DUBAI 7s: Blitzboks v Fiji in Final
South Africa ran in six tries to claim an easy victory over Wales while a dominant second half display saw Fiji score three unanswered tries to secure their spot in the Cup Final
In the play-offs for fifth place, Scotland overcame a plucky France outfit and will duke it out with Australia for fifth spot after they beat New Zealand in their knock-out encounter.
Samoa ensured their passage into the Challenge Trophy final with a last ditch victory over Argentina while the USA managed to hold off a gutsy Kenya to secure their place in the final. In the 13th play-off semifinals, Uganda claimed their first-ever victory on the Series when they beat Japan and set up a 13th place play-off against Canada, who blitz Russia in a one-sided encounter.
Cup
Wales 5-36 South Africa
Wales applied some early pressure but South Africa gained possession and scored with their first attack through Seabelo Senatla to take a 5-0 lead after three minutes. Senatla grabbed another a few seconds later. Branco du Preez' conversion ensured a 12-0 lead.
There was no letting off the gas as Senatla grabbed a hat-trick in the final minute of the half. Du Preez' conversion extended the lead to 19-0 at the break.
South Africa turned on the style to grab try number four through Justin Geduld. Cecil Afrika converted the try to stretch the lead to 26-0 with four minutes remaining. Wales got a try of their own with three minutes to go to reduce the deficit to 5-26.
Werner Kok and Albertus Smith grabbed tries of their own in the final minute of the match to secure their Cup Final spot.
Fiji 31-12 England
England drew first blood with a composed finish in the second minute of the match to take a 5-0 lead. Fiji got themselves back in it in the fourth minute with a converted try to take a 7-5 lead but England regained the lead with a converted try of their own with less than two minutes left in the half, 12-7.
The rollercoaster match continued with Fiji grabbing the final try of the half to level matters at 12-12 at the break.
Fiji dominated the opening minutes of the second half and got reward after three minutes when their second converted try ensured a 19-12 lead. The match was effectively over in the final minutes when Fiji grabbed another two scores secure their passage into the Cup Final.
Fifth place
Australia 20-12 New Zealand
Australia could have taken the lead in the opening two minutes but they knocked the ball on in the in-goal area and they were made to pay a minute later as New Zealand grabbed the first try of the match to take a 7-0 lead. Australia kept plugging away and found reward in the final minute with their first try to head into the break trailing 5-7.
New Zealand were reduced to six men early in the second half and Australia took full advantage to take a 10-7 lead. However, New Zealand hit back when they got back to a full compliment to regain the lead, 12-10. The lead changed hands once again with two minutes remaining when Australia grabbed two quick tries to take a 20-12 lead.
France 17-26 Scotland
A good build-up in the opening two minutes led to Scotland grabbing the first points of the game and built on that lead with two minutes to go in the half to ensure a 12-0 lead but France hit back with two tries in the final minute to level matters at 12-12 at the break.
France took a 17-12 lead early in the second half but they relinquished their lead soon after as Scotland bagged a converted try to edge 19-17 ahead with four minutes to play. Scotland remained on the front foot for the remainder of the match and grabbed a late try to seal the victory.
Challenge Trophy
Kenya 19-21 USA
The USA got the scoring going with two quick converted tries in the opening three minutes to race to a 14-0 lead. Kenya were under the pump but had something to smile about as they closed out the half with two tries in quick succession to reduce the deficit to 12-14 at the break.
USA got their noses further ahead with an early second half converted try but Kenya got themselves back to within two points with a converted try of their own to trail 19-21 with two minutes to go in the contest. However, the USA managed to hold on for victory.
Argentina 10-12 Samoa
Argentina took the lead in the first half with an unconverted try before Samoa got themselves on the board with a converted try, that handed them a 7-5 lead at the break.
The South Americans regained the lead in the opening minute of the second half with another unconverted try. Samoa had much of the possession for the remainder of the match but Argentina stood firm in defence to thwart their attacks. There was to be a late twist though as Samoa dug deep to score in the final play of the match to secure victory.
Thirteenth place
Canada 27-5 Russia
It was all Canada in the opening minutes as they took an early 5-0 lead before adding two further tries late in the half to ensure a 17-0 lead at the break.
There was no stopping Canada in the second half as they scored a further two tries to end the match as a contest. Russia once again avoided a whitewash by bagging a consolation try.
Japan 19-26 Uganda
Japan started strong and sliced through Uganda's defence in the second minute to take a 7-0 but Uganda were on level terms a minute later following a brilliant solo effort. A few seconds later and Uganda had a 14-7 lead after a mazy run cut through Japan's defence. Japan finished strong though and a late try saw them trail 12-14 at the break.
Uganda stepped and jinked their way to a 21-12 lead after the resumption of play before carving out a brilliantly worked try to stretch that lead to 26-12 with four minutes to go. Japan kept themselves in the hunt with a minute to go when they bagged a try to reduce the deficit to 19-26.
Final fixtures
(all times are local. GMT plus four)
Cup Final
19.33 – Fiji v South Africa
Bronze medal
19.08 – England v Wales
Fifth place
18.44 – Scotland v Australia
Challenge Trophy Final
18.19 – Samoa v USA
Thirteenth place
17.57 – Uganda v Canada
