Dubai Sevens: USA v NZ in Final
SEMIFINAL WRAP: New Zealand will face the United States in the Final at the opening round of the World Series.
In two sensational semifinals, which both went deep into extra time, New Zealand beat England 7-5 and the Americans overcame Australia 22-17.
New Zealand mounted a stunning rearguard action to hold off England for more than two minutes of extra-time play and reach Final.
The USA also went three minutes into extra time before Danny Barrett scored the match winner.
“Australia are a quality outfit and they really put it to us'” Barrett said.
“Our speed, work ethic and endeavour have been amazing and we did what we had to do.
“We lost five games last year and now we’ve got a second shot at New Zealand.
“We’ve been working for this for a long time, off the back of a home world cup where we did not finish where we wanted to. We want to finish top four.”
Cup semifinals
Simon Amor’s England team was pressing early. Captain Tom Mitchell thought that he was away and over, but a knock-on was spotted in the build-up. They were then pinned back and having to go from deep after an excellent run out from Vilimoni Koroi.
England looked to work the ball wide, but in his haste to get it wide as quickly as possible Alex Davis knocked on and got a clattering for his troubles. The scrum gave New Zealand the chance to try and create a scoring opportunity in a half that’s been edgy and confrontational.
New Zealand did strike though, and Andrew Knewstubb’s conversion is a cracker. However, on the final play of the half Vilimoni Koroi was penalised for a high tackle and handed a yellow card. It was a golden opportunity for England, they’re pressing patiently forwards but a breakdown infringement from Tom Bowen ended the half.
England hit back at the start of the second half through Tom Bowen. He found the extra space on the right, put in a tidy step and went from nought to rapid in an instant.
As New Zealand attempted to exit their own half, Ngarohi McGarvey Black struggled to take a tough ball in the middle of the park and knocked-on. It was a prime attacking position for England, but New Zealand defended brilliantly and forced England to be really patient.
England thought their patience was rewarded down the left, but Harry Glover’s boot just clipped the sideline and his try is chalked off. In a dramatic finish, New Zealand held out against a series of raids and won a turnover after two minutes and 27 seconds of extra time and relentless pressure from England – claiming it 7-5 in sensational fashion.
🎥 Reaction: @AllBlacks7s beat @EnglandRugby booking their spot in the final of #Dubai7s We heard from Sione Molia after his side’s incredible performance #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/GBJAEAuS5W
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 1, 2018
Tim Walsh’s Australian side was dominating the possession early on against the United States, but they could not find any routes through.
Australia was working hard to try and find a way through, but a soon as the Americans got the ball in their hands, or rather in the hands of Perry Baker, they scored. Baker’s chip-and-chase was majestic and he made it look SO easy.
And in a flash American made it 12-0 – Matai Leuta going over for the USA.
Blistering pace from Lachie Anderson on the wing got Australia right back into this Cup semifinal. Then, on the final play, a scorching run through the middle from John Porch added their second – 12-all at the break.
Perry Baker got a little over-eager on the outside and went for an intercept. It was just out of his reach and instead, he slapped it down. With Baker sin-binned for an intentional slap-down, John Porch took advantage for his second try of the game.
Once back to their full compliment Stephen Tomasin went over out wide, but the angle means that Madison Hughes couldn’t quite make the conversion.
With the time in red John Porch managed to stop Perry Baker on the outside, but the United States had more than more speedster in their ranks – Carlin Isles also on the park. Isles went through the gears, but threw a speculative ball and gave away a penalty.
Australia could not work it out of their half and ended up giving away a penalty of their own. After using their speedsters the USA decided to go for brute force in the end. Folau Niua took their quick tap and Danny Barrett bulldozed over for the match-winning score.
Results
England 5-7 New Zealand
Australia 17-22 United States
FT: @USARugby are into their first ever #Dubai7s final after beating @Aussie7s 22-17
They will face New Zealand in the Cup final at 19:29 (GMT+4) pic.twitter.com/Sob8Q9ENWC
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 1, 2018
Fifth-place playoffs
Commentators were getting creative to describe Muller du Plessis’ pace down the left for South Africa’s early try: “He’s quicker than a wicked rumour this guy.” South Africa weathered a yellow card period and looked like they’re going to score, but the final pass to Werner Kok just strayed marginally forward. Then Scotland was left with a one-man disadvantage, after Kyle Steyn cleared a man out of the ruck far too high – leaving it 5-0 at the break.
After the break, the BlitzBoks were going through the gears and looked a lot more like the side that secured back-to-back titles here for the last two seasons. Muller du Plessis’ second helps them to open out a solid 24-point advantage. Rosko Specman finished the job on the front foot and Selvyn Davids did the same on the back foot. Davids halted Kyle Steyn with the line in sight and it was a resolute shutout from the BlitzBoks.
Fiji and Argentina did not mess around. Marcos Moroni started with an inspirational take of the first kick of the game, which only got Fiji’s tails up. The trio of Amenoni Nasilasila, Alasio Sovita Naduva and Waisea Nacuqu all crossed. Alasio Naduva got Fiji’s last try of the first half.
Turning around 7-24 down it was important that Argentina scored first in this half and they did just that. Franco Sabato put boot to ball with a lovely chip forward and Marcos Moroni was the man on the end. Ravouvou then produced a sublime inside flick for Naquca to score the try that put the match beyond doubt.
It was a sour note to end on as Amenoni Nasilasila made contact with the head of an opponent and received a red card for it. The extra space provided an opportunity on the right-hand side and Argentina had the final say on the board.
Results
South Africa 29-0 Scotland
Argentina 19-31 Fiji
RE:LIVE: That’s a beauty! @speckmagic11 hits the jets and scores an absolute beauty for the @BlitzBoks #Dubai7s#DHLRugby pic.twitter.com/ln9e7hFQAB
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 1, 2018
Challenge Trophy semifinals
Samoa 26-22 Spain
Canada 12-28 France
Thirteenth-place play-offs:
Japan 26-19 Kenya
Zimbabwe 10-14 Wales
Source: @WorldRugby7s
😎 @speckmagic11 brings the energy on and off the pitch #Dubai7s pic.twitter.com/8c1gmdWmFh
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 1, 2018
