It is SA v NZ in Vancouver Final
The BlitzBoks, who always seemed to have an extra gear in their 31-19 win over crowd favourites Fiji, will play arch rivals New Zealand in the Cup Final.
Souther African raced into a 12-0 lead, before Fiji levelled it up at 12-all. SA then went ahead again, before Fiji again levelled it up at 19-all. However, a two-try blitzkrieg took the game away from the Pacific Islanders.
In the other semifinal the Kiwis also had too much for an Australian team that simply made far too many errors – going ahead 12-0, then 28-12 to finally win 28-19.
* America advanced to the Plate Final – where they will meet Samoa – after the north Americans blew an injury-hit Welsh team away, winning 38-12. In the other semifinal, Samoa raced into a 19-0 half-time lead, before holding out against a Scottish comeback in the second half to win 24-17.
* Hosts Canada will meet France in the Bowl Final – Canada holding on to beat England 17-7, while France came back from being down 0-17 at half-time to edge Argentina 19-17 in a dramatic finish in the other semifinal.
* Russia will play Portugal in the Shield Final – the Russians beating Kenya 24-7 and Portugal overcoming Brazil 17-7 in their respective semifinals.
We look at all the semifinal action!
Cup semifinals:
Justin Geduld opened the scoring in the first semifinal, as Chris Dry intercepted a Fijian pass inside their 22 and quick hands and some fine stepping got South African on the board. Ruan Nel was then yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle – reducing the BlitzBoks to six men for two minutes. Despite being a man down Geduld got a second try for the South Africans, after Albertus Smith bust a tackle and the ball was spilled backwards – for Geduld to stroll over.
Masivesi Dakuwaqa eventually found space out on the right wing, as the BlitzBoks ran out of cover, as the Fijians got on the board. And right on the stroke of half-time Kitione Taliga levelled the game up at 12-all – after a number of breakdown penalties against South Africa.
Ruan Nel, back on the field, went from villain to hero as he powered over after a strong run by captain Kyle Nel. But from the restart Taliga sprinted 80 metres after the South African defence was caught flat-footed and the cover could not cope with his pace – tied at 19-all.
Then a couple of strong runs, by Seabelo Senatla and then Brown again, opened the space for Cecil Afrika to get the BlitzBoks back in the lead – 26-19. From the restart the BlitzBoks regained possession and quick hands found Senatla on the left wing and his pace carried him clear ad over for a 31-19 lead with 90 seconds remaining on the clock. Fiji had one last throw of the dice, but a stray pass dashed their dreams.
In the second semifinal New Zealand captain Tim Mikkelson opened the scoring after Australia were penalised at the kick-off. The Aussies again coughed up possession and Gillies Kaka used his pace to beat the Aussies' ragged defence and give the Kiwis a 14-0 lead.
Con Foley, from a mistake by New Zealand and some great interplay, then got the Aussies on the board. Right on the stroke of half-time Henry Hutchison brought the Aussies within two points (12-14), after he charged over in the corner – a score which required the referee to go to the big screen to determine if he had not been dragged into touch.
Sione Molia then sprinted 50 metres, after the Aussies failed to control possession and the Kiwis attacked swiftly. Molia scored another soon afterwards, as the Aussies handling let them down again and he accepted the gift – a 28-12 lead.
Quade Cooper then made his entrance, but it was James Stannard who put in a little kick to go around DJ Forbes to keep Australia's hopes alive. However, it was a classic case of too little too late – New Zealand winning 28-19 to advance to the Final.
Results:
Fiji 19-31 South Africa
New Zealand 28-19 Australia
REACTION: @BlitzBoks head coach @Neil5Powell on his side's win over Fiji to progress to #Canada7s final: pic.twitter.com/g6S5oQTEbh
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 13, 2016
Plate semifinals:
Injury-hit Wales thought they had the opening score in the first Plate semifinal, but a forward pass ruled it out and instead Perry Baker raced away for his seventh try of the weekend.
The United States, heartbreakingly denied a Cup semifinal place after Fiji completed their remarkable comeback in sudden-death extra-time, were in complete control in the first half after tries by Folau Niua and Martin Iosefo either side of another Perry Baker special, the speedster this time turning the Welsh defence inside and out before turning on the gas.
