Sevens: Top spots up for grabs
The Springbok Sevens and New Zealand will play the final match of the day to determine who will top Pool A while Pool B winners will be decided between Fiji and Argentina. Victory for England over Samoa will see them claim top spot in Pool C, with the runner-up position will be filled by either France or the USA.
Kenya and Australia are the only unbeaten sides in Pool D and have already booked their place in the Cup quarter-finals, with victory for either side sowing up top spot.
It was all-too-easy for the Springbok Sevens in their second match of the day as they scored eight unanswered tries to whitewash Russia 54-0. Seabelo Senatla grabbed a first half brace while Albertus Smith and Rosco Speckman added their names to the scoresheet as the Blitzboks raced to a 28-0 half-time lead.
There was no stopping the South Africans in the second half as Speckman grabbed his second try of the match after Juan de Jongh had crossed the whitewash. Dylan Sage scored a late brace before Chris Dry rounded off the rout.
New Zealand got off to the perfect start by scoring two first half tries to hold a 10-0 lead over Scotland at the half-time interval. New Zealand then kicked into high gear as they added a further three tries to their score. They looked set to keep the Scots scoreless but leaked a final minute try to claim the match 27-7.
Argentina remain unbeaten in Pool B after they claimed a massive 31-14 victory over Japan. The South Americans came through the first half unscathed after running in four tries to claim a comfortable 24-0 victory at the break. Argentina ensured victory with five minutes remaining in the match by grabbing their fifth try of the match and hold a comfortable 31-0 lead before Japan claimed two consolation tries in the final two minutes of the encounter.
A big second half performance helped Fiji to easily saw off Wales 33-7. The Pacific Islanders struck as early as the second minute but the Welsh hit back late in the first half as the teams went into the break deadlocked at seven points a piece.
It was one way traffic in the second half as Fiji ran in four unanswered tries to extend their lead at the top of the pool.
In Pool C, Samoa grabbed an early 12-0 lead before France scored a try of their own to head into the half-time break trailing by five points. It was one way traffic in the second half as France ran in three unanswered tries to claim a 28-12 victory.
England were dominant from start to finish against the United States as they ran in two unanswered first half tries to hold a 12-0 lead at the break. They stretched their lead to 19-points with an early second half score and maintained that lead until the 11th minute when the USA finally broke through the defence to score their only points of the match. England claiming a 19-5 victory.
Kenya remain top of Pool D after a routine 26-5 victory over Portugal. Kenya scored either side of a Portuguese try to hold a 12-5 lead at the half-time interval. That was the only success Portugal would taste as a further two Kenyan tries helped the African side to claim the win.
The boot proved to be the difference in an eight try thriller between Australia and Canada as the former walked away with a nervy 26-22 victory. The North Americans claimed the opening score of the match before Australia hit back with two tries of their own. Canada grabbed another late in the half but leaked a try to head into the break trailing 12-19.
Australia struck early in the second half to stretch their lead to 26-12 before Canada scored two unconverted tries to trail by just four points with one minute remaining in the match. Australia held their nerve to claim the important victory.
Results:
France 28-12 Samoa
United States 5-19 England
Argentina 31-14 Japan
Fiji 33-7 Wales
Kenya 26-5 Portugal
Australia 26-22 Canada
South Africa 54-0 Russia
New Zealand 27-7 Scotland
Pools:
Pool A: South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland, Russia
Pool B: Argentina, Fiji, Wales, Japan
Pool C: France, United States, England, Samoa
Pool D: Kenya, Australia, Canada, Portugal
Schedule – Saturday, January 30:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus 11 hours)
England v Samoa – 17.28
France v United States – 17.54
Wales v Japan – 18.20
Argentina v Fiji – 18.46
Canada v Portugal – 19.12
Kenya v Australia – 19.38
Scotland v Russia – 20.04
South Africa v New Zealand
