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SCOTLAND 7s 2015
DAY 2
HIGHLIGHTS
FIJI moved to the top of the HSBC Sevens World Series standings after a 24-17 victory over defending Glasgow Sevens champions New Zealand in an enthralling final at Scotstoun Stadium.
Apisai Domolailai scored twice in the victory, their fourth of the season, with the win moving Ben Ryan's side ahead of South Africa and New Zealand in the race for the 16th World Series title with one round remaining in London.
Ryan's side head into round nine in London on 147 points, with South Africa, who beat Scotland 12-10 in the Plate final, second on 142 and New Zealand on 139. England (117) came third after beating USA 24-19 to finish third and increased their lead over Australia (101) in the battle for the fourth and final Olympic qualification spot.
"This is the most amount of wins - four - that we've done in one season and we have put ourselves in a great position to win our first World Series in 10 years," said head coach Ben Ryan. "We have a fit team and we want to win back-to-backs now."
Isake Katonibau and two tries from Semi Kunatani were enough for Fiji earlier as they beat a spirited USA side, having earlier proved too strong for then leaders South Africa 15-0. Kunatani and Savenaca Rawaca scored tries in that win, a result which meant the Blitzboks failed to make a Cup semi-final for the first time all season. Rieko Ioane scored the only try in New Zealand's 5-0 win over England, the lowest scoring semi-final for 13 years in wet conditions in Glasgow.
Earlier Perry Baker was the star for the USA as he ran the entire length of the pitch to help Mike Friday's side come from 7-0 down and record a 14-7 win. The result meant New Zealand qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio, joining South Africa and Fiji who achieved the same on day one.
BLITZBOKS LIFT THE PLATE IN DRAMATIC FASHION
Werner Kok and Ruhan Nel scored tries for South Africa as Neil Powell's side won the Plate by beating Scotland 12-10 to collect 13 series points, having earlier dropped from first place in the overall series standings. Damian Hoyland gave Scotland, chasing their best-ever finish in a series, the chance to take the match to extra time sudden death with a try in the last play of the match before a missed conversion from Russell Weir who hit the post.
South Africa's captain Kyle Brown added after the match: "Playing Scotland in Scotland is one of the hardest thing you can do. I don't know what it is, perhaps it's the haggis."
Nel scored a hat-trick as South Africa beat Australia 21-12 to reach the Plate final while hosts Scotland had Joe Nayacavou to thank for his last-minute try against last year's runners-up Canada to book their place in the final.
WALES UNBEATEN ON DAY TWO
Luke Morgan scored two tries as Wales came from 7-0 behind to beat Argentina 12-7 and win the Bowl, winning all three of their matches on day two at Scotstoun Stadium.
Morgan, the Welsh hero, said: "It's been up and down but that's a great ending to go down to Twickenham with. It's all about consistency with us but everyone played well as a 12."
Earlier Franco Sabato, Santiago Alvarez and Ramiro Moyano scored second-half tries to give Argentina a safe passage through to the Bowl final despite Kenya's Collins Injera scoring his 199th career try in the 24-7 defeat. Kristian Phillips scored in Wales' 5-0 win over Samoa while Ramiro Moyano scored twice for Argentina in their quarter-final win over Russia before they beat France 12-5 to reach the final.
TOLOA DOUBLE GIVES SAMOA THE SHIELD
Samoa Toloa scored twice in Samoa's22-12 Shield final win over Portugal, having earlier added a double in their 24-14 win over Japan. Portugal earlier beat Russia 10-7 with Aderito Esteves also scoring two tries.
"It was disappointing for us here," said Portugal captain Pedro Leal. "We now need to make sure we maintain our status as a core side in London and we need to play both halves as brothers."
DAY 1
HIGHLIGHTS
HSBC Sevens World Series leaders South Africa were all set to meet second-placed Fiji in the Cup quarter-finals after an enthralling day one of the Glasgow Sevens, round eight of nine on the Series.
