News

George Sevens - Day One

Friday 05th December 2008

Marching on: Fiji set up a meeting with fellow Islanders Samoa in the Cup quarter-final

Portugal have pulled off three stunning shock victories on Day One of the IRB South Africa Sevens at George's Outeniqua Park stadium, beating Kenya, Samoa and then Wales to reach the Cup quarter-finals.

Hosts South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji are also all unbeaten qualifiers in the competition, while the USA stunned Australia with a last-gasp try and winning conversion to line up a possible quarter final berth.

South Africa have a re-match of last week's Dubai final against England in the quarter-finals, while the USA face the mighty New Zealand. Portugal might fancy their chances against Argentina though, while Fiji face-off against Pacific neighbours Samoa.

Cup quarter-final line-up

New Zealand v USA
Portugal v Argentina
Fiji v Samoa
South Africa v England

Bowl quarter-final line-up

France v Georgia
Kenya v Scotland
Zimbabwe v Wales
Australia v Tunisia

Pool A

New Zealand ran out like greyhounds in their tracks against France and wasted little time (22 seconds in fact) to score their first try thanks to Tomasi Cama. France struggled to get their hands on the ball for most of the half and the Kiwis made their possesion count with further tries to Nafi Tuitavake, Tim Mikkelson and Zar Lawrence for a dominating 26-0 half-time lead. France hit back with a length-of-the-field five-pointer, but it only made the Kiwis turn the heat up even more with a further two tries for an excellent 40-5 victory.

Tunisia had to watch helplessly as Ben Gollings converted all seven of England's tries in what was a superb piece of work with the boot. England charged into a 26-nill lead at the break, but it so easily could have been more had it not been for a dropped pass by Rob Vickerman with the tryline under his nose. He made amends shortly after the break with a seven-pointer under the sticks, but it was Micky Young that stole the show with a hat-trick of tries for England. Tunisia did however manage a consolation try at the death in their 7-40 defeat.

Young starred again as England overpowered France 21-7 while Tomasi Cama inspired the Kiwis to an impressive display against the Africans with 18-year-old Julian Savea also catching the eye in a 36-0 win.

It came down to a final head to head between the Kiwis and England, and although England scored first and hung in for a while, a brace of tries from Tim Mikkelson carried New Zealand to a 19-7 win.

Pool B

Hosts South Africa got the winning result needed against the USA, running away 24-0 victors. But the home side were far from the complete package that saw the men in green and gold crowned champions of Dubai last week. The Springboks scored four unanswered tries - two in each half. That the USA failed to score was credit to some hard hits by the South Africans, some a bit too eager resulting in the first yellow card of the tournament to Philip Snyman.

Australia got the job done against Georgia, thanks to a stern first half performance, but it was Georgia who finished the better team. With the game all but wrapped up at the break, Georgia came out fighting in the second, only for a lack of pace and experience to let them down on several occasions. They did manage one try though to show for their efforts in going down 26-5.

Australia then contested one of the matches of the day in their second fixture against the USA. Having impressed against the Boks, captain Chris Wyles was again a key figure as the Americans built a 21-7 half time lead, but two tries by Luke Morahan and one for Richard Kingi brought Michael O'Connor's side storming back into a 26-21 lead with two minutes remaining.

Kevin Swiryn's try on full time brought the scores level at 26-26 before Nese Malifa's nerveless conversion from wide out on the right won the game for USA 28-26.

The USA then confirmed their place in the last eight with a fine victory over Georgia, captain Chris Wyles leading the way with a hat-trick, while South Africa were once again less than assured in a 17-7 win over Australia.

Pool C

Fiji scored five tries, three of them converted, to open the George leg of the IRB World Series in fine style with a 31-0 win over Scotland. Fiji's 21-0 half-time lead was further extended just moments after the break, with the Islanders continuing in the second half where they left off in the first. The errors were limited and Fiji looked a more polished outfit from the one that took the field in Dubai a week ago.

