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2014 GOLD COAST SEVENS
DAY 2
HIGHLIGHTS
FIJI defeated Samoa 31-24 in final of the Gold Coast Sevens to win round one of the HSBC Sevens World Series and take an early lead in the race for Olympic qualification.
Setefano Cakau scored two tries in the first half before Apisai Domolaili and Semi Kunatani saw the Fijians take a 26-0 lead. But Samoa's Fautua Otto scored just before half time before Lolo Lui, Siaosi Asofolau and Tila Mealoi narrowed the gap to just two points with four minutes to go. However, Fiji managed to cement their 2014 Gold Cup Sevens Cup final win when Jasa Veremalua crossed the line to seal the 31-24 final score.
"It was a rollercoaster final but we hung on in there," said head coach Ben Ryan. "We are by no means the finished product. I feel at home in Fiji and we are grateful for all of the support back in the country."
Earlier England, who finished the tournament third after two Dan Norton tries secured a 19-0 win over South Africa, recorded their best victory over New Zealand since 2003 as they recorded a 31-7 win against the defending HSBC Sevens World Series and Gold Coast Sevens champions.
It's the first time the All Blacks Sevens have not made a Cup semi final since Dubai 2011 with England captain Phil Burgess scoring two tries in the win and Simon Amor's side will now face Fiji in the semi finals.
“We know that New Zealand are so physical and that we had to match them and today, that’s what we did. We matched them and we were clinical," said Burgess.
"I don’t know how many times we had the ball in their half or their 22 but we came away with points nearly every time."
New Zealand bounce back to win Plate
New Zealand finished their tournament on a high with a 36-21 win over Argentina. The Kiwis scored five tries in the first half as Joe Webber followed on from his hat-trick earlier today with a try. Argentina tried to claw back in the second half with three tries, including Francisco Merello's sixtieth World Series try, however New Zealand persevered to take home the Plate.
"We set high standards so to trip up in the quarter final (defeat by England) was massive for us," said captain DJ Forbes. "It wasn't ideal but, in terms of the World Series, you've got to start somewhere."
Earlier, Webber scored a hat-trick as New Zealand bounced back from their defeat to England to beat Wales 39-5 in their Plate semi final before Axel Muller scored two tries in the final minute as Argentina beat the hosts 21-17.
“It's our first tournament of the year and it's pretty disappointing to come away with not many points but the boys will have to regroup going into Dubai and South Africa," said Australia captain Ed Jenkins. "With this group and its experience now we just have to work to shut down a game when we get the chance.”
Baker and Test help Eagles win Bowl
Mike Friday picked up some silverware in his first tournament in charge after USA beat France 31-15 in the Bowl final with Zack Test and Perry Baker both adding tries to their tournament tallies.
"We've had to learn some harsh lessons this weekend but they've played some good rugby today," said head coach Mike Friday. "There are a lot of good teams here, the level is rising and we need to move from being participants to competitors."
In the semi finals USA recorded a 33-0 win over Portugal thanks to a hat-trick from Baker while France also left their opponents scoreless, beating Scotland 26-0 in their semi final which featured Virimi Vakatawa's third try of the day.
Jones fires Canada to the Shield
Canada beat Kenya in the Shield final with a convincing 40-7 victory. Harry Jones scored half of his team's points in the form of two tries and five conversions. Sean Duke managed a double in just two minutes while Jake Webster and Conor Trainor scored one five-pointer each.
"It's a little bit toasty but we are pleased to end the weekend with a victory," said captain John Moonlight. "We'll learn from this experience and regroup ahead of the next leg in Dubai."
DAY 1
NEW ZEALAND, Argentina, Fiji and South Africa all impressed on the opening day of the Gold Coast Sevens, round one of the HSBC Sevens World Series, maintaining 100% records at the Cbus Stadium.
Defending Series and Gold Coast champions New Zealand scored more than 100 points against France, Japan and Samoa and will face England in the quarter finals, while Los Pumas beat England, USA and Canada to set up a match with Samoa.
