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CAPE TOWN 7s 2016
SOUTH AFRICA beat Argentina to lift the inaugural HSBC Cape Town Sevens and a third successive Cup victory on home soil, having won the 2013 and 2014 Port Elizabeth Sevens.
In the final the Blitzboks came from 7-0 behind to win 29-14 thanks to tries from Rosko Specman (2), Seabelo Senatla (2) and Ryno Benjamin against a Los Pumas side appearing in their first final since the 2009 USA Sevens in San Diego. Earlier, Juan de Jongh, Specman and Philip Snyman scored for Neil Powell's side in their 21-12 semi-final win over France.
HIGHLIGHTS
The result puts South Africa second in the series with 35 points behind Fiji (35), who won the Plate by beating the USA 29-19, on points difference. Mike Friday's USA sit third (29), while Santiago Gomez Cora's Argentina are fourth (29), also on points difference.
It was an enthralling day of sevens to end the weekend where 106,202 fans turned out over the two days at the Cape Town Stadium, with the entertainment hitting the heights many suggested were last seen at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.
France, who were 11th overall last season, finished third beating Kenya 28-26 with a last-minute try and conversion from Julien Candelon and Terry Bouhraoua while none of the Dubai Sevens Cup semi-finalists made it to the same stage a week later.
In the quarter-finals France beat Fiji, South Africa proved too strong for Australia and Argentina defeated New Zealand for only the sixth time and first since 2006, with a dramatic sudden-death extra-time drop-goal penalty from Bautista Ezcurra. Mike Friday suffered defeat to his old side as two tries apiece from Collins Injera and Willy Ambaka were enough for Kenya to beat USA 26-10.
There was similar entertainment in the semi-finals as Frank Wanyama set up a nail-biting finish in Kenya's defeat to Argentina. Having scored out wide to bring the scores to 24-22, Biko Adema had a chance to take the match to extra time but his conversion hit the post for Los Pumas to survive by the skin of their teeth.
DUBAI CHAMPIONS WIN PLATE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Vatemo Ravouvou scored twice for Ben Ryan's side in a 29-19 victory over USA to win the Plate having earlier been defeat by France, only the fourth time in history and first since 2012, in the Cup quarter-finals with Sacha Valleau scoring to clinch a 17-14 win.
SCOTLAND BEAT AULD ENEMY IN BOWL
Scotland won all three of their matches on day two of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens, beating Samoa, Wales and then England to win the Bowl at the Cape Town Stadium and claim eight series points. With one eye on the Olympics Scotland players would have wanted to impress England coach Simon Amor, who is also involved with the Team GB coaching set up, and they did just that with a 19-0 win.
"Can't really beat it," said captain Scott Wight. "Getting England and turning them over is great. We've reaped the benefits of better defence this week. The boys attitude in the tackle has been magnificent."
SAMOA FINISH 2015 ON A HIGH
Samoa, who almost topped the France and New Zealand pool on day one, ended the HSBC Cape Town Sevens on a high with a 40-5 win over Russia to lift the Shield. "We've finished on the front foot," said coach Damian McGrath. "I'm pleased with the performances, if not the results. We are heading in the right direction and this weekend has shown anyone can beat anyone."
A day of thrills and spills at the second round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series as Kenya reach the Cup quarter-finals and South Africa and New Zealand bounce back from defeats to qualify.
Kenya join the top seeds in the Cup quarter-finals after ending day one of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens with two wins and a draw while hosts and defending champions South Africa beat England 10-0 in the final match of the day to book their place in the last eight.
POOL A
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL B
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL C
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL D
1 
2 
3 
4 
Juan de Jongh began proceedings before Ryno Benjamin confirmed the win in the second half to the delight of the home crowd with the Blitzboks a defeat away from missing out on the Cup competition for the first time since the 2013 Hong Kong Sevens having earlier lost to Kenya, who remained unbeaten heading into day two, 14-12.
Neil Powell's side face Australia in a repeat of Dubai’s Plate final in the quarters, while runners-up England play in the Bowl on day two, their first appearance in that competition since the 2013 Port Elizabeth Sevens, after suffering defeat to South Africa and drawing to Kenya 19-19 in their opening match.
