Aussies save worst for last, Kiwis claim double

Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 1:16 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
New Zealand went back to back on Sunday. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
New Zealand went back to back on Sunday. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

New Zealand claimed a double double at the Sevens World Cup on Sunday, defending their 2013 crowns.

Australia's men fell to 10th after dropping the Challenge Trophy final to Ireland.

Here's how all the action panned out on finals day in San Francisco.

11:15am - World Cup final - New Zealand 33 England 12

New Zealand are World Cup champions for a record third time, outclassing England in a dominant final display.

Sione Molia started the match in scintillating fashion, beating two English defenders and dotting down between the sticks inside 90 seconds.New Zealand surged to victory in the final. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyMolia had another four minutes later after Tim Mikkelson went agonisingly close to the line, the former cheekily placing the ball down right next to the ruck to open up a 14-0 lead.

England had barely touched the ball through the first six minutes but finally responded when they did find some football, Dan Norton making two lightning runs down the right edge before Mike Ellery found a huge hole in the Kiwi defence to send his side into half time trailing 14-7.


Joe Ravouvou returned serve with a blistering run down the right edge which proved too much for two England cover defenders, opening up a 19-7 break with four minutes to play.

The English needed an immediate response and Ruaridh McConnochie delivered exactly that - palming two Kiwi defenders en route to the line.

But New Zealand responded - as they had all tournament - Akuila Rokolisoa diving over under the posts after some scrappy lead up play to bring the Sevens World Cup back to New Zealand.

10:50am - Bronze medal match - South Africa 24 Fiji 19

Fiji’s first wave of attack was repelled by the South Africans and they responded in style, captain Philip Snyman diving over in the right corner.

It was Zain Davids who crossed next, Justin Geldud adding his name to the scoresheet three minutes later.

Sevuloni Mocenacagi scored to give his side a sniff at the break, trailing 17-7.Fiji fans didn't have much to cheer about on Sunday. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyRepeated Fijian attacks were staved off by the South Africans for the first half of the second term and when they finally found the ball in their hands, Siviwe Soyizwapi fell over the line to put the result beyond doubt.

Two consolation tries were all Fiji could muster, who finished the tournament in disappointing fashion after being the form team prior to Sunday.

Too many missed passes, drop balls and missed tackles told the tale.

10am - Ireland loss tough to take

A woeful end to the Aussie men campaign was summed up by captain Lewis Holland post match.


9:32am - Challenge Trophy final - Ireland 24 Australia 14

An insipid performance has rounded out a woeful World Cup for the Aussie Sevens men, falling to Ireland in the Challenge Trophy final.

Ireland - who are not on the World Series nor a full time program - were the better side for the entirety of the match and did it without super speedster Jordan Conroy, who was injured in the opening minutes.

Conroy may have limped off early but his side dominated possession, territory and were duly rewarded three minutes into the first term - captain Billy Dardis the scorer.Lewis Holland and the Aussie men were outworked by Ireland. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyThe Irish reclaimed the restart but some swift Lewi Holland work forced a turnover, Sam Myers popping a pass to John Porch who ran 50m to score under the sticks.

Missed tackles were making life tough when Ireland had ball in hand - a weaving Jimmy O'Brien run beating three Australian defenders en route to the second Irish score.

Terry Kennedy crossed for Ireland's third after the half time siren sounded, setting quite the task for the Australians with seven minutes to play - the score poised at 17-7.

Ireland all but put the result beyond doubt after slicing through some insipid Australian defence once more, Maurice Longbottom keeping the Aussies afloat at 24-12 with two minutes to play.

But it wasn't to be, Australia falling to Ireland for the second time this season to round out a disastrous weekend.

6:25am - Men's semi final - New Zealand 22 Fiji 12

New Zealand drew first blood through Joe Ravouvou but the Fijians weren't behind for long, Semi Radradra brushing four Kiwi defenders in a 50m run to the line.

