Upsets galore on Dubai Day 1

Upsets were the name of the game on Day 1 at the Dubai Sevens, as three remarkable results got the 2015-16 Women’s World Series off to a spectacular start. The results have raised eyebrows across the sevens universe, with Olympic gold now appearing very far from a fait accompli.

Last year’s 8th ranked side Fiji looked a completely different side under new head coach Chris Cracknell, and soundly beat the no2 side Canada by a score of 24-10 to kick things off. It was appropriately Magali Harvey who got the opening score, but Fijiana were more than up for it and took a two point lead into the break before completely overwhelming Canada in the second stanza to draw first blood in the tourney.

The second match saw circuit newcomers Ireland hold out the USA with some resolute defense combining with poor American execution to seal a deserved 12-5 victory. Russia followed that up with the most impressive performance of the day, making defending series champions New Zealand look absolutely ordinary in a stunning 33-7 victory.

Canada redeemed themselves somewhat later with a solid if unspectacular win over Ireland, and then poured it on a disheveled Women’s Eagles side by a brutal score of 35-5 to close out the day and earn a spot in the Cup quarters. Things could not have gone worse for the Americans, who conceded a late score to Fiji to finish the day winless and dumped into the Bowl semis.

Brazil were unsurprisingly outclassed by all three opponents, though they did manage to score a terrific team try against New Zealand via diminutive flyer Edna Santini. Their only other try of the day came courtesy of 17-year-old Bianca Dos Santos Silva, who crossed with her first touch of the ball in her World Sevens Series debut.

The Americas will look to Canada to bring home some points as the only representative remaining in the Cup draw. They will have to defeat England and the winner of Australia vs New Zealand just to make the final. USA will face Japan in their Bowl semi-final, while Brazil take on upstart Ireland.

DAY 1 RESULTS

POOL A
New Zealand 7 – 33 Russia
France 25 – 5 Brazil
New Zealand 36 – 5 Brazil
France 17 – 21 Russia
New Zealand 21 – 12 France
Russia 41 – 0 Brazil

POOL B
Canada 10 – 24 Fiji
USA 5 – 12 Ireland
Canada 17 – 7 Ireland
USA 19 – 24 Fiji
Canada 35 – 5 USA
Fiji 27 – 10 Ireland

POOL C
Australia 26 – 7 Spain
England 35 – 0 Japan
Australia 43 – 0 Japan
England 14 – 7 Spain
Australia 24 – 7 England
Spain 26 – 12 Japan

DAY 2 FIXTURES

CUP QUARTER FINALS
Dec 4 – 00:00 EST – Russia vs Spain
Dec 4 – 00:22 EST – Fiji vs France
Dec 4 – 00:44 EST – Australia vs New Zealand
Dec 4 – 01:06 EST – Canada vs England

BOWL SEMI-FINALS
Dec 4 – 02:52 EST – Ireland vs Brazil
Dec 4 – 03:14 EST – USA vs Japan