Elsewhere, series leaders Fiji and Australia were the only sides to win all three of their matches at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium, with the second round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series throwing up lots of thrills and spills in front of 55,000 fans.
For Ben Ryan's side, who scored 129 points and 21 tries, their three pool wins means they have won 33 of their last 33 pool matches with London 2014 the last time they suffered defeat, to Australia 24-12. The Dubai champions will play France on day two in Cape Town after the Les Bleus qualified on points scored following a 26-26 draw with Canada in their final match of day one.
New Zealand suffered defeat to Canada for only the second time in history but Sir Gordon Tietjens' side bounced back to top Pool D with a 19-10 win over Samoa to set up a quarter-final with Argentina.
The USA, who missed out on top spot in their pool by giving away a penalty with the scores tied against Australia and allowing 18-year-old and debutant Henry Hutchinson to claim the win for Scott Bowen's side, play Kenya - Mike Friday set to come head to head with his former side.
SATURDAY 12th DECEMBER |
|||||||
1 |
10:15 |
USA |
26-19 |
WALES |
POOL C |
||
2 |
10:37 |
AUSTRALIA |
45-0 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
3 |
10:59 |
FIJI |
34-19 |
SCOTLAND |
POOL A |
||
4 |
11:21 |
ARGENTINA |
33-5 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
5 |
11:43 |
NEW ZEALAND |
19-14 |
FRANCE |
POOL D |
||
6 |
12:05 |
SAMOA |
24-5 |
CANADA |
POOL D |
||
7 |
12:27 |
ENGLAND |
19-19 |
KENYA |
POOL B |
||
8 |
12:49 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
26-5 |
ZIMBABWE |
POOL B |
||
9 |
13:36 |
USA |
52-7 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
10 |
13:58 |
AUSTRALIA |
21-14 |
WALES |
POOL C |
||
11 |
14:20 |
FIJI |
52-0 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
12 |
14:42 |
ARGENTINA |
19-14 |
SCOTLAND |
POOL A |
||
13 |
15:04 |
NEW ZEALAND |
12-24 |
CANADA |
POOL D |
||
14 |
15:26 |
SAMOA |
19-22 |
FRANCE |
POOL D |
||
15 |
15:48 |
ENGLAND |
43-0 |
ZIMBABWE |
POOL B |
||
16 |
16:10 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
12-14 |
KENYA |
POOL B |
||
17 |
16:57 |
WALES |
40-5 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
18 |
17:19 |
USA |
21-26 |
AUSTRALIA |
POOL C |
||
19 |
17:41 |
SCOTLAND |
33-10 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
20 |
18:03 |
FIJI |
43-0 |
ARGENTINA |
POOL A |
||
21 |
18:50 |
FRANCE |
26-26 |
CANADA |
POOL D |
||
22 |
19:12 |
NEW ZEALAND |
19-10 |
SAMOA |
POOL D |
||
23 |
19:34 |
KENYA |
36-0 |
ZIMBABWE |
POOL B |
||
24 |
19:56 |
ENGLAND |
0-10 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
POOL B |
||
SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER |
|||||||
25 |
10:36 |
SCOTLAND |
26-14 |
SAMOA |
BOWL QF |
||
26 |
10:58 |
WALES |
21-21 |
ZIMBABWE |
BOWL QF |
||
27 |
11:20 |
CANADA |
55-0 |
RUSSIA |
BOWL QF |
||
28 |
11:42 |
ENGLAND |
49-7 |
PORTUGAL |
BOWL QF |
||
29 |
12:04 |
FIJI |
14-17 |
FRANCE |
CUP QF |
||
30 |
12:26 |
AUSTRALIA |
5-25 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
CUP QF |
||
31 |
12:48 |
NEW ZEALAND |
19-22 |
ARGENTINA |
CUP QF |
||
32 |
13:10 |
KENYA |
26-10 |
USA |
CUP QF |
||
Shield Semi Final (33)
Samoa 33-0 Zimbabwe
Shield Semi Final (34)
Russia 38-5 Portugal
Bowl Semi Final (35)
Scotland 29-14 Wales
Bowl Semi Final (36)
Canada 14-21 England
Plate Semi Final (37)
Fiji 39-19 Australia
Plate Semi Final (38)
New Zealand 14-28 USA
Cup Semi Final (39)
France 12-21 South Africa
Cup Semi Final (40)
Argentina 24-22 Kenya
SHIELD FINAL
SAMOA 40-5 Russia
BOWL FINAL
SCOTLAND 19-0 England
PLATE FINAL
FIJI 29-19 USA
THIRD PLACE
FRANCE 28-26 Kenya
CUP FINAL
SOUTH AFRICA 29-14 Argentina
POOL A |
POOL B |
POOL C |
POOL D |
HOSTS, the Springbok Sevens will play against England, Kenya and Zimbabwe on match day one, following World Rugby’s announcement of the pools for round two of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at the Cape Town Stadium.
