England shock Fiji in Tokyo

England caused the big upset in the pool stages on the opening day at the Tokyo leg of the IRB Sevens World Series.

The English stunned Hong Kong champions Fiji 14-7 in the final pool match of the day, setting up a quarterfinal showdown with South Africa – who upstaged them in the third-place play-off last week.

Other unbeaten teams on Day One are Series leaders New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.

Cup quarterfinals:
England v South Africa
Wales v Australia
Samoa v Fiji
New Zealand v Argentina

We look at all the Day One action!

Pool A:
(Fiji, England, France, Japan)

England beat Fiji 14-7 to maintain their 100 percent record on day one and set up a quarterfinal with South Africa.

Tom Mitchell and Dan Norton scored the two tries in a morale boosting victory for Ben Ryan’s side who are missing forwards Chris Cracknell and Isoa Damu.

Earlier they beat Japan 15-5 thanks to tries from Mat Turner, Tom Powell and Rob Vickerman before they beat France, in a repeat of the Dubai Sevens Cup final, 19-7, thanks to tries from Chris Brightwell, Mitchell and Turner. 

Last week’s Hong Kong Sevens winners Fiji, who sit just two points behind Series leaders New Zealand in the overall standings, began with a 17-0 victory against France thanks to two tries from Waisea Nayacalevu before beating the hosts 26-7. 

The hosts Japan will enter the Bowl quarterfinals having finished fourth in Pool A after losing 24-5 against France in their final match on day one. 

Results:
England 19-7 France
Fiji 26-7 Japan
England 15-5 Japan
Fiji 17-0 France
France 24-5 Japan
Fiji 7-14 England

Pool B
(New Zealand, Australia, United States, Hong Kong)

Current Series leaders New Zealand became the first side to book their place in the quarterfinals as pool winners by beating trans-Tasman rivals Australia 22-10 in their final Pool A match to maintain their 100 percent record on day one. 

Earlier, Gordon Tietjens’ side added a 40-0 victory against Hong Kong, thanks to two tries each from Mark Jackman and Waisake Naholo, to a 26-5 win against USA in the day’s opening match. Tomasi Cama, Ardie Savea, Bryce Heem and Charles Piutau all crossed for the defending Series champions.  

Daniel Yakopo scored twice in Australia’s 15-0 victory against USA after they narrowly beat last week’s hosts Hong Kong 17-14 but they enter the Cup quarterfinals as Pool B runners-up.

USA and Hong Kong played out for third place in Pool B, with Rocco Mauer scoring the winning try for USA in a 21-19 victory with the final play of the match.

Results:
United States 21-19 Hong Kong
Australia 15-0 United States
New Zealand 40-0 Hong Kong
Australia 17-14 Hong Kong
New Zealand 26-5 United States
New Zealand 22-10 Australia

Pool C:
(Argentina, Wales, Kenya, Russia)

Wales top Pool C after beating Argentina 17-5 and maintaining their 100 percent record on day one. 

Earlier, the reigning RWC Sevens champions recorded a 10-7 victory against next year’s RWC Sevens hosts Russia in their opening match before Richie Pugh, Lee Williams, Harry Robinson and Richard Smith scored tries in their 22-0 victory against Kenya.

Argentina made it two wins from two as they beat Russia 22-0 to add to an earlier 15-7 victory against Kenya and set up a repeat of the RWC Sevens 2009 final against Wales in the Pool C decider, but will still enter the Cup quarters as runners-up. 

Russia finished third in Pool C after two Vladimir Ostroushko tries helped his side to a 26-17 victory against Kenya. 

Results:
Kenya 17-26 Russia
Wales 22-0 Kenya
Argentina 22-0 Russia
Wales 10-7 Russia
Argentina 15-7 Kenya
Argentina 5-17 Wales

Pool D:
(South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, Portugal)

USA Sevens champions Samoa beat South Africa 38-7 thanks to tries from Ken Pisi either side of half time as the islanders proved too strong on the day for South Africa, putting in a fine performance to see off Paul Treu’s men.

Earlier, the 2009/10 Series champions survived a second half scare against Portugal, holding on to a 21-20 victory in their opening Tokyo Sevens match before edging Scotland 12-7 thanks to a late try from Pisi.

South Africa also beat Portugal, the third and final side to claim one of the three core team spots on offer for the next World Series last week in Hong Kong, 14-7 thanks to tries from Cornal Hendricks and Branco du Preez.

Despite being without the injured IRB Sevens Player of the Year Cecil Afrika, Paul Treu’s side also defeated Scotland 14-0 in their first match thanks to tries from captain Kyle Brown and the impressive Hendricks.

Portugal came from 7-0 down to beat Scotland 15-7 in the penultimate Pool D match and finish third heading into the Bowl quarterfinals, Sebastiao de Cunha scoring two of their three tries.

Results:
Scotland 7-15 Portugal
Samoa 14-7 Scotland
South Africa 12-7 Portugal
Samoa 21-20 Portugal
South Africa 14-0 Scotland
South Africa 7-38 Samoa