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The USA is one step closer to guaranteeing their spot in the 2020 Olympics after going unbeaten on Day One of the Singapore sevens. They advance to the Cup Quarter Finals along with Argentina as the two Americas sides look to press their title claims.
A win in the Quarter Finals combined with a loss for England could be enough to see the Eagles through to Tokyo. They are all but certain to qualify as one of the top four teams on the HSBC Sevens Series table but are looking to become the first team to clinch their spot with two rounds to spare.
It was a promising opening day for Mike Friday’s charges, as they defeated Wales, Kenya, and England in succession to finish on top of Pool C. Folau Niua picked up a couple tries against the Welsh with Carlin Isles adding a double against the Kenyans.
Argentina dropped their opening match against Australia but rebounded with a one-sided won over invitational side Hong Kong, and then earned their place in the Quarter Finals by defeating France. Lautaro Bazán Vélez scored twice against the Dragons while Franco Sábato did the same against Les Bleus.
Canada started their tournament with a miserable 50-12 defeat to Fiji that saw the Islanders scoring almost at will. Arguably worse was a 36-0 demolition at the hands of South Africa. Somehow they would summon the energy to put their own 33-10 thrashing on Scotland, this after the Scots had upset Fiji in their second game.
Fiji, in fact, only barely squeezed into the Cup Quarter Finals after losing two of their pool matches with South Africa proving the best team in Pool A. New Zealand edged Samoa in a cracking finale to Pool D to emerge undefeated, while Australia achieved the same in Pool B
The Canadians will face Japan in the Challenge Trophy Quarter Finals in their first match of Day Two. Meanwhile one Americas team is guaranteed to advance to the Cup Semi Finals as the USA and Argentina will go head-to-head in the second Quarter Final.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL D
New Zealand 43 – 0 Japan
Samoa 40 – 14 Spain
New Zealand 53 – 0 Spain
Samoa 57 – 5 Japan
Japan 17 – 5 Spain
Samoa 22 – 26 New Zealand
POOL C
England 36 – 7 Kenya
USA 31 – 12 Wales
England 0 – 12 Wales
USA 17 – 14 Kenya
Kenya 19 – 14 Wales
USA 22 – 7 England
POOL B
Argentina 17 – 22 Australia
France 26 – 7 Hong Kong
Argentina 31 – 5 Hong Kong
France 12 – 24 Australia
Australia 47 – 0 Hong Kong
France 7 – 19 Argentina
POOL A
South Africa 36 – 10 Scotland
Fiji 50 – 12 Canada
South Africa 36 – 0 Canada
Fiji 12 – 19 Scotland
Scotland 10 – 33 Canada
Fiji 7 – 17 South Africa
DAY TWO FIXTURES
Sat, Apr 14 – 22:00 ET – TROPHY QUARTER FINAL – Scotland vs Spain
Sat, Apr 14 – 22:22 ET – TROPHY QUARTER FINAL – Wales vs Hong Kong
Sat, Apr 14 – 22:44 ET – TROPHY QUARTER FINAL – Japan vs Canada
Sat, Apr 14 – 23:06 ET – TROPHY QUARTER FINAL – France vs Kenya
Sat, Apr 14 – 23:30 ET – CUP QUARTER FINAL – South Africa vs Samoa
Sat, Apr 14 – 23:52 ET – CUP QUARTER FINAL – USA vs Argentina
Sun, Apr 15 – 00:14 ET – CUP QUARTER FINAL – New Zealand vs Fiji
Sun, Apr 15 – 00:36 ET – CUP QUARTER FINAL – Australia vs England