The Yanks marched on into the Plate Final with a fifth try through captain Madison Hughes, but it was Wales who finish with a flourish thanks to tries from Lloyd Evans and Jordan Williams. It was a much-improved tournament for Wales in Vancouver, but they could not stop Nate Augspurger from having the final say
Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa always has a smile on his face and who can blame him after his dazzling footwork unlocked the Scottish defence to create the opening try for Samoa. Alefosio Tapili intercepted a poor no-look pass to race away for number two and then Hunapo-Nofoa opened his box of tricks again to create a try for Samoa Toloa – 19-0 at the break.
If the first half was the Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa show, then Scotland decided it was time to make a few headlines themselves as first Jamie Farndale turned on his jet-shoes and then Junior Bulumakau dotted down to cut the deficit to five points. There was to be no fairytale comeback though as the ball came out of the side of a Scotland scrum, Hunapo-Nofoa kick-passed the ball and Samoa Toloa sprinted clear to book Samoa's place in the Plate Final against America. Scotland would have the final say through Scott Riddell, but their involvement in the Canada Sevens has come to an end.
Results:
United States 38-12 Wales
Samoa 24-17 Scotland
SNAP REACTION: A quick word with @nz7s star DJ Forbes after his side progressed to the #Canada7s Cup final pic.twitter.com/ASj7sdBU43
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 13, 2016
Bowl semifinals:
Argentina made all the running in the first half against France – with tries from Rodrigo Etchart, Fernando Luna and Axel Muller putting them in the driving seat. Muller's try on the stroke of half-time came with Argentina a man down, with Nicolas Bruzzone in the bin.
France made the most of their man advantage early in the second half, with Jonathan Laugel charging over as Nicolas Bruzzone sat on the naughty chair and then set up a tense final 90 seconds – after Jean Baptiste Mazoue cut the deficit to five points. The nerves were jangling and both sides turned over the ball, but France found the score they needed through Stephen Parez and up stepped the ice-cool Terry Bouhraoua to kick the winning conversion.
Mike Fuailefau got the home crowd on their feet with the opening try for Canada, but there is nothing to separate the teams at half-time after Dan Norton is gifted a try for England when a kick bounced awkwardly and evaded Harry Jones. Norton then turned try-saver to haul Admir Cejvanvoic into touch just metres from the line with the final play of the half.
Whatever Canada coach Liam Middleton said had half-time clearly had the desired effect as local boy Nathan Hirayama charged 80 metres down the touchline to put the hosts back in front again. And then, from the restart, Mike Fuailefau claimed the ball and England found themselves two scores down in the cauldron of noise. Every Canadian tackle, break or penalty won was cheered and they will face France in the Bowl Final.
Results:
France 19-17 Argentina
England 7-17 Canada
Shield semifinals:
Kenya didn't recovered from yet another last-gasp loss they suffered against France in the Bowl semifinals and a much-improved Russia took advantage to enjoy an unexpected first-half dominance. Tries from German Davydov, Eduard Filatov and Vladislav Sozonov make it 19-0 before Oscar Ouma grabs a lifeline for Kenya on the stroke of half-time.
If Kenya were on top of their game then you wouldn't have ruled out a second-half turnaround, even after Yury Gostyuzhev increased Russia's advantage to 24-7 with their fourth try of the match. But the Kenyans were somewhat flat and simply had no answer to Russia, who converted their opportunities to book a place in the Shield Final.
Portugal have found life hard-going at the Canada Sevens, but Pedro Silverio opened the scoring when he recovered from a huge tackle to place the ball over the line. Silverio then slipped another tackle to grab his second as Portugal found their feet in this Shield semifinal against a spirited Brazilian side still seeking a first-ever series victory.
Portugal picked up where they left off with a try for Tiago Fernandes, but Brazil continued to probe for that first try on day two and they got their reward when Daniel Sancery stepped his way over from close range. The Olympic hosts thought they had another try with the final play, but Gustavo Albuquerque's effort was chalked off and it was Portugal who marched on to the Shield Final against Russia
Results:
Kenya 7-24 Russia
Portugal 17-7 Brazil
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