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London 7s: Scratchy BlitzBoks march on

In Pool A the United States defeated Kenya and South Africa defeated Wales 12-10 in Round Two matches.

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Defending London champions Scotland defeated Russia and Argentina.

Fiji produced nine-try performance that relegates Japan from series, also making amends  for their loss to Canada earlier.

Dan Norton scored dramatic late winner as England sunk Australia.

We look at all the Round Two action on Day One!

Pool A:

(South Africa, United States, Wales, Kenya)

Folau Niua, playing in his 50th World Series tournament, scored his 50th career try and then made that 51. In the space of a minute, he bagged two tries for the United States Eagles against Kenya.

Perry Baker scored his 50th try of the series in a match that was all about the restarts – and, with a 33 percent retainment rate, no team this season has been more successful at those than Mike Friday's United States.

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Nothing has really gone Kenya's way in this one, and the Americans made them pay by doing the basics right for the entire 14 minutes. Mike Friday's men have shown a great work ethic and Stephen Tomasin wraps up a brilliant 47-0 win.

South Africa went down to six players early in their exchange with Wales and Luke Morgan found the right running angle and slammed down his 85th career try in the corner.

Magic Man Rosko Specman drew the BlitzBoks level before Branco du Preez sent the conversion between the sticks. Then Cecil Afrika sent a set-piece special out wide and captain Philip Snyman went to put his country into a seven-point lead.

There was late drama, as Africa went for the extra try under the uprights, but they give it away. James Benjamin read the pass from 20 metres away and Owen Jenkins put the hammer down for a length-of-the-field try. The conversion would have drawn the game, but it sailed wide.

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Results:

United States 47-0 Kenya

South Africa 12-10 Wales

Earlier results:

United States 12-28 Wales

South Africa 12-10 Kenya

Pool B:

(Scotland, France, Argentina, Russia)

This tournament is Frederic Pomarel's swansong as France head coach and after an earlier defeat to Argentina it looked as tough Les Bleus have found some form. Pierre Popelin and Daniel Ikpefan ran in early tries for the men in red and blue against Russia.

But the French have let Russia back in – as a Vladislav Sozonov double took us to a two-point game at the break.

Russia's all-time try-scorer Vladimir Ostroushko kept the scoreboard ticking over for his country after following up his own kick to dot it over the line. Then Robinson Caire landed his first-ever World Series try – a feat just matched by Jean-Teiva Jacquelin.

Three missed conversions for Russia ended up costing them here.

Defending London champions Scotland fell behind to Los Pumas inside the first minute when Franco Sabato sprinted down the line away from Jamie Farndale for the first five-pointer.

George Horne was on fire in Paris last week – and it looked like he's picking up where he left off. He used his quick feet to stride through a gaping gap and no defender is going to catch him. He is quick!

There was blistering start to the second half by Santiago Gomez Cora's men. Mark Robertson – playing in his final tournament – got drawn inside and Conrado Roura stretched his country's lead with 19 seconds on the second half clock. At the other end, Robertson dinked it forward and executes the finish expertly to bring Scotland level.

James Fleming raced down the touchline after a quick Scotland penalty and no one was going to catch him. The defending London champions are really starting to find their range, as Dougie Fife smashed down a fourth.

Results:

Scotland 26-19 Argentina

France 26-20 Russia

Earlier results:

France 7-35 Argentina

Scotland 21-7 Russia

Pool C:

(New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Japan)

It has not been a good start for Japan. With just two passes, Fiji have stormed through three converted tries. The Pacific Islanders were brilliant at putting collective pressure on their opponents and Japan have not been able to live with it. Sevuloni Mocenacagi slammed down a fifth for the Olympic champions before Siosifa Lisala hits back with a stunner before the break.

Fiji's Josua Vakurunabili certainly made an impact so far at Twickenham after the opening round of fixtures, putting in seven tackles to lead the way in the Performance Tracker stats. His Fiji teammate Kalione Nasoko and Canada's Justin Douglas are hot on his heels, while Australia's James Stannard – who scored half of his team's six tries against Samoa – was in the running too after bringing up his 1,000th point on the World Series.

The Japanese showed some real endeavour, particularly in the second period, but had to contend with something of a Fiji masterclass here. The Olympic champions move back into the winners' circle with a nine-try super show that relegates Japan from the series.

It was all wrapped up in sensational style when the playmaker Jerry Tuwai delivered a deft, delightful flick out the back of the hand for Waisea Nacuqu to move Fiji past 60 points.

New Zealand and Canada both started their day with a win. Sam Dickson put the All Blacks Sevens in front and the experienced Sherwin Stowers muscled through to land a second after Canada's Harry Jones is sent to the bin.

All of a sudden, Damian McGrath's side were playing with an urgency that is difficult to contend with, and Nate Hirayama spotted a mismatch on the outside and hit New Zealand with another storm – all tied up at the break.

Justin Douglas JUST got past a last-ditch challenge from Sam Dickson and Canada's top points scorer got his country on the board. It was still all square with five minutes gone in the second period, but Sam Dickson stepped up to the plate again to create New Zealand's third try. He palmed off one defender and picked out the pass on his way to the deck, and Tone Ng Shiu will do the rest. What a huge try that could be in the context of the Pool.

Harry Jones went roaring away for Canada and looked like he might level it at the death – but take a bow Joe Webber, who dragged him into touch yards from the line.

Joe Webber's magnificent last-ditch tackle to prevented Harry Jones from going over for Canada proved that it's not just tries that win you matches.

Results:

Fiji 61-5 Japan

New Zealand 19-14 Canada

Earlier results:

Fiji 19-22 Canada

New Zealand 33-7 Japan

Pool D:

(England, Samoa, Australia, Spain)

The Samoans strike first but Igor Genua's second of the day drew Spain level at 7-all. Two-try Joe Perez put Faalemiga Selesele in the clear for a third for the men in blue, who lead 19-7 at the halfway point.

Elisapeta Alofipo wrapped up a well-deserved, convincing win with the second try of his career.

In the 11th meeting between England and Australia at Twickenham the Australians were ahead inside a minute when Boyd Killingworth scrambled over the whitewash, before Dan Norton made a break for it and, after being hauled down just short of the line, offloaded for Phil Burgess to hit back for England.

Simon Kennewell was in sensational form in Australia's first game and he proved what a beast of a man he is again as he rode the tackles and marched through the England defence to land his 13th five-pointer of the season. At the other end, the impact of replacement Richard de Carpentier saw Norton bring the hosts level.

Thirty seconds on the clock and we were still all square. It took a moment of magic to win it in the last play of the match – and Dan Norton was the man to provide it!

He pierced Australia's hearts with his 34th try at to sink the old enemy and give England a huge win.

Results:

Samoa 40-7 Spain

England 19-12 Australia

Earlier results:

Australia 34-5 Samoa

England 28-7 Spain

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