Argentina and Zimbabwe thrilled the locals with a feast of well-taken tries, the latter perhaps guilty of making a few look too easy with some lacklustre defence. Leading 19-7 at half-time, the Pumas finished off their hosts' African neighbours with a further touchdown under the sticks to open up their campaign with a deserved 26-12 win.

Two unconverted tries by Fiji's Peni Rokodiva and Ratunaisa Narukutabua kept Zimbabwe in the hunt after Gerald Sibanda showed a good turn of pace and extreme power to burst through for a fine sole try to end the half 10-7. Brave in defence, Zimbabwe's dam wall finally cracked, which allowed the Islanders to take control of the second half until a hack ahead against the run of play allowed Wensley Mbanje in for a crucial converted try. With just one minute to go and three points the difference, Zimbabwe threatened a huge upset. It wasn't to be though, as Fiji raced in for a simple try under the sticks to deny the Africans any sniff of victory with a hard fought 24-14 victory.

Scotland did well to hold Argentina 0-0 in the first half (the first time in the '08/09 series that two sides have remained scoreless) but were left chasing shadows in the second after first Francisco Merello and then Gonzalo Camacho crossed the whitewash for a 14-0 win.

Fiji beat Argentina 26-7 to top pool C thanks to tries by Seremaia Burotu (2) and Iferi Lavo, while the Pumas also proceed to the Cup quarters after their earlier victories.

Pool D

Wales were no match for Samoa as the men in blue run riot over their red counterparts, notching up a comprehensive 31-5 win. Samoa's commanding 19-0 half-time lead was closed slightly by James Lewis for the Welsh. But any comeback was quickly stamped out with a further two more Samoan touchdowns for their opening victory.

It was a better contest between Kenya and Portugal as both of last week's in-form teams battled it out in their Pool D clash. With the Kenyans expected to produce the same African magic that took them to the Cup semis in Dubai, it was Portugal that held a somewhat surprise 14-7 lead after tries to twins David and Diogo Mateus. Kenya's Lavin Asego got his team back to within two points with a try that caught the Portuguese napping, but was unable to convert. The miss ultimately proved the difference between the two sides as Portugal produced the first upset of Day One.

Portugal pulled off yet another upset in George with their 19-17 win over Samoa - their first over the Islanders in Sevens history. Mikaele Pesamino scored a brace of tries for Samoa, but Portugal courageously hit back with two tries of their own to set up a thrilling second half finish with the scores locked at 12-12. With the Samoan defence stretched, David Mateus finally broke the deadlook for Portugal. Samoa weren't ready to roll over just yet and with time up on the clock, Uale Mai had a chance to draw the match with a touchline conversion after Alafoti Fa'osiliva slid over at the death. The veteran's drop-goal attempt fell inches short and Portugal were left to celebrate a memorable victory.

Portuguese playmaker Pedro Leal then rounded of a perfect day for his team, scoring the winning try in a come-from-behind 19-17 win over Wales.

Day One: Fixtures and results

Match 1: Fiji 31 Scotland 0
Match 2: Argentina 26 Zimbabwe 12
Match 3: Samoa 31 Wales 5
Match 4: Kenya 12 Portugal 14
Match 5: New Zealand 45 France 5
Match 6: England 40 Tunisia 7
Match 7: South Africa 24 USA 0
Match 8: Australia 26 Georgia 5
Match 9: Fiji 24 Zimbabwe 14
Match 10: Argentina 14 Scotland 0
Match 11: Samoa 17 Portugal 19
Match 12: Kenya 19 Wales 12
Match 13: New Zealand 36 Tunisia 0
Match 14: England 21 France 7
Match 15: South Africa 31 Georgia 5
Match 16: Australia 26 USA 28
Match 17: Scotland 7 Zimbabwe 17
Match 18: Wales 17 Portugal 19
Match 19: France 19 Tunisia 14
Match 20: USA 38 Georgia 0
Match 21: Fiji 26 Argentina 7
Match 22: Samoa 17 Kenya 12
Match 23: New Zealand 19 England 7
Match 24: South Africa 17 Australia 7