Australia lost 35-12 to Fiji in the Pool C decider in coach Geraint John's first World Series event in charge of the hosts as Ben Ryan's side, who won the Oceania Sevens last week, conceded just 19 points in their three matches, and will play Wales on day two.
In the fourth and final quarter final South Afria, who had Seabelo Senatla to thank four for tries in their wins over Kenya, Wales and American Samoa, await the hosts.
DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
POOL A
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New Zealand's DJ Forbes, Scott Curry and Sam Dickson scored two tries apiece in their side's nine-try 59-0 victory over Japan to make it two wins from two on day one. The defending Gold Coast champions earlier beat France 36-7 with Dickson scoring his first brace of the day. Gillies Kaka scored nine points as Sir Gordon Tietjens' side defeated Samoa 28-17 in the Pool A decider.
France got off to an early lead in their match against Samoa, but Samoa surged back strong in the second half and produced a 19-12 win thanks to two tries from Samoa Toloa.
Japan also scored first against Samoa, but it was the Islanders who came out on top with a 40-14 victory with Tom Iosefo scoring a hat-trick. Les Bleus ensured they finished third in the pool by beating Japan 33-14.
POOL B
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South Africa's Seabelo Senatla scored three tries and Steven Hunt two as South Africa beat Kenya 38-0 to top Pool B. Earlier, Senatla helped his side in a tightly-contested 19-12 victory over Wales after scoring one try and demonstrating impressive speed as he prevented an early try from Will Harries.
Neil Powell's Commonwealth Games' gold medalists then defeated American Samoa with debutant Ruhan Nel helping himself to a hat-trick before Senatla added his own in a 19-0 defeat of Kenya.
“A win is a win and we took all three of them today but we had a very slow start this morning," said South Africa captain Frankie Horne. “We’re just lucky we got all three in our pool and we're hoping we can take it into tomorrow. It’s all about consistency and taking it step-by-step.”
Wales joined South Africa in the quarter finals after beating Kenya 24-19 and American Samoa, appearing in their first-ever Gold Coast Sevens, 36-0 with Tom Williams scoring three of their tries.
POOL C
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Fiji defeated Australia 35-12 to end day one with a 100% record in the final match of day one at the Cbus Super Stadium with two tries from Semi Kunitani.
Earlier, the Islanders proved too strong for Scotland, winning 40-7 in their first match thanks to 19 points from captain Osea Kolinisau before Apisalome Waqatabu scored a hat-trick in their match with Portugal.
"There's some serious teams out there from now on so we've got to be on the money," said Fiji coach Ben Ryan.
Hosts Australia, who qualified for the Cup quarter finals in second behind Fiji, left Portugal scoreless in their match with a convincing 29-0 win which featured five tries including one from captain Ed Jenkins before they beat Scotland 24-14 thanks to two tries from Pama Fou.
Aderito Esteves scored a dramatic last-minute try to give Portugal a 21-21 draw with Scotland, but they still finished fourth in Pool C.
POOL D
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Santiago Gomez Cora's Argentina booked their place in the Cup quarter finals with a 100% record when Santiago Cordero rounded off a 24-12 victory over Mike Friday's USA.
Cordero earlier scored two tries in a 14-12 win over Canada after Rodrigo Etchart scored a try on his debut as Los Pumas beat England 21-19.
Despite United States' Zack Test adding his fourth try of the day against England following a hat-trick against Canada, Simon Amor's side bounced back from defeat to Argentina to win 14-7 against Mike Friday's side. Dan Norton then scored his third try of the day in a 19-12 win against Canada to secure their place in the quarter finals as Pool D runners-up.
"The whole day is up for grabs," said England captain Phil Burgess.
"We've defended well in the last two games and showed some good heart. There are some tired bodies now and we will be glad of the rest this evening. We will come back fresh ready for tomorrow morning."
