Eagles fly high in Tokyo
The United States reached their first Cup quarterfinal of the 2013/14 IRB Sevens World Series, at the end of an enthralling day of action at the 2014 Tokyo tournament.
In a tournament that kick-started their season a year ago, Matt Hawkins' side beat Samoa and drew with Fiji thanks to the instrumental Zack Test to progress to the last eight in round six of the latest Series.
Despite losing to France in their final pool match the US qualified to set up a quarterfinal with South Africa on day two, after Fiji beat Samoa 33-5 to take top spot in Pool C and confirm US's progression as pool runners-up.
Ben Ryan's side saved their best performance for last as they defeated Pacific neighbours 33-5 after an earlier 22-19 win over Fiji and the 19-19 draw with the US Eagles. Samisoni Viriviri extended his lead at the top of the try scoring charts with five in Tokyo and they will meet Kenya on day two.
The defending champions, South Africa, were one of three teams to maintain a 100 percent record on day one, defeating Japan, Kenya and Argentina.
England came from 0-14 and 7-21 behind to record an impressive 24-21 win against Australia to top Pool D and end day one with a 100 percent record having conceded no points in earlier defeats of Scotland and Spain.
Despite Australia's Greg Jeloudev scoring his fifth and sixth tries of the day in the Pool D decider having earlier completed a hat-trick against Scotland, Phil Burgess scored a brace to set up a quarterfinal with Canada while Australia await the current Series leaders New Zealand.
The All Blacks Sevens ensured they ended day one with a hat-trick of wins as they narrowly beat Canada 22-17. John Moonlight scored a hat-trick for the ever-improving Canadians but it was Bryce Heem who snatched a win after the buzzer had sounded.
Earlier Tim Mikkelson scored a hat-trick as Gordon Tietjens' side won 43-5 against Wales before adding two more in their 40-7 defeat of Portugal and one against Canada.
The hosts Japan drew 14-14 with Argentina in their opening match with Lomano Lemeki, scorer of 27 tries in the Asian Sevens Series, crossing for both of their tries.
Jamie Henry scored one of the best tries of the day in Japan's defeat to the defending champions South Africa before they narrowly lost 12-7 to Kenya. They will face Samoa in the Bowl quarterfinals while.
Sixth placed Samoa, who will lose points on the leaders in the Series standings having dropped to the Bowl, will face the hosts while Portugal await Scotland, Wales meet Spain and Argentina play France.
Bowl quarterfinals:
Wales v Spain
Samoa v Japan
Scotland v Portugal
Argentina v France
Cup quarterfinal:
New Zealand v Australia
Fiji v Kenya
England v Canada
South Africa v United States
All the Day One results!
Pool A:
(New Zealand, Canada, Wales, Portugal)
Canada 40-5 Portugal
New Zealand 43-5 Wales
New Zealand 40-7 Portugal
Wales 17-17 Canada
New Zealand 22-17 Canada
Wales 29-7 Portugal
Pool B:
(South Africa, Argentina, Kenya, Japan)
Argentina 14-14 Japan
South Africa 26-12 Kenya
Argentina 7-24 Kenya
South Africa 33-5 Japan
Kenya 12-7 Japan
South Africa 28-12 Argentina
Pool C:
(Fiji, Samoa, France, United States)
Samoa 28-14 France
Fiji 19-19 United States
Samoa 17-24 United States
Fiji 22-19 France
France 22-12 United States
Fiji 33-7 Samoa
Pool D:
(England, Australia, Scotland, Spain)
England 29-0 Spain
Australia 28-7 Spain
England 36-0 Scotland
Australia 26-19 Scotland
England 24-21 Australia
Scotland 24-5 Spain
