Blitzbokke brush off NZ; Samoa fall short
The Blitzbokke stole the show on the first day of the Dubai Sevens when they defeated New Zealand, while Samoa fell short of the quarterfinals after a draw with Argentina.
Wales, Fiji, England and South Africa all maintained 100 percent record and topped their pools, while Australia, Argentina, France and New Zealand also qualified for the quarterfinals.
Fiji’s Cup victory in Australia last weekend means they are the team to beat at the top of the standings and their victory against Samoa meant their pacific rivals miss out on the Cup quarterfinals.
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Pool A:
(Fiji, Samoa, Argentina, United Arab Emirates)
A hat-trick from Joeli Lutumailagi ensured Fiji defeated Samoa 31-14 to end day one with a 100 percent record. The result also means Samoa miss out on the Cup quarterfinals and Argentina quality as Pool A runners-up.
Aminiasi Nava Kuruinovo earlier helped Fiji make it two wins from two as his two tries assisted in a 43-0 victory over hosts UAE.
The Gold Coast Sevens winners got their campaign off to a flying start earlier, beating Los Pumas 40-7 thanks to 26 second-half points and two tries from Joeli Lutumailagi.
2009/10 Series champions Samoa defeated the hosts 55-12 on the 40th anniversary of the UAE. Tom Iosefo, Paul Perez and Faalemiga Selesele all scored twice but Emad Reyal received the biggest cheer as he scored both of UAE’s tries.
In their second match Samoa came from 21-7 behind to lead 28-21 with seconds to go, but Nicolas Fernandez Lobbe’s men clinched a dramatic all-important draw thanks to a late try from Agustin Migliore and decisive Gonzalo Gutierrez Taboada conversion.
Manuel Montero scored a hat-trick for Los Pumas in their 73-7 victory against UAE to give Argentina a points advantage over Samoa.
Fixtures/results:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus four hours)
Fiji 40-7 Argentina
Samoa 55-12 UAE
Fiji 43-0 UAE
Samoa 28-28 Argentina
Argentina 73-7 UAE
Fiji 31-14 Samoa
Pool B:
(New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Portugal)
2008/09 Series champions South Africa beat New Zealand 21-5 in the final Pool B match, ensuring Paul Treu’s side maintained a 100 percent record on day one.
Last year Portugal stunned England on day one but lost to South Africa in their first match at the Sevens this year. Bernado Botha, captain Kyle Brown and William Small-Smith scored for Paul Treu’s side before Frederico Oliveira added a consolation try for Portugal.
Six different players then scored for South Africa as they defeated the USA 36-7, ensuring Al Caravelli’s side are still yet to record a victory over Treu’s side in the history of the World Series.
Defending Series champions New Zealand got off to a strong start, beating USA 40-0. Tomasi Cama and Frank Halai scored twice, and there were a further four different scorers for Gordon Tietjens’ side.
Halai scored a further two tries in their second pool match, a 31-7 victory against Portugal, and they enter the Cup quarterfinals as pool runners-up.
In the penultimate Pool B match, Portugal ensured they finished third heading into the Bowl competition after a 12-10 victory against USA, with Aderito Esteves and Duarte Moreira crossing.
Fixtures/results:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus four hours)
New Zealand 40-0 United States
South Africa 17-5 Portugal
New Zealand 31-7 Portugal
South Africa 36-7 United States
United States 10-12 Portugal
New Zealand 5-21 South Africa
Pool C:
(France, England, Kenya, Zimbabwe)
Defending Dubai Sevens champions England began the defence of their campaign by beating Zimbabwe 43-0 thanks to two Dan Norton tries, taking his career tally to 51, and one for debutant Christian Lewis-Pratt, before Matt Turner struck twice in their 19-12 victory against Kenya.
England roudned off a very successful opening day with a 29-12 victory over France to top the pool and will now face New Zealand in the quarterfinals.
France, who reached last weekend’s Cup quarterfinals also got off to a positive start, beating Kenya 27-5 thanks to two tries from Renaud Delmas before a 26-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Fixtures/results:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus four hours)
France 27-5 Kenya
England 43-0 Zimbabwe
France 26-0 Zimbabwe
England 19-12 Kenya
Kenya 7-21 Zimbabwe
France 12-29 England
Pool D:
(Wales, Australia, Scotland, Canada)
Wales became the first side to top their pool pool day one after an impressive 33-14 victory over last week’s hosts Australia as Richard Smith scored twice.
In their second match, Paul John’s side recorded a narrow 15-12 victory against Geraint John’s Canada including a landmark 50th try for Ifan Evans.
The reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens champions had earlier got off to a winning start as Tom Prydie and Will Price’s late effort helped Paul John’s side to a 14-7 victory after Andrew Turnbull had scored the first try of the tournament.
Lewis Holland crossed for a hat-trick in Australia’s first match as they defeated Pan American Games champions Canada 40-7 before they came from 7-0 behind to beat Scotland 24-12.
Scotland then overturned 7-0 and 14-12 deficits themselves to beat Canada 19-14 and finish third in the pool as Turbull scored a hat-trick in the match to take his career try tally to 100.
Fixtures/results:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus four hours)
Wales 14-7 Scotland
Australia 40-7 Canada
Wales 15-12 Canada
Australia 24-12 Scotland
Scotland 19-14 Canada
Wales 33-14 Australia
