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Fiji have jumped to the top of the 2017-18 HSBC Sevens Series standings after claiming victory in Singapore, their third consecutive tournament win and fourth in the last five stops. A late try pushed them past New Zealand in the Quarter Finals with only a conversion separating them from South Africa in the Semis. Their breakaway speed was the different against Australia in the Cup Final and they now site four points ahead of South Africa with two stops remaining,.
Day Two was kinder to the North American teams who both progressed to the Trophy Semi Final. Canada got their day off to a fine start as they eased past France and then beat an injury-ravaged Wales side in the Trophy Semi Final.
The USA suffered a blow of their own as Perry Baker was ruled out of Day Two completely with a shoulder injury but they forged ahead and crushed Argentina in the Trophy Quarter Final, with a similar result coming against Scotland in the Trophy Semi.
At halftime in the Trophy Final the two North American sides were within a whisker of each other, the USA ahead by two points after Stephen Tomasin converted a Carlin Isles score before the break. Canada ran out of petrol in the second half, however, and Tomasin helped himself to a try before Kevon Williams got his second of the game to seal the 9th-place finish.
Argentina endured a miserable run, easily their worst of the season. After being humbled by the Eagles in the Trophy Quarter Final they only just got by Russia thanks to a late score from Lautaro Bazán. The 13th-place Final did not go as planned and it was Japan who instead emerged winners having only just qualified for a return to Core Status in Hong Kong and arriving in Singapore with a very young and almost entirely home-grown side.
As a result the Pumas slip to 7th overall with the USA now back in 5th. Canada retain their 11th place position. The Series now approaches the final leg of the circuit with the penultimate stop coming in London on June 2.
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Japan 19 – 28 Wales
Canada 26 – 7 France
Scotland 19 – 14 Russia
USA 36 – 12 Argentina
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Fiji 24 – 19 New Zealand
South Africa 24 – 12 Kenya
Australia 7 – 5 Spain
England 12 – 5 Samoa
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Japan 29 – 14 France
Russia 7 – 12 Argentina
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Wales 10 – 17 Canada
Scotland 12 – 33 USA
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
New Zealand 17 – 7 Kenya
Spain 7 – 24 Samoa
CUP SEMI FINALS
Fiji 12 – 10 South Africa
Australia 15 – 7 England
13th PLACE FINAL
Japan 31 – 24 Argentina
TROPHY FINAL
Canada 12 – 26 USA
5th PLACE FINAL
New Zealand 36 – 17 Samoa
BRONZE FINAL
South Africa 24 – 26 England
CUP FINAL
Fiji 28 – 22 Australia
