News

New Zealand remain on course in Hong Kong

Saturday 29th March 2008

Marching on: New Zealand have now gone 39 games unbeaten

New Zealand remain on course for a fifth straight IRB World Sevens event win, as they cruised into the quarter-finals after two more wins on day two.

They have now won 39 consecutive games this season and will be favourites to extend that run on the last day of action. They will face Wales in the quarter-finals, Gareth Baber's side making into the last eight as one of the two best runners-up.

China gifted the 2008 Hong Kong Sevens with the major upset of the day, coming from behind to beat Scotland 19-12.

Quarter final format

With 24 teams competing in Hong Kong across six pools, rather than the usual 16 across four, only the two best runners-up will qualify for the Cup quarter finals alongside the pool winners. As a result, points difference is crucial in determining the quarter final line up.

South Africa, Fiji, Australia and Kenya are the first sides to clinch Cup quarter final places after going unbeaten in their pools.

William Ryder and Lepani Nabuliwaqa both touched down as the Fijians beat Wales in their decider, Australia snatched victory at the death against Tonga, Kenya proved too dynamic for Scotland and Renfred Dazel sprinted clear on the final whistle for South Africa against Argentina.

Pool A

New Zealand continued their winning ways in Hong Kong, following their 50-5 win on the opening day against Waisale Serevi's Chinese Taipei side with a comfortable victory over Tunisia, 38-0. The USA were again forced to dig deep but also remain unbeaten. Their battling win over Tunisia was followed by victory against Chinese Taipei, Chris Wyles' broken play running crucial in rescuing the Americans, who twice came from behind to win 38-17, the captain grabbing a hat trick.

Pool B

Defending Hong Kong champions Samoa followed their 35-7 win over Sri Lanka with a more hard-fought 36-12 win over Canada. Alafoti Fa'osiliva was one of the five scorers as they came from behind, adding to his hat trick on day one. England's young side is also still unbeaten and will face the Samoans in a decider for top spot. Chris Mayor was again among the scorers, adding to his brace on day one against Canada in England's convincing 47-7 win against Sri Lanka.

Pool C

Fabian Juries added a hat trick to his brace of tries against Japan on day one as South Africa saw off Russia 48-0. Santiago Gomez Cora was also back on the score sheet in the Pumas' 19-5 win against Japan and the Pumas will face the Boks in the pool decider knowing that both are also well placed to qualify from the pool as one of the two best runners-up.

Pool D

William Ryder was again in sparkling form as Fiji saw off Zimbabwe 42-14 to add to their 42-7 win against Korea on day one. The islanders will now play Wales for top spot in the group after two tries by Lee Williams helped the Welsh to victory over Korea.

Pool E

China produced the shock of the tournament so far by beating Scotland on day two, captain Zhang 'Jonny' Zhiqiang ghosting over for the winner to badly dent Scotland's chances of making a 10th consecutive Cup quarter final. The Chinese were unable, though, to follow on with victory over Portugal, Aderito Esteves and Pedro Leal each crossing for two tries in a 40-10 victory. Qualification from the pool is now reliant on Scotland's match with Kenya, who are still unbeaten after their 19-7 win over Portugal.

Pool F

With wins against Hong Kong and France, Australia are currently top of pool F but face the toughest of matches against Tonga, who desperately need a second win on day two after slipping up against France on Friday. The Tongans were clinical in seeing off the hosts 56-5 in the opening match but Keith Robertson inspired Hong Kong to a 21-21 draw with France, which condemned them to life outside the Cup competition on day three.

Day Two - Saturday, 29 March:
Match 13: Tonga 56 Hong Kong 5
Match 14: Scotland 12 China 19
Match 15: Wales 34 Korea 5
Match 16: Argentina 19 Japan 5
Match 17: England 47 Sri Lanka 7
Match 18: USA 38 Chinese Taipei 17
Match 19: Australia 17 France 12
Match 20: Kenya 19 Portugal 7
Match 21: Fiji 42 Zimbabwe 14
Match 22: South Africa 48 Russia 0
Match 23: Samoa 36 Canada 12
Match 24: New Zealand 38 Tunisia 0
Match 25: France 21 Hong Kong 21
Match 26: Portugal 40 China 10
Match 27: Zimbabwe 21 Korea 5
Match 28: Russia v24 Japan 12
Match 29: Canada 53 Sri Lanka 0
Match 30: Tunisia 66 Chinese Taipei 5
Match 31: Australia 17 Tonga 15
Match 32: Kenya 19 Scotland 7
Match 33: Fiji 15 Wales 0
Match 34: South Africa 19 Argentina 14
Match 35: Samoa 5 England 7
Match 36: New Zealand 47 USA 7

Hong Kong pools:

Pool A: New Zealand, USA, Tunisia, Chinese Taipei.
Pool B: Samoa, England, Canada, Sri Lanka.
Pool C: South Africa, Argentina, Russia, Japan.
Pool D: Fiji, Wales, Zimbabwe, Korea.
Pool E: Kenya, Scotland, Portugal, China.
Pool F: Australia, Tonga, France, Hong Kong.

Day 1 results:

Match 1: Australia 24 Hong Kong 12
Match 2: Kenya 47 China 0
Match 3: Fiji 42 Korea 7
Match 4: South Africa 40 Japan 7
Match 5: Samoa 35 Sri Lanka 7
Match 6: New Zealand 50 Chinese Taipei 5
Match 7: Tonga 7 France 21
Match 8: Scotland 26 Portugal 10
Match 9: Wales 34 Zimbabwe 0
Match 10: Argentina 33 Russia 0
Match 11: England 24 Canada 12
Match 12: USA 26 Tunisia 21

Day Three Schedule

All KO times are GMT +8

Bowl Quarter-finals:
Match 37: Zimbabwe v Chinese Taipei, 09:45
Match 38: Japan v Hong Kong, 10:07
Match 39: China v Korea, 10:29
Match 40: Sri Lanka v Russia, 10:51

Plate Quarter-finals:
Match 41: Argentina v Scotland, 11:13
Match 42: Tonga v Portugal, 11:35
Match 43: France v Tunisia, 11:57
Match 44: Canada v USA, 12:19

Cup Quarter-finals:
Match 45: New Zealand v Wales 12:41
Match 46: Kenya v Fiji 13:03
Match 47: South Africa v Australia 13:25
Match 48: Samoa v England 13:47

Bowl Semi-finals:
Match 49: 14:48
Match 50: 15:10

Plate Semi-finals:
Match 51: 15:32
Match 52: 15:54

Cup Semi-finals:
Match 53: 16:16
Match 54: 16:38

Bowl Final:
Match 55: 17:25

Plate Final:
Match 56: 17:52

Cup Final:
Match 57: 18:20

With thanks to the IRB