With the Blitzboks losing their pool decider 24-19 to New Zealand, who maintained a 100 per cent record on day one alongside Fiji, the defeats set up a mouth-watering match on day two while the win for Sir Gordon Tietjens' side meant they would meet hosts Scotland, who qualified as runners-up to Fiji in their pool following a 45-5 defeat in the last match of the day.
Separated by just nine points in one of the most exciting finales to a series in recent history, all eyes were on the top three sides and their performances as the action was to continue at a sold-out Scotstoun Stadium on day two.
In the other quarter-finals Canada, looking for a second successive top four finish, would meet fourth-placed England, and fifth-placed Australia awaited Mike Friday's USA.
Earlier, the Blitzboks of South Africa became the first side to book their place at rugby sevens' debut in the Olympic Games next year with their qualification for the Cup competition, before Fiji joined them thanks to Scotland booking their place in the Cup with a 12-7 victory over Wales.
"It’s a big moment for us," said South Africa's Frankie Horne. "We are very privileged to have made it this far. We have worked hard this season to qualify and it’s an historical event for the game of sevens to be in the Olympics. We thoroughly deserve it but it’s a great privilege and a great honour for us to be there and represent the game of sevens"
POOL PLAY DELIGHTS SOLD OUT SCOTSTOUN
Joe Webber crossed twice in New Zealand's 22-5 victory against Kenya before Rieko Ioane scored a hat-trick to help Gordon Tietjens' side recover from 19-0 to win 26-19 against Samoa and confirm their place in the quarter-finals. Scott Curry, Ambrose Curtis, Tim Mikkelson and Sherwin Stowers scored in their pool decider with South Africa.
Ben Ryan's Fiji, who sit second behind the Blitzboks, beat Wales 40-17 thanks to two tries from Savenaca Rawaca before Semi Kunatani added two in their 40-12 win over Portugal. Against Scotland Fiji scored seven tries, including a hat-trick from the impressive newcomer Josaia Raisuqe, taking their tally to the 40-point mark in all three of their matches.
Werner Kok, Seabelo Senatla and Branco du Preez all scored for Neil Powell's side in their 19-12 win over Samoa, before the season's leading try scorer Senalta added two more to help them come from 5-0 behind to beat African neighbours Kenya 15-5 and another in their defeat to New Zealand.
Hosts Scotland came from 14-7 down to win 19-14 with Mark Robertson scoring the winning try against Portugal before James Fleming delighted the home crowd with the winning try against Wales, while the USA booked their place in the Cup quarter-finals despite losing their opening match 40-0 to Canada by beating Japan 38-7 and Argentina 21-14 thanks to two tries from Maka Unufe.
RESULTS
POOL A |
POOL B |
POOL C |
POOL D |
|
|
|
|
SATURDAY 9th MAY 2015
1. |
CANADA |
40 - 0 |
UNITED STATES |
POOL D |
||
2. |
JAPAN |
12 - 12 |
ARGENTINA |
POOL D |
||
3. |
ENGLAND |
17 - 17 |
AUSTRALIA |
POOL A |
||
4. |
FRANCE |
21 - 19 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
5. |
SOUTH AFRICA |
19 - 12 |
SAMOA |
POOL B |
||
6. |
NEW ZEALAND |
22 - 7 |
KENYA |
POOL B |
||
7. |
FIJI |
40 - 17 |
WALES |
POOL C |
||
8. |
SCOTLAND |
19 - 14 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
9. |
CANADA |
12 - 21 |
ARGENTINA |
POOL D |
||
10. |
JAPAN |
7 - 38 |
UNITED STATES |
POOL D |
||
11. |
ENGLAND |
43 - 7 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
12. |
FRANCE |
7 - 38 |
AUSTRALIA |
POOL A |
||
13. |
SOUTH AFRICA |
22 - 5 |
KENYA |
POOL B |
||
