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New Zealand hang on for Dubai gold

Saturday 01st December 2007

Dubai champions!: New Zealand

New Zealand were crowned winners in the opening round of the 2007/8 IRB Sevens World Series, in Dubai on Saturday, after Fiji threatened to leave them with egg on their face.

Having coasted into a 26-0 lead, New Zealand relaxed and within moments Fiji had cut the gap to just five points. With the game in the balance New Zealand scored a controversial try to make the game safe at 31-21.

Elsewhere, Argentina secured the Plate with a narrow 15-14 win over Samoa, Australia destroyed Canada 31-0 in the Bowl Final and Zimbabwe took the Shield Final 22-19 against Tunisia.

Full reports and a wrap of all Saturday's action below!

Bowl quarter-finals:

In the first quarter-final France recovered their composure after a Zimbabwe fight back to triumph 24-19, Loic Mazieres scoring twice before Tanqai Nemadire scored a late try for the Africans.

France now meet Canada, who conceded an early try in their North America battle with USA, but fought back with Daniel van der Merwe taking his tally to six in the tournament with a double in the 21-12 victory.

USA and Zimbabwe will now meet in the Shield semi-final later with both still looking for their first win at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens.

The other semi-final pits Wales against Australia after they overcame Tunisia and Arabian Gulf respectively - the latter receiving the biggest cheer when Adrian Kerr scored only their second try in the tournament in a 36-5 loss.

Alifeleti Mafi scored a hat-trick for Australia, while Wales needed a late try from James Merriman to pip Tunisia after the new IRB Sevens World Series core members again saw a two-try led cancelled out against African opponents.

Results:

Match 25: France 24-19 Zimbabwe
Match 26: Canada 21-12 USA
Match 27: Wales 17-12 Tunisia
Match 28: Australia 36-5 Arabian Gulf

Cup quarter-finals:

New Zealand eased into the Cup semi-finals with a 40-7 defeat of Argentina, the IRB Sevens World Series champions recovering from 7-5 down after Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino's try with scores from the likes of Lote Raikabula, Zar Lawrence, DJ Forbes and Rene Ranger.

Current Dubai Sevens holders South Africa were given a mighty scare by Kenya in the second quarter-final. Having led at half-time 17-10, and looking very comfortable, they allowed a spirited Kenyan side back in with two quick-fire tries. In the closing stages Fabien Juries was sin-binned and Kenya took full advantage, scoring in the corner. Sadly for them the conversion drifted wide and South Africa escaped with a lucky win.

England won a titanic game against Samoa 26-19 to book their place in the semi-finals. Having taken an early lead through Anthony Elliot England saw Samoa hit back with two tires from Mikaele Pesamina. In the sea-saw battle England hit back on the stroke of half-time with Tom Guest's first try in an England Sevens shirt.

The second half continued in the same vein with England taking the lead again with Elliot's second try of the game, only to see Gasolo Salina seemingly snatch victory for the South Sea Islanders. HoweverEngland had the last say with a breakaway try from Simon Hunt, after Isoa Damu had cut through a tired Samoan defence.

Fiji overcame a spirited Scotland side who trailed only 7-5 early on until tries from Emosi Vucago, Setefano Cakau and Neumi Nanuku sealed a 28-5 victory.

Results:

Match 29: New Zealand 40-7 Argentina
Match 30: South Africa 17-15 Kenya
Match 31: Samoa 19-26 England
Match 32: Fiji 28-5 Scotland

Shield semi-finals:

Tunisia proved too strong for the Arabian Gulf with Sabri Guemir scoring two of their tries in a 36-0 victory, which sets up a Shield final against Zimbabwe. The Africans staged an impressive comeback against USA, recovering from 17-5 down at half time to with two tries from Gerald Sibanda and speedster Tangai Nemadire to triumph 29-17.

Results:

Match 33: Zimbabwe 29-17 USA
Match 34: Tunisia 36-0 Arabian Gulf

Bowl semi-finals:

A young and inexperienced French side were no match for Canada and speedster Daniel van der Merwe. Despite taking an early lead France were always up against it and two van der Merwe tries proved to much for the French.

In the other semi-final Australia had too much fire-power for a youthful Welsh side in the blistering heat. Three first-half tries ensured that the Aussies were never in danger of losing, despite a late Welsh revival which saw them close the gap to just three points.

Results:

Match 35: France 5-21 Canada
Match 36: Wales 19-22 Australia

Plate semi-finals:

Argentina recovered from the drubbing they took against the All Blacks to earn a deserved 17-14 win over Kenya. The Kenyans, crowd favourites, continued their entertaining style of rugby but were unable to overcome Argentina.

