Hong Kong Sevens - 7-9 April

[waiopehu oldboy]

Standings & Points:

1. South Africa 126
2. England 103
3. Fiji 100
4. New Zealand 84
5. USA 67
6. Australia 62

Full standings: http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/standings

Pool A: England, Australia, Samoa, South Korea
Pool B: South Africa, Canada, Kenya, France
Pool C: Fiji, New Zealand, Wales, Japan
Pool D: USA, Argentina, Scotland, Russia

Fixtures list: http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1690/fixtures

In addition to the main comp twelve teams will be battling to qualify as a core team in the 2018 series:

Pool E: Germany, Tonga, Uganda, Jamaica
Pool F: Hong Kong, Chile, Sri Lanka, Namibia
Pool G: Spain, Papua New Guinea, Uruguay, Guyana

Fixtures list: http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1766/fixtures

Japan with just 12 Points or Russia with 18 look most in danger of dropping out, Samoa with 30 should be safe one would think.

 

[Braveheart81]

The strongest side we have been able to name this season.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

No surprises on Day 1 of the main draw:

http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1690/fixtures

EDIT: Nick D's Day 1 blog is well worth a click:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/2017-hong-kong-7s-day-one/

First two rounds of the Qualifying series look to be pretty much as per the Rankings, too:

http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1766/fixtures

 

[wamberal]

Quite a good performance v Samoa. Then again, Samoa have really fallen from grace as a Sevens side.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Straya get Day 2 underway in some style, 52-0 v Korea. England made to work hard by Samoa, 12-10, but may be "keeping their powder dry" for their Straya match later tonight.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Argentina 17-12 Russia after trailing 0-17 at one stage. Russians visibly tired in the latter stages, mably the humidity got to them...........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Nick D backing up yesterday's excellent blog:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/2017-hong-kong-7s-day-two-2/

I suspect it'll end in tears for Straya (& most likely enzed too) but it's about the journey not the destination isn't it? No? Oh well, give it a click anyways..........

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Fiji held to a 17-all draw by Wales who have Japan left, NZ therefore have an opportunity to not only Top Pool C but send Fiji into the Challenge Trophy.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

STRAYA 12-10 RINGINLAND. Massive result esp after the Wales v Fiji draw. Could be some unexpected QF matchups & some teams surprised to find themselves in the Challenge Trophy.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Qualifying QF:

Chile v Uruguay
Germany v Hong Kong
Uganda v Papua New Guinea
Spain v Namibia

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Challenge Trophy QF:

Scotland v Samoa
Wales v France
Russia v Korea
Kenya v Japan


Cup QF:

Australia v Argentina
Fiji v Canada
USA v England
South Africa v New Zealand

 

[wamberal]

We can win this. I hope.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Qualifying QF:

Chile 21-12 Uruguay
Germany 14-7 Hong Kong
-------------------------------
Papua New Guinea 14-10 Uganda
Spain 33-0 Namibia

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Challenge Trophy QF:

Scotland 26-21 Samoa
France 28-21 Wales
-------------------------
Russia 43-0 South Korea
Kenya 24-17 Japan

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Straya & Argentina running out.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

HT 7-7

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Cup QF:

Australia 21-12 Argentina

 

[TOCC]

Aussie defence is really what winning them games, and Tom Lucas as a playmaker alongside chucky has made a huge difference

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Hope for your guys sake that Killingworth's OK, looked a pretty heavy knock that he took.

 

[barbarian]

A thought I've been having, just throwing it out there:

Australia are up 21-7 and the buzzer has gone. Argentina have the ball on about half way. Why are we still playing rugby? We should put our hands on our heads and let the Argies score under the sticks.

Instead we keep playing, and Boyd Killingworth gets a knock to the head that might rule him out of our next game.

I'm not sure it's strictly in the spirit of the game, but I'm surprised I've never seen it before. Makes so much sense in these demanding tournaments.
.