Singapore 7s: Its' Canada v America in Final
The Singapore leg, Round Eight of the Sevens World Series, has seen all for the top-ranked teams locked out in the quarterfinals (South Africa New Zealand and Fiji) and semifinals (England).
It will be just a second ever Cup Final for the men in red, but be in no doubt – the Canadians are clicking.
The exhilarating United States knocked out Australia to book Cup Final spot with 40-7 win.
South Africa bounced back from their quarterfinal disappointment to defeat Olympic champions Fiji 19-14 in fifth-place play-off.
Scotland defeat Russia and Wales beat Samoa 19-14 to set up Challenge Trophy Final
We look at all the semifinal action!
Cup semifinals
It was a lovely, sweeping move from Andy Friend's side before John Porch sent a deft grubber forward, which he was onto in a flash before diving over the line. Perry Baker then collected the ball and Australia could not catch him.
The instrumental Stephen Tomasin landed his sixth in Singapore to get Australia on the board.
The Americans proved that possession is gold, and they were putting Australia under relentless pressure by being direct and clinical in the rucks. The footwork of Martin Iosefo helped Mike Friday's men to another just before half-time.
Stephen Tomasin really has been so impressive this weekend, he's been one of the standout performers for the Americans. The 22-year-old had his hands aloft again after running in his seventh in Singapore.
Then, Danny Barrett went through the Australian defence like a runaway truck, battering and bludgeoning his way through to land the 55th try of his career.
Perry Baker rounded off USA's win as Mike Friday's men progress into just their third Cup Final on the tour.
He flickered at the start, but it was pure flames from speedster Oliver Lindsay-Hague after a swift shift from Dan Bibby to round the big men and land a crucial five-pointer for the English.
Simon Amor's men ahead at the break thanks to that late score.
Isaac Kay, the man off the bench, who slammed Canada onto the scoresheet after pirouetting brilliantly and riding Oliver Lindsay-Hague's challenge over the line.
Nathan Hirayama sent his conversion through the sticks and the North Americans lead.
Then Canada's danger man Justin Douglas absolutely smoked Dan Norton on the outside to give Canada a seven-point cushion.
It was stunning, rip-roaring from Canada as Mike Fuailefau thundered through England's defence and sealed a spot in an all-North American Cup Final.
Results:
United States 40-7 Australia
Canada 17-5 England
Fifth Place semifinal
It's the first time that South Africa haven't been in a Cup Final this season, while the Pacific Islanders would have been hoping to follow up their gold in Hong Kong with more silverware.
Cecil Afrika set the scoring alight off the back of the line-out to bring up try number 150 of his career!
Waisea Nacuqu moved to the top of the pops on the scoring charts as he brought the Fijians level in style, but there's a blow for the Olympic champions as Isake Katonibau is shown a red card.
Nacuqu then extended his try-scoring lead just before the break.
There was great skill from Werner Kok to draw in two defenders and he waited for the perfect time to send the pass out to Siviwe Soyizwapi, whose try will level us up at 14 each.
The seemingly unstoppable Cecil Afrika surged the series back leaders in front and secured the win.
Kenya were unlucky to miss out on a Cup semifinal spot after a last-gasp defeat to England in the quarters. However, the Africans broke the deadlock against New Zealand after a sensational dummy from Brian Tanga, who has the heart of a lion and went unchallenged under the sticks.
Kenya's game is not about width. They're all about intimidation and a hard running game, and it's exactly that which got Derick Magyar Dulo's name up in lights for the very first time in the World Series. Their brutal physicality caused New Zealand all sorts of problems.
New Zealand then started to find some of those answers. Trael Joass got New Zealand on the board before Lewis Ormond finished off a slick move to make it a two-point game following the half-time hooter.
New Zealand hit the front for the first time after some individual brilliance from Beaudein Waaka, but the Kenyans were still lighting up Singapore with some magic of their own as the game shifted again. Dennis Ombachi had a field of space to feast on after an eight-man ruck and dishes out the hand-offs on his way to the line.
Kenya finished the match with just six players with the clock at zero and Lewis Ormond somersaulted over the line with a stunning put-down to win it for New Zealand.
Results
Fiji 14-19 South Africa
New Zealand 24-21 Kenya
Challenge Trophy semifinals
A fresh-looking Darcy Graham went 90 metres with a saunter to the line to give Scotland an early lead against France. Injuries started taking their toll on Les Bleus and they were starting to run out of gas. Bobby Beattie grabbed a fourth for the Scots before Scott Wight's conversion means he has 500 points on the tour.
There was a late rally from France, but they could not find a way to stop Scotland, who moved on to the Challenge Trophy Final.
Luke Morgan is one of the best finishers in the business and raced Wales into the lead against Samoa with his 81st career try. The tall, pacey Lafaele Vaa has been impressive this weekend broke through the tackles with his explosive power to deliver a five-pointer and tie it up at five each.
Sam Cross brushed off three tackles with bundles of strength and determination to slam the Brits ahead.
Samoa Toloa did everything right, but lost his concentration at the last moment and failed to put the ball down over the whitewash after going in the clear. Wales bundled Lafaele Vaa into touch to seal the win.
Results:
Scotland 31-12 France
Wales 19-14 Samoa
Thirteenth place semifinal
Franco Sabato made the initial break and showed some good patience to see off the sweeper Pat Kay. There were no players in support so, after a little stop-and-go, Sabato made a clean break to strike first for Los Pumas Sevens. There was nice supporting line from Cado Lee to hit back for Hong Kong. At the other end, Santiago Alvarez got Argentina's second following the half-time gong when Lee, the smallest player on the pitch, tried to bring him down in something of a mismatch.
Lovely quick, crisp passing for Argentina, who were playing with a good shape. Hong Kong can't seem to get their hands on the ball as they lost a bit of discipline, and Franco Sabato ran in the 20th of his season after the men in red are caught short on the outside.
First blood went to the Russians. Ilya Babaev took the intercept and gobbled up the turf. Japan were playing with fire under their own posts and should have boomed it upfield, but Russia made them pay.
It was back level pegging when the impressive Siosifa Lisala spotted the gap at the breakdown and used his electric pace to skittle over.
There was a crucial score on the stroke of half-time from Vladislav Lazarenko to reduce the deficit for Russia after Kameli Soejima had expertly regained the lead for Japan.
The critical moment in the game came when Katsuyuki Sakai gave Damian Karauna's side a bit of daylight after a well-worked move with a couple of offloads. Vladimir Ostroushko scythed through the Japan defence for a knife-edge finish.
Four seconds on the clock and up stepped Russia captain Vladimir Ostroushko to dot down the 89th of his career.
Results
Hong Kong 7-33 Argentina
Russia 24-21 Japan
Source: @WorldRugby7s
On your marks! Cecil Afrika speeds past the Fiji defence in Singapore ?? #SGRugby7s pic.twitter.com/w2lJtIgkFr
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 16, 2017