RESULTS
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
France 21 - 19 Canada
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Scotland 24 - 12 American Samoa
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
United States 26 - 5 Japan
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Kenya 17 - 19 Portugal
CUP QUARTER FINAL
New Zealand 7 - 31 England
CUP QUARTER FINAL
Fiji 31 - 10 Wales
CUP QUARTER FINAL
Argentina 21 - 24 Samoa
CUP QUARTER FINAL
South Africa 12 - 10 Australia
SHIELD SEMI FINAL
Canada 50 - 0 American Samoa
SHIELD SEMI FINAL
Japan 15 - 17 Kenya
BOWL SEMI FINAL
France 26 - 0 Scotland
BOWL SEMI FINAL
United States 33 - 0 Portugal
PLATE SEMI FINAL
New Zealand 39 - 5 Wales
PLATE SEMI FINAL
Argentina 21 - 17 Australia
CUP SEMI FINAL
England 7 - 48 Fiji
CUP SEMI FINAL
Samoa 28 - 12 South Africa
SHIELD FINAL
CANADA 40 - 7 Kenya
BOWL FINAL
France 15 - 31 UNITED STATES
PLATE FINAL
NEW ZEALAND 36 - 21 Argentina
THIRD PLACE
ENGLAND 19 - 0 South Africa
FINAL CUP
FIJI 31 - 24 Samoa
POOLS
POOL A |
POOL B |
POOL C |
POOL D |
1. |
09:50 |
ENGLAND |
19 - 21 |
ARGENTINA |
Pool D |
||
2. |
10:12 |
CANADA |
15 - 17 |
UNITED STATES |
Pool D |
||
3. |
10:34 |
NEW ZEALAND |
36 - 7 |
FRANCE |
Pool A |
||
4. |
10:56 |
SAMOA |
40 - 14 |
JAPAN |
Pool A |
||
5. |
11:18 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
19 - 12 |
WALES |
Pool B |
||
6. |
11:40 |
KENYA |
42 - 0 |
AMERICAN SAMOA |
Pool B |
||
7. |
12:02 |
FIJI |
40 - 7 |
SCOTLAND |
Pool C |
||
8. |
12:24 |
AUSTRALIA |
29 - 0 |
PORTUGAL |
Pool C |
||
9. |
12:51 |
ENGLAND |
14 - 7 |
UNITED STATES |
Pool D |
||
10. |
13:13 |
CANADA |
12 - 14 |
ARGENTINA |
Pool D |
||
11. |
13:35 |
NEW ZEALAND |
59 - 0 |
JAPAN |
Pool A |
||
12. |
13:57 |
SAMOA |
19 - 12 |
FRANCE |
Pool A |
||
13. |
14:39 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
48 - 0 |
AMERICAN SAMOA |
Pool B |
||
14. |
15:01 |
KENYA |
19 - 24 |
WALES |
Pool B |
||
15. |
15:23 |
FIJI |
38 - 0 |
PORTUGAL |
Pool C |
||
16. |
15:45 |
AUSTRALIA |
24 - 14 |
SCOTLAND |
Pool C |
||
17. |
16:07 |
ARGENTINA |
26 - 12 |
UNITED STATES |
Pool D |
||
18. |
16:29 |
ENGLAND |
19 - 12 |
CANADA |
Pool D |
||
19. |
17:11 |
FRANCE |
33 - 14 |
JAPAN |
Pool A |
||
20. |
17:33 |
NEW ZEALAND |
28 - 17 |
SAMOA |
Pool A |
||
21. |
17:55 |
WALES |
36 - 0 |
AMERICAN SAMOA |
Pool B |
||
22. |
18:17 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
45 - 0 |
KENYA |
Pool B |
||
23. |
18:39 |
SCOTLAND |
21 - 21 |
PORTUGAL |
Pool C |
||
24. |
19:01 |
FIJI |
35 - 12 |
AUSTRALIA |
Pool C |
SCHEDULE & STANDINGS