The Kiwis responded, Dylan Collier diving over in the right hand corner after his side spread the ball from wing to wing in search of some tired Fijian legs.New Zealand broke Fijian hearts in the semi final. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyThe half time siren sounded but Amenoni Nasilasila wasn't ready for a break, scoring one of the tries of the tournament with a quick tap, grubber and regather.

The Kiwis resisted a Fijian attack when play resumed, Regan Ware running 60m the other way to put his side back in front.

A sublime Jonah Nareki offload then put Raouvou in for his second, the Kiwis breaking the hearts of the largely Fijian crowd with a stunning win.

6:03am - Men's semi final - England 29 South Africa 7

South Africa opened the scoring when Selvyn Davids beat a flying Tom Mitchell to the left corner, England responding when Dan Norton put Harry Glover away down their own left edge.

Mitchell's attempted conversion hit the crossbar but he more than made up for the miss one minute later, slicing the line after his side regained the restart and earning England's first lead.

The half time siren sounded moments later and again, England forced a turnover and split the line with South Africa on the back foot - Ruaridh McConnochie the scorer this time round.

The Blitzboks trailed 17-7 at the break and things only got worse from there - Philip Snyman knocking the ball on, Oliver Lindsay-Hague cleaning up the crumbs and running 65m to all but secure the result.

Norton was the man to put the result beyond doubt, a comprehensive result for the Poms.

5:05am - Porch pushing the limits in San Fran

John Porch nabbed a double in the win over Canada - his partnership with Ben O'Donnell the most potent weapon Australia has deployed all weekend.

The Australians have bounced back after a shock loss to France knocked them out of contention on day one and Porch pointed to the loss as the motivation driving the Aussies for the remainder of the weekend.

"After that first game against the French we knew we had to come out and show what we could really do and in those last two matches I think we have shown what we can really do and how we can play out there," he said.


"Just like Comm Games, the World Cup you lose one and you’re out.

"That’s something that we have to work on.

"We can’t go into the first game of tournaments and let that one slip.

"We have to be on from day one."

4:40am - Challenge Trophy semi final - Australia 19 Canada 7

Canada dominated both possession and territory for the first five minutes and it took a dubious Lucas Hammond try to break the deadlock - the Canada centre appearing to knock the ball on prior to grounding.

The try was awarded despite the protests of the Australians and they responded immediately - a weaving Ben O'Donnell, John Porch exchange resulting in a try for the latter.

The score was locked at 7-all at the break but a brilliant Lewi Holland turnover earned prime field position for the Australians when play resumed, O'Donnell dotting down under the posts for the first lead of the match.

Boyd Killingworth was one of Australia's best against Canada. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyHenry Hutchison threatened to cross two minutes later with a sharp break down the left edge but his run was foiled, Porch cleaning up the crumbs to dive over for his second with one minute to play.

Porch's double would be the final scoring act of the match, Australia emerging with a relatively comfortable win.

They'll play the winner of Ireland's clash with Wales at 9:08am AEST.

3:50am - The semi finals

The top four seeds are the four countries left standing in the hunt for the World Cup and they'll square off very soon.


3:40am - Welcome back

The women's fixtures wrapped up on Saturday, New Zealand finishing a near perfect tournament with a resounding 29-0 win over France.

Australia's women were eliminated by France after leading 12-0 in their semi final, bouncing back to beat the USA in the bronze medal match.


Catch up on how the action panned out yesterday right here.

For a full list of fixtures today, click here.

Share
Force 'heart and soul' Pomare set to reach rare Super W milestone
Michael Hooper is excited about the challenge of playing Sevens in Hong Kong. Photo: Nick Holland/RA Media
'Rookie' ex-Wallabies skipper Hooper ready to step up Sevens unknown
'Brumbies DNA': Wallabies selections on the line for Reds clash - Larkham
'It's pretty hard to leave an environment like this': Jorgensen eager to commit future to Waratahs