Stand-in Australian Men’s Sevens captain Lewis Holland starred as the side locked up a third-straight Cup semi-final appearance for the first time in 13 years.
Australia will face New Zealand in a Cup semi-final in Vancouver after coming back from a seven-point half-time deficit to beat Scotland 24-17
It was an arm wrestle to start but it was Scotland who took the first points three minutes in, through Dougie Fife, before another just one minute later left Australia chasing a 12-point deficit.
A Scotland yellow card gave Australia a one-man advantage, just shy of Scotland’s line, and they took little time to make the most of it, with Lewis Holland nabbing Australia’s first.
Stand-in captain Lewis Holland slipped through a gap in Scotland’s defensive line, and crashed over with two defenders hanging of him.
Allan Fa’alava’au streaked away to clinch Australia’s second in the eighth minute, drawing scores level.
Holland had his second less than a minute later to give Australia a seven-point buffer, before a Con Foley five-pointer sealed the win.
Men’s Sevens coach Andy Friend was happy with the fight his side showed to claw their way back bu said they would need to be better from the get go in the semi.
“They’re (the team) fighting hard, they’re working hard for each other ,” he said.
“What we don’t want to do in the semi final is give a lead to a team like New Zealand so we’ve got to be better there.”
Friend said the side’s success since he came on board was down to the players.
“Taken over a good group lot of intent there with the boys, lot of focus.
“They're a good bunch of fellas and quality footballers so it’s an easy job coaching them.”
Australia’s Cup Semi-final against New Zealand will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS at 9:30am AEDT.
Fiji and South Africa will play in the other semi-final in Vancouver.