14. |
NEW ZEALAND |
26 - 19 |
SAMOA |
POOL B |
||
15. |
FIJI |
40 - 12 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
16. |
SCOTLAND |
12 - 7 |
WALES |
POOL C |
||
17. |
UNITED STATES |
21 - 14 |
ARGENTINA |
POOL D |
||
18. |
CANADA |
38 - 0 |
JAPAN |
POOL D |
||
19. |
AUSTRALIA |
31 - 5 |
RUSSIA |
POOL A |
||
20. |
ENGLAND |
26 - 7 |
FRANCE |
POOL A |
||
21. |
SAMOA |
22 - 29 |
KENYA |
POOL B |
||
22. |
SOUTH AFRICA |
19 - 24 |
NEW ZEALAND |
POOL B |
||
23. |
WALES |
42 - 7 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
24. |
FIJI |
45 - 5 |
SCOTLAND |
POOL C |
SUNDAY 10th MAY 2015
25. |
FRANCE |
19 - 0 |
JAPAN |
BOWL QF |
||
26. |
WALES |
5 - 0 |
SAMOA |
BOWL QF |
||
27. |
ARGENTINA |
14 - 0 |
RUSSIA |
BOWL QF |
||
28. |
KENYA |
12 - 0 |
PORTUGAL |
BOWL QF |
||
29. |
AUSTRALIA |
7 - 14 |
UNITED STATES |
CUP QF |
||
30. |
FIJI |
15 - 0 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
CUP QF |
||
31. |
CANADA |
7 - 14 |
ENGLAND |
CUP QF |
||
32. |
NEW ZEALAND |
17 - 7 |
SCOTLAND |
CUP QF |
Shield Semi Final
Japan 14 - 24 Samoa
Shield Semi Final
Russia 7 - 10 Portugal
Bowl Semi Final
France 5 - 12 Wales
Bowl Semi Final
Argentina 24 - 7 Kenya
Plate Semi Final
Australia 12 - 21 South Africa
Plate Semi Final
Canada 12 - 14 Scotland
Cup Semi Final
United States 5 - 19 Fiji
Cup Semi Final
England 0 - 5 New Zealand
SHIELD FINAL
SAMOA 22 - 12 Portugal
BOWL FINAL
WALES 12 - 7 Argentina
PLATE FINAL
SOUTH AFRICA 12 - 10 Scotland
THIRD PLACE
United States 19 - 24 ENGLAND
CUP FINAL
FIJI 24 - 17 New Zealand
INTRO
THE 16 captains took centre stage at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow as round eight of the HSBC Sevens World Series gets set to begin on 9 May.
With the top three separated by just 12 points, all is to be play for in the hunt for the 16th Series title. South Africa currently sit first on 129 points as the only side to have made every Cup semi-final so far this season, with Fiji (125) and New Zealand (120) hot on their heels.
The Blitzboks face defending series and Glasgow champions New Zealand in their third and final pool match at Scotstoun Stadium in one of the standout matches on day one, while fourth-placed England's encounter with fifth-placed Australia will also be one to look out for in the third match of the day. Canada and USA open proceedings at 10:30.
At the other end Japan will be hoping to pick up where they left off in Tokyo and close the gap on Portugal, who are placed 14th, in the knowledge that the team placed 15th after London will be relegated for next season. That side's replacement, Russia, will also be looking to show their ability against the core sides they will be facing at every round next season.
The Emirates Airline Rugby 7s returns to Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on 9 & 10 May
IF you’ve been to the Emirates Airlines Rugby 7s in Glasgow before – or if you experienced the amazing Rugby 7s at last year’s Commonwealth Games – you’ll know what a fantastic, action-packed and fun-filled sporting event it is – a whole weekend of thrilling international sevens rugby performed against a backdrop of fancy dress, live music, family entertainment and general fun!
Because Fancy Dress is actively encouraged the event has a theme each year. Last year it was the circus; the year before that film heroes. This year, it’s the Comic Book! So whether you come dressed as your favourite action comic book character (e.g. Spiderman or Captain America) or go for more of a home-grown classic (Dennis the Menace; Minni the Minx) you're guaranteed to have a blast!
TICKETS
SCHEDULE & STANDINGS