The draw for the HSBC Cape Town Sevens was made the night before the Cup final at the opening round of the Series in Dubai, with winners Fiji heading Pool A at the sold-out Cape Town Stadium.
Ben Ryan's Fiji will come face to face with Argentina, Scotland and Russia, while the runners-up England compete against three African opposition in hosts and defending champions, South Africa, Kenya and the only non-core side at the tournament, Zimbabwe.
After their two victories over New Zealand helped USA to finish third in Dubai, Mike Friday's side will play Australia, Wales and Portugal.
New Zealand, having finished fourth in Dubai, complete the top four seeds and await Samoa plus Dubai silverware winners France (Bowl) and Canada (Shield).
The HSBC Cape Town Sevens draw for Saturday, 12 December:
Pool A:Fiji, Argentina, Scotland, Russia
Pool B: England, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Pool C: USA, Australia, Wales, Portugal
Pool D: New Zealand, Samoa, France, Canada
THE 16 captains of the competing nations at the second round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series gathered at Signal Hill in front of Table Mountain to launch the tournament.
Having moved from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town for the new-look 10 round series, the players descended into Cape Town on a direct flight from Dubai ready to compete for the second Cup title of the season and continue their road to Rio.
The tournament begins at the 55,000-seater Cape Town Stadium, sold out on both 12 and 13 December, the 16 captains gathered at Signal Hill in front of Table Mountain to launch the tournament in picturesque style.
Fiji sit on top of the standings, with England, USA and New Zealand completing the top four and heading the respective pools. Hosts and defending champions South Africa, who won the Plate in Dubai and will compete against fellow African countries Kenya and Zimbabwe, and England, in Pool B on day one.
Tom Mitchell, who captained England to second place in Dubai and was named in the Dubai dream team, alongside team-mate Phil Burgess, having returned from injury in excellent form, was at the launch and is expecting a very physical challenge to open the weekend.
"No doubt it's going to be a very physical first day for us with three tough opponents," said Mitchell. "I think the third game will be the highlight for the crowd, obviously playing South Africa at home is a huge opportunity to experience here in Cape Town.
"A lot of the challenge of the second week is to get your bodies into a good state going into the second weekend. It’s also important to get a bit of down time in the second week, so we will be looking to get that balance right. We want to improve a few things going into this weekend, nothing too specific, just a little bit of our top standards in terms of the rugby we played."
With week two offering something different for all the teams, in England's case they have a lot of positives to take from Dubai and Mitchell was in a reflective mood when asked about their performance.
"It [Dubai] was an amazing experience and the guys did well to get to the final," added Mitchell. "We had some really close games against some very tough opposition so it was really pleasing to get to that stage. We’re really pleased with the way the guys battled to the end but in the end it wasn’t quite enough.
"There were about three to four minutes in the final that let us down against a very good Fijian side and fair play to them they played some outstanding rugby across the weekend and we just fell short.
"It’s always good to start well, especially after such a long pre-season. I think we have got steps forward that we can take in terms of our performances and the rugby we played, but I think the guys have got their heads around it and our attitude going into the weekend was spot on, so we will look to build on that going into Cape Town this weekend."
