (Kick-off is local time – GMT plus eight hours)

Thirteenth play-off: Wales v Japan (17.00)

Challenge Trophy Final: Scotland v Kenya (17.30)

Fifth place play-off: Argentina v New Zealand (18.00)

Bronze Medal: Australia v USA (18.30)

Cup Final: Fiji v South Africa (19.00)

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