VANCOUVER SEVENS: BlitzBoks face Aus in Cup quarters

Fiji and New Zealand were unbeaten after an action-packed opener to the sixth round of the World Rugby Sevens Series. They progress to the Cup quarterfinals and face Argentina and USA respectively. Australia v South Africa and England v Kenya complete the day two Cup quarterfinal line up.

Your #HSBC7s Cup Quarter finalists for the #Canada7s! Who's your pick? pic.twitter.com/NGrQZEE3DR

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 11, 2018

Pool A:

(Canada, USA, Australia, Uruguay)

Home side Canada opened Pool A against current 2018 series fourth-place holders, Australia, who secured a try from John Porch within 15 seconds. Canada responded well with two tries in the first half and by halftime led 12-7. Australia came out firing in the second half with two tries but Canada secured a 19-19 draw with a final try of the half. It would be a battle between Canada and Australia throughout the day as both sides chased USA in Pool A. USA's clash with Canada was one of the most thrilling of the day, Perry Baker securing a brace and Kevon Williams sealing the 28-21 win in the last play of the game. Going into the final matches of the pool, Canada needed a 40-point win over Uruguay and for the USA to beat Australia in order to move to the Cup quarterfinals. Canada's seven tries and 47-5 victory didn't disappoint the crowd. However, Australia came out firing in the last match of the day sealing a 31-21 victory over the USA to finish as Pool A leaders and through to the Cup quarter-finals with the USA.

Results:

Australia 19-19 Canada

USA 45-0 Uruguay

Australia 50-17 Uruguay

USA 28-21 Canada

Canada 47-5 Uruguay

USA 21-31 Australia

Pool B:

(England, Argentina, Samoa, Wales)

England, Cup winners in Vancouver last year, started their campaign and opened Pool B with a 36-5 win over Wales, which included three tries from Dan Norton. Their form didn't continue against Samoa however as they held England to a 7-0 first half and followed with a further two tries in the second half to seal a 21-5 final scoreline. However, England's last match of the day against Las Vegas runners-up Argentina, saw them run in a three-tries-to-one display and top the pool on points difference after Argentina, Samoa and England all finished on 6 points. Argentina took second spot and moved through to the Cup quarterfinals having beat Samoa 22-7 and Wales 35-12. Samoa join Wales in the Challenge Trophy.

Results:

England 36-5 Wales

Argentina 22-7 Samoa

England 5-21 Samoa

Argentina 35-12 Wales

Wales 10-28 Samoa

Argentina 7-21 England

Pool C:

(Fiji, Kenya, France, Spain)

Fiji and Kenya both showed their strength going head-to-head into the last clash of Pool C. Fiji had opened the day with a strong 47-5 win over Spain and a 38-7 victory over France. Kenya, similarly unbeaten in the first two rounds with a 14-7 win over France – Kenya scoring all their points in the second half – and a 43-0, seven-try display, over Spain. Kenya were first to put points on the board with a try from Collins Injera, Fiji followed with two tries from Kalione Nasako and Eroni Sau, but also saw Waisea Nacuqu sin-binned before the break. 12-7 to Fiji going into the second half, it was Kenya who responded first with a try from Eden Agero within 19 seconds. Fiji answered with two more tries, this time from Amenoni Nasilasila and Mesulame Kunavula. Kenya responded in the last seconds of the match with a try from Jefferey Oluoch but even with the boot of Samuel Oliech it wasn’t enough to catch Fiji and the game ended 24-21 with both sides going through to the Cup quarter-finals. France and Spain both progress to the Challenge Trophy quarterfinals, their end of day clash resulting in a 12-12 finish.

Results:

Kenya 14-7 France

Fiji 45-5 Spain

Kenya 43-0 Spain

Fiji 38-7 France

France 12-12 Spain

Fiji 24-21 Kenya

Pool D:

(New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Spain)

New Zealand opened Pool D edging Scotland 31-26 with five tries to four and evening the score after Scotland beat the New Zealand Sevens last weekend in Las Vegas. 2018 series leaders South Africa also got points on the board with an opening 38-7 win against Russia. New Zealand went on to make it three from three with wins over Russia 31-5, and the BlitzBoks 33-14. South Africa finished second in Pool D after a 21-0 win over Scotland, who fell to Russia in their last match of the day with a closely fought 26-24 margin. New Zealand Captain Scott Curry spoke to us about his sides clean sweep on day one in Canada.

Results:

New Zealand 31-26 Scotland

South Africa 38-7 Russia

New Zealand 31-5 Russia

South Africa 21-0 Scotland

Scotland 24-26 Russia

South Africa 14-33 New Zealand

Source: @WorldRugby