Samoa and Scotland played out an entertaining game, although Samoa will be disappointed with the manner they let Scotland back into things.

An early Colin Gregor try was cancelled out by three converted efforts from Samoa, who were seemingly in control. However reduced to six men they conceded two quick tries and were in danger of losing the game before Samoa scored at the death to leave the result at 28-19.

Results:

Match 37: Argentina 17-14 Kenya
Match 38: Samoa 28-19 Scotland

Cup semi-finals:

New Zealand booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 12-7 win over South Africa. There was no love lost between these two old foes as the big hits went in right from the off.

It was South Africa who drew first blood when Renfred Denzel broke away to relieve early New Zealand pressure. Despite a valiant chase from Zar Lawrence the speedy South African raced in under the posts. Back came New Zealand though through Tomasi Cama, who bagged a quick-fire brace.

Whilst no more points were added both sides went about their play in a hard-nosed manner and at one stage as many as four players were down injured, such was the nature of the game. As it was New Zealand clung on to their narrow lead to book their place in the final and knock out last years Dubai winners.

Fiji set up a mouth-watering final with New Zealand after accounting for England 22-21. England got off to the best possible start registering their first try after barely thirty seconds, albeit a penalty try. Tom Guest was heading under the posts before being caught, as Simon Hunt approached in support he was held back by Etonia Naba. The referee swiftly awarded a penalty try, as well as sending Naba to the sin-bin.

With England in control at the breakdown they were guilty of ball watching and Fiji counter-rucked before quick hands saw them score through Setefano Cakau. England struck back through Bed Foden with a fine try that started on their own line. It was all one-way traffic after with Fiji taking control through tries from Vereniki Goneva, Emosi Vucago and a second from Cakau.

England were not out of it though and replacement John Break set up Tom Guest to make it a one-point ball game. With England swarming over The Fijian line it seemed as if Ben Foden had robbed the ball, only for the in-goal officials to decided Fiji had grounded the ball before Foden poached it. Amid fierce pressure Fiji hung on to win an epic encounter.

Results:

Match 39: New Zealand 12-7 South Africa
Match 40: England 21-22 Fiji

Shield Final:

Zimbabwe won the Shield with the last play of the game when Gerald Sibanda's brilliant step left the Tunisian defence flat-footed to go under the posts for his second try of the final and one that clinched a 22-19 victory.

Result:

Match 41: Zimbabwe 22-19 Tunisia

Bowl Final:

Canada were blown away by Australia in the Bowl final, failing to score against a slick looking Australian outfit.

Result

Match 42: Canada 0-31 Australia

Plate Final:

Argentina came from 14-0 down to record a well deserved 15-14 win to clinch the Plate final. Samoa were looking comfortable at 14-0 but the second half was dominated by Argentina.

As errors crept into the Samoan game Argentina took their chances and a late try from Gosio clinched the win.

Result:

Match 43: Argentina 15-14 Samoa

Cup Final:

New Zealand were crowned IRB Dubai Sevens champions after beating Fiji 31-21 in a high-scoring final, although at one stage it looked as if they would throw away a 26-point lead.

The first half was a perfect example of sevens rugby from New Zealand after Fiji's Emosi Vucago was sent to the sin-bin in the opening minute. With a one man advantage New Zealand soon took control. The impressive Zar Lawrence helped himself to a brace of tries, both of which were converted by Tomasi Cama.

Try as they might Fiji just couldn't get a foothold in the game and Nigel Hunt soon added to their woes with the third try, created by Lawrence and again converted by Cama. New Zealand kept control of the ball until the break and Fiji looked out of it.

To make matters worse Fiji had Neumi Nanuku sin-binned early in the second half for an illegal shoulder charge on Nigel Hunt, and was lucky not to see a penalty try awarded. As it was Stephen Yates scored from the resulting penalty, seemingly wrapping the game up.

Fiji had other ideas though and began to make their way back into the game. Fresh from the sin-bin Nanuku chipped and gathered to canter in under the posts. Less than thirty seconds later Vereniki Goneva was in to make it interesting.

Under pressure New Zealand began to crumble and when Noweregaci went under the posts it seemed as if Fiji would complete a remarkable comeback. That was until Yates helped himself to his second, although it looked as if Zar Lawrence had knocked on in the build-up.

Fiji came again but were unable to make their pressure tell, with New Zealand hanging on to claim the first tournament of the 2007/8 IRB Sevens Series.

Result:

Match 44: New Zealand 31 Fiji 21