Cape Town Sevens, Round Two of the HSBC World Sevens Series was again full of surprises. Reigning champions Fiji command pool A, African darlings Kenya rock Pool B, Australia Thunderbolts beat USA Eagles to head pool C and North American sides continue to upset the All Blacks Sevens.
Read this, and much more, as Last Word On Sports covers Day One of the exciting world sevens circuit.
Cape Town Sevens full of surprises
The second tournament in the opening leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series has been full of surprises on Day One of competition. Cape Town is hosting the South African leg of the tournament for the first time after previous editions in Stellenbosch, Durban, Port Elizabeth and George.
If what we have seen on Day One is a glimpse of what is to come, this venue is here to stay. Beautiful city, wonderful atmosphere, good crowd attendance and overall great competition out on the field.
Cape Town Sevens will be remembered as the tournament of surprises as we saw another North American team; Canada, beat the All Blacks Sevens who had been struck by injuries to key players and literally lacking depth in their squad for the first time in years.
Secondly, and to the screams and tears of supporters, the Kenyan’s overcame the high flying hosts the Blitzbokke. The French took the Samoans to task and the inconsistent Aussies accounted for the ‘big steppers’ the American Eagles.
Technically, the new interchange rule of substituting players up to five times per game has really worked wonders for many teams. It gives time for star players to have a breather during a game and come back stronger when needed, although it is limited to five times, the best managed sides used it best.
Fiji commands Pool A (Fiji, Argentina, Scotland and Russia)
A superb hatrick from Apisai Domolailai helped Fiji demolish Argentina 43-0 and seal Pool A. They have now established themselves as the favorites in Cape Town. Even without two game breakers in Kitione Taliga and the nippy Player of the Dubai 7’s final Jerry Tuwai, who were rested by coach Ben Ryan, the Fijians showed the depth they have in their squad with players stepping up to win their Pool in commanding style.
After conceding 19 points against the Scots, they came back to demolish the buoyant Russian team and then pummeled Los Pumas by 43 points to finish the Pool Play in scoring a massive 95 points to none against. This side are setting the standard and only a greater team will challenge them for Sevens glory.
Fiji go into the Cup qualifying rounds beside Argentina and will have to dig deep as usual, to fight off the opposition as everyone will be gunning for them.
Results: Fiji 34 Scotland 19 | Argentina 33 Russia 5 | Fiji 52 Russia 0 | Argentina 19 Scotland 14 | Scotland 33 Russia 10 | Fiji 43 Argentina 0
Kenya rock Pool B (England, South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe)
Against all odds, the Benjamin Ayimba coached Kenyan side has gone through Day One at the Cape Town Sevens undefeated to re-establish their name as a potential super power nation of rugby sevens.
After a stunning 19-all draw with England in their first game; England had finished second in Dubai, the Kenyans took apart the Blitzbokke side filled with Springbok and sevens stars to task, defeating them 12-14 in a nail biter that left parts of the 50,000 plus crowd in silence but had Kenyan fans screaming ecstatically. Willing their men to go further in this tournament.
The South Africans had to dig deep in the final game against the English, to fortunately book their quarter final spot of their home event by just winning 10-7 in a hard fought battle. That leaves England out of the Cup competition, to dwell on lost opportunities and a more motivated African nation who performed on the park when needed to.
Results: England 19 Kenya 19 | South Africa 26 Zimbabwe 5 | England 43 Zimbabwe 0 | South Africa 12 Kenya 14 | Kenya 36 Zimbabwe 0 | England 0 South Africa 10
Australia beat USA to head Pool C (USA, Australia, Wales and Portugal)
The Australian Thunderbolts scored a late try for debutante Henry Hutchison to win the opening pool match 21-26 against the United States. The Scott Bowen coached side showed character to fight off the high flying Americans who continue to shine under inspirational coach Mike Friday.
The Aussies, playing with three new players from the Dubai team included new men in Boyd Killingworth and young 18 year old rookie Hutchison, and his feat in the third game proved that selection as inspired.
Inconsistency has always hindered the Australian’s progress in sevens series; many fine victories but never in contention for the title but never finishing higher than third. Hopefully they can continue is their fine form in Day two but be rest assured, the Americans will return to take another big scalp in the Quarter finals game on Sunday.
A standout for the American team on Day One was Carlin Isles. His two good length of the field tries scored were excellent, could he be realisation of his true potential under Mike Friday? LWOS hope so.
Australia and USA go to the Cup qualifying stages while Wales and Portugal join the Bowl Competition.
Results: USA 26 Wales 19 | Australia 45 Portugal 0 | USA 52 Portugal 7 | Australia 21 Wales 14 | Wales 40 Portugal 5 | USA 21 Australia 26
North Americans continue to upset New Zealand in Pool D (New Zealand, Samoa, France and Canada
After a falling to another North American side in Canada, the Kiwis bounced back quickly to again deny the Samoans 19-10. In a match where everything was at stake, the Kiwis delivered when needed the most thanks to industrious Sam Dickson, who continues to give his all in this injury ravaged side.
The Kiwis will head to the second day with only ten men to call on after painfully losing Joe Webber and Declan O’Donell today. Sir Gordon Tietjens will have to gamble with his remaining players against the Pumas in the quarter finals in an all too common occurrence in the two rounds of the World Series.
The French team, who only lost one game last week [to New Zealand] will feature in the Cup quarter finals against the World Sevens Series points leaders Fiji after upsetting Samoa and then holding on the a 26-26 draw with Canada, to underline a strong round last weekend.
They will rely on the magic feet of Terry Bourahoua and DHL Impact Player from last week, Virimi Vakatawa to deliver the goods and carry them through.
Results: New Zealand 19 France 14 | Samoa 24 Canada 10 | New Zealand 12 Canada 24 | Samoa 19 France 22 | France 26 Canada 26 | New Zealand 19 Samoa 10
_____________________________________________________________________
LAST EIGHT: @fijirugby v @FFRugby, @Aussie7s v @Blitzboks, @nz7s v @unionargentina & @KenyaSevens v @USARugby pic.twitter.com/GuYfaryyCL
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 12, 2015
BOWL QUARTER FINALS FIXTURES
- Scotland vs Samoa
- Wales vs Zimbabwe
- Canada vs Russia
- England vs Portugal
The Fijian team will chase their first ever back-to-back title while the hosts will want to defend their Cape Town Sevens title. The All Blacks Sevens will try to defy the odds and win the tournament with just ten players, and will have to muster all their will and player management to reach a possible Cup final.
The Kenyans, French and giant killers USA will try to rewrite history tomorrow, so don’t miss the action on Day Two of the Cape Town Sevens.
“Main photo”
