From Last Word on Rugby, Jovilisi Waqa
The opening rounds of the Hong Kong Sevens kicked off in style with the Japanese Women’s side retain core status. They overcame the South Africans to win back their spot they lost this season.
The core status sides in the series only had one game each today with the other two games being played tomorrow. Dan Norton finally broke the record to go clear at the top as the Highest Top Try Scorer in the series with 245 tries. Tom Mitchell joined the 100 tries club too when he crossed over against South Korea. South Africa had to dug deep to overcome France 17-10.
Fiji and England didn’t have their line crossed, Samoa scared the Aussies while Russia tested the Americans resolve. There is plenty to play for on Day Two as they fight for playoff spots. Fiji looked composed with their patient build ups and that’s a worrying sign for other teams that they are here meaning business.
Defending champions Fiji are chasing their third triple crown and South Africa their maiden title in Hong Kong. England are the dark horses with United States leading the teams with outside chances.
Round One result:
Australia 22 Samoa 19|England 52 South Korea 0|Argentina 22 Scotland 14|United States 14 Russia 7|New Zealand 19 Wales 7|Fiji 36 Japan 0|Canada 17 Kenya 14|South Africa France|
Japanese Women’s Side Retains Core Status After Winning Qualifier
The Japanese came from behind to retain their core status in HSBC World Sevens Series beating South Africa 22-10. It was pure determination and the will to play until the final whistle that got them through. They didn’t panic when Nadine Roos opened the scoring to give the Africans the 5-0 lead. Their resolve was tested further when Zenay Jordaan grabbed the second try for the Rainbow Nation. It was left to big Fijian-born Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave to find the hole in the middle at the hooter to put Chisato Yakoo away for the two teams to head to the break with Japan trailing 7-10.
POWER! Japan’s Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave goes on the charge to set up Honoka Tsutsumi in Hong Kong #HK7s pic.twitter.com/VHBvatOUUf
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2017
From the restart, it was all one way traffic as the Asian girls raced away to their victory 22-10. It was grueling two days of entertaining rugby which unearthed new stars. Teams like Italy and Belgium surprised everyone and will be the ones to watch in years to come. Japan will replace the bottom team from in the Series this season next year.
In the semifinals, three tries from South Africa was enough to put away the feisty Belgian side that surprised everyone in Hong Kong 17-7. On the other hand Japan with ran riot over Italy 31-0 in a one sided affair where the Japanese showed their experience.
Cup Quarterfinals results:
South Africa 29 Papua New Guinea 7|Belgium 14 Netherlands 12|Italy 26 Kenya 7|Japan 28 China 14|
Day One: Pool results
Pool A
China 19 Netherlands 21|Japan 54 Jamaica 0|China 68 Jamaica 0|Japan 22 Netherlands 5| Netherlands 22 Jamaica 7|Japan 21 China 14|
Pool B
Kenya 24 Hong Kong 21|Argentina 0 Belgium 26| Kenya 5 Belgium 7|Argentina 17 Hong Kong 7|Hong Kong 15 Belgium 10|Argentina 7 Kenya 17|
Pool C
Colombia 0 Papua New Guinea 19|South Africa 5 Italy 15|Colombia 5 Italy 17|South Africa 24 Papua New Guinea 7| Papua New Guinea 12 Italy 5|South Africa 33 Colombia 0|
Men’s Qualifier: Day One: THE LOWDOWN
Papua New Guinea look good winning two from two on Day One with Wesley Vali on top of his game. Arthur Clement and young Gairo Kapana were devastating with their runs together with Emmanuel Guise and Hensley Peter. Their final game with Spain will be one to watch in Pool G.
Wesley Vali scores an acrobatic try in the corner for Papua New Guinea on the opening day of the #HK7s! pic.twitter.com/djrR3L5NOF
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2017
The Spaniards under Pablo Feijoo tutelage started well winning both their opening games too. They look like a well polished side with all their experience shining through. Senior players like Ignacio Martin and Pablo Fuentes were influential in their games with Pablo Martin. Guyana and Uruguay have lots of soul; searching to do on Day Two.
Pool G results
Papua New Guinea 26 Uruguay 21|Spain 47 Guyana 5|Papua New Guinea 31 Guyana 5|Spain 36 Uruguay 0|
Germany looks like the team to give Spain a run for their money here in Hong Kong. They were impressive in their opening games winning both in Pool E. They walloped Jamaica and Uganda and are likely to walk over Tonga who looked lethargic and lost. Uganda could claim the runner up spot from this pool with Jamaica learning all they can.
Pool E results
Tonga 0 Uganda 29|Germany 31 Jamaica 12|Tonga 14 Jamaica 5|Germany 24 Uganda 0|
Chile and Hong Kong will fight out Pool F with Sri Lanka and Namibia finding it hard to get going. With former Welsh World Cup Sevens winning Coach Paul John at the helm the hosts Hong Kong a different style of rugby. There is more urgency and self belief in the faces of the hosts and they can go all the way here to earning that core status spot up for grabs.
Pool F results
Chile 38 Sri Lanka 0|Hong Kong 22 Namibia 7|Chile 26 Namibia 14|Hong Kong 31 Sri Lanka 5|
“Main Photo:”
