SINGAPORE 7s: Blitzboks remain unbeaten
England bounced back from their opening match defeat to claim a convincing 40-10 victory over Japan to keep themselves in the hunt of a Cup quarterfinal spot.
Canada and Fiji remained unbeaten after their opening two matches following victories over Hong Kong and Russia, respectively to advance into the Cup quarterfinals.
Pool C has been blown wide open, as Kenya went down to 7-29 to Australia and Argentina bagged a victory 17-7 victory over Samoa. Kenya and Argentina are now locked on four points each while Australia lead the pool with six points.
New Zealand secured their spot in the Cup quarterfinals after a convincing 36-14 victory over Wales in Pool D while the USA's 33-26 victory over Scotland ensured their path into the Cup division.
All the Round Two results:
Pool A
Canada 34-0 Hong Kong
Canada opened the scoring in the second minute before stretching their lead to 19-0 at the half-time interval after scoring three tries, two of which were converted.
There was no stopping them in the second half as they scored an early unconverted try to ensure a 24-0 lead before scoring a further two unconverted tries to claim the resounding victory.
Fiji 38-7 Russia
There was no stopping Fiji in the first half as they ran in four tries, two of which converted, to claim a 24-0 lead over Russia, who failed to come to terms with the speed and strength of the Pacific Islanders.
An early second half yellow card allowed Russia to claim their only points of the game with a converted try in the ninth minute before Fiji recovered to score two converted tries of their own to bag another easy victory.
Pool B
England 40-10 Japan
England were quick out of the blocks and took a 12-0 lead by the sixth minute, compliments of two tries and one conversion. Japan ended the half on the front foot though as they bagged an unconverted effort.
England then pulled further ahead with three consecutive converted tries to claim a 33-5 lead after 14 minutes. Japan then scored their second unconverted try of the match before England closed out the match with a converted try.
South Africa 10-7 France
Siviwe Soyizwapi continued his try-scoring form as he opened the scoring in the second minute with an unconverted try. The Blitzboks managed to hold onto their slender lead from that point to head into the break with a narrow 5-0 lead.
Soyizwapi then bagged another brace when he grabbed his second try in the ninth minute to stretch South Africa's lead to 10-0 after Branco du Preez failed for the second time with the conversion. Soyizwapi then turned villain as he was shown a yellow card in the 13th minute. France took full advantage as they grabbed a converted try to reduce the deficit to 7-10.
The Blitzboks held on from that point as they bagged a hard-fought victory.
Pool C
Argentina 17-7 Samoa
Argentina got the scoring going in the fourth minute with an unconverted try before doubling their lead in the seventh minute. Samoa hit back just before the break though with a converted try to trail 7-10.
Samoa were reduced to six men in the second half and Argentina took full advantage as they scored a crucial converted try soon after to claim the 10-point lead and eventual win.
Australia 29-7 Kenya
Australia put in a dominant first half performance to take a 17-0 lead, compliments of one converted try and two unconverted efforts.
They stretched that lead to 22-0 in the 10th minute with another unconverted try before Kenya hit back in the 12th minute with their only converted try of the match. Australia closed out the match with a converted effort of their own to claim the victory.
Pool D
New Zealand 36-14 Wales
The opening minutes belonged entirely to New Zealand as they ran in two converted tries inside the first five minutes to claim a 14-0 lead but Wales hit back just before the break to narrow the deficit to 7-14.
New Zealand scored two unconverted tries in quick succession to stretch their lead to 24-7 after nine minutes before Wales reduced the deficit to 10 points following their second converted try in the 11th-minute. New Zealand had the final say though as they bagged two further tries, one converted, to remain unbeaten.
United States 33-26 Scotland
Scotland made a fast start to bag a 5-0 lead after the opening two minutes but that lead did not last long though as the USA hit back with two tries – one converted – to take a 12-5 lead after six minutes. Scotland levelled matters just before the break though as they grabbed a converted try of their own to head into the break locked at 12-12.
The United States took the lead once again in the ninth minute with a converted try before stretching their lead to 26-12 in the 10th-minute with another converted try. Scotland grabbed a converted try of their own though to make it a 19-26 game. The teams traded late seven pointers as the USA held on for the win.
View the Round One results here
Day One, Round Three Fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus eight hours)
Kenya v Samoa (17.56)
Australia v Argentina (18.18)
France v Japan (18.40)
South Africa v England (19.02)
Russia v Hong Kong (19.44)
Fiji v Canada (20.06)
Scotland v Wales (20.28)
United States v New Zealand (20.50)
