Brazil win Core Qualifiers in Hong Kong

Brazil will return as a core team on the 2019-20 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series after claiming victory at the Hong Kong Core Qualifiers. The Yaras won all six of their games against five different opponents to regain their spot on the circuit after a two-year absence.

All three pool wins were filled with drama with each successful by only two points. A late try from Thalia Costa tied the game against Poland with Raquel Kocchann’s conversion securing the 14-12 win in the first match. The same score was at the end of the Kazakhstan game with Nigora Nurmatvoa’s last-gasp conversion missing.

The Yaras ran out to a 26-5 lead over Argentina thanks to a pair of tries from Rafaela Zanellato but it was a nerve-wracking finish. A penalty try and scores from Renata Giraudo and Valeria Montero made for a grandstand finish, with Brazil just holding on to sweep their pool.

A second match against Kazakhstan in the Quarter Finals proved more decisive than the first, and two tries from Bianca Silva led the way in a convincing win over Kenya in the Semi Final. Scotland looked to have the edge in the final as they lead 19-14 just after the break, but Costa and Leila Cassia touched down with Kocchann landing all four conversions to seal the tournament win.

Head Coach Reuben Samuel, a native of New Zealand, was effusive in his appraisal of his side.

“I’ve never experienced a group like this. These girls train hard. They give up a lot of things just to be here. Culturally it’s not their sport. For them to be on this stage and to perform the way they do, and to play rugby the way they do, it’s a huge credit to the work they’ve put in.”

 

RESULTS

POOL A
Belgium 12 – 31 Scotland
Japan 54 – 0 Mexico
Belgium 34 – 0 Mexico
Japan 27 – 19 Scotland
Scotland 38 – 5 Mexico
Japan 35 – 0 Belgium

POOL B
Papua New Guinea 22 – 14 Hong Kong
Kenya 24 – 0 Uganda
Papua New Guinea 32 – 0 Uganda
Kenya 36 – 5 Hong Kong
Hong Kong 26 – 5 Uganda
Kenya 20 – 10 Papua New Guinea

POOL C
Argentina 12 – 17 Kazakhstan
Brazil 14 – 12 Poland
Argentina 24 – 19 Poland
Brazil 14 – 12 Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan 10 – 12 Poland
Brazil 26 – 24 Argentina

QUARTER FINALS
Kenya 17 – 15 Argentina
Brazil 21 – 5 Kazakhstan
Scotland 36 – 12 Papua New Guinea
Japan 27 – 7 Hong Kong

SEMI FINALS
Kenya 5 – 17 Brazil
Scotland 24 – 19 Japan

FINAL
Brazil 28 – 19 Scotland