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Americas teams claimed two of the top three spots in the men’s bracket at the Dubai Sevens. No team was able to match dominant champions South Africa, but the USA would finish as runners-up with Argentina celebrating a 3rd-place ranking in the first event of the new World Sevens Series campaign.
A try in extra time from 20-year-old debutante Tomás Lizazu gave Los Pumas a dramatic win over Ireland in the Cup Quarter Final. They fell short against the Blitzboks but again impressed with a win over Fiji to claim third overall. Joaquín Lamas, also playing in his first Series tournament, scored two tries and added two conversions.
Scoring the quarter-final winner in your first ever tournament
It’s dreamland for Argentina and Tomas Lizazu in Dubai as they edge Ireland to make the semi-finals!@DHLRugby | #ImpactMoment pic.twitter.com/h7fCBskCWp
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) November 27, 2021
An impressive 35-17 win over Great Britain saw the Eagles advance through the Quarter Finals. Captain Kevon Williams led the way with a double and Stephen Tomasin was a perfect 5-from-5 on conversions. Tomasin would continue his kicking form, tacking on two points to secure the Semi Final win after Matai Leuta’s try evened the scores against Fiji.
The Cup Final proved a step too far for the Eagles. Ronald Brown scored 25 points including a hat-trick to propel South Africa to a one-sided 42-7 result as they threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field.
Canada were well-beaten by Spain in their first match of the day and settled for 11th spot overall with a 22-14 win over Japan in the 11th-place decider. Nick Allen and Theo Sauder contributed two tries each to the winning effort.
The Series will stay in Dubai for a second weekend with fans now permitted to attend.
DAY TWO RESULTS
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Argentina 17 – 12 Ireland
South Africa 29 – 5 Australia
USA 35 – 17 Great Britain
Fiji 19 – 5 Kenya
9th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Spain 45 – 14 Canada
France 35 – 0 Japan
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Ireland 14 – 35 Australia
Great Britain 33 – 5 Kenya
CUP SEMI FINALS
Argentina 7 – 17 South Africa
USA 21 – 19 Fiji
11th PLACE FINAL
Canada 22 – 14 Japan
9th PLACE FINAL
Spain 26 – 28 France
7th PLACE FINAL
Spain 26 – 28 France
5th PLACE FINAL
Australia 35 – 21 Great Britain
3rd PLACE FINAL
Argentina 19 – 12 Fiji
CUP FINAL
South Africa 42 – 7 USA
