Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
South Africa continued their dominance on the 2016-17 HSBC Sevens Series, winning their third event of the new season in Sydney and second consecutive after Wellington last weekend. The Blitzbokke redeemed their Day One loss with a convincing 29-14 win over rivals England in the Cup Final. In doing so they widen the gap between the two sides to 17 points on the overall table.
The Americas teams showed mixed results on Day Two. Canada started their day with a disappointing 19-7 loss to Japan. Wins over Papua New Guinea and Kenya left them in 13th place at the tournament, a far cry from their outstanding Cup Semi Final performance in Wellington and a return to their form at Dubai and Cape Town. The loss of world class playmaker Nathan Hirayama before the tournament proved an insurmountable blow. He is expected to return in time for the North American leg in four weeks time.
Argentina saw their Cup challenge end in the Quarter Final, losing 24-7 to England. A 24-21 upset win by New Zealand over Fiji meant that the Pumas had to face the defending Olympic Champions in the 5th place Semi Final. Fiji would take the match by 38-21 sending Argentina to an early shower and a winless Day Two.
The USA could not get past eventual champions South Africa in the Quarter Finals, but managed to find victory against Wales in the 5th place Semi Finals. Unfortunately for them they met Fiji, fresh off a dominant win over Argentina, and the Eagles were overwhelmed by the Fijian attack, dropping a 35-12 result. The 6th place finish does improve their standings somewhat, drawing them level with Argentina on 35 points but slightly ahead on points differential.
North America will host the next two legs of the tournament, the first in Las Vegas starting on March 3. The series return to Vancouver one week later.
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Kenya 0 – 22 Russia
Scotland 14 – 21 Samoa
Canada 7 – 19 Japan
France 17 – 0 Papua New Guinea
CUP QUARTER FINALS
England 24 – 7 Argentina
New Zealand 24 – 21 Fiji
USA 10 – 21 South Africa
Wales 0 – 26 Australia
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Kenya 19 – 14 Scotland
Canada 33 – 20 Papua New Guinea
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Russia 17 – 12 Samoa
Japan 12 – 19 France
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Argentina 21 – 38 Fiji
USA 19 – 10 Wales
CUP SEMI FINALS
England 12 – 5 New Zealand
South Africa 26 – 12 Australia
13th PLACE FINAL
Kenya 5 – 10 Canada
TROPHY FINAL
Russia 26 – 0 France
5th PLACE FINAL
Fiji 35 – 12 USA
BRONZE FINAL
New Zealand 29 – 14 Australia
CUP FINAL
England 14 – 29 South Africa
