Australia suffers narrow loss in Plate semi-final at Dubai Sevens
November 30, 2008 - 4:37am
Story by: ARU
Australia has suffered a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Samoa in a Plate Semi Final at the Dubai Sevens.
The new-look Australian side, almost exclusively untried in the Sevens arena before this opening tournament of the 2008-2009 IRB Sevens World Series, took the well-credentialed islanders to the brink before Samoa held their nerve for a three-point triumph.
The Samoans finished third in last year’s Sevens World Series, trailing only New Zealand and South Africa, but were upset 12-7 by Pacific Island neighbours Fiji in a Cup Quarter Final earlier today.
Samoa will play Kenya in the Plate Final.
Australian coach Michael O’Connor said the Dubai Sevens would be a valuable learning resource for his inexperienced squad, who played before an all-time record crowd for the Sevens World Series when 50,000 attended day one of the event.
IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter confirmed: "Hong Kong has held the Sevens capacity record for a long time now, so it just shows how far this Dubai tournament has come.”
The second leg of the Sevens World Series – an eight-tournament series contested over the next six months – will be staged in George, South Africa, next weekend with Australia in the same pool as the host nation, USA and Georgia.
The Sevens World Series moves to Australia on the first weekend in April when the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide is played at Adelaide Oval.
AUSTRALIA’S RESULTS AT DUBAI SEVENS
POOL MATCHES
Australia 21 Zimbabwe 12
Australia 22 Wales 17
New Zealand 33 Australia 7
CUP QUARTER FINAL
South Africa 19 Australia 0
PLATE SEMI FINAL
Samoa 17 Australia 14
* The Australian Rugby Sevens program is proudly supported by the Australian Institute of Sport
