Australia is through to the Cup quarter-finals at the HSBC World Series tournament in Vancouver, Canada.
Having finished second in Pool C with two wins, the Aussies have again placed in the top-eight but they took a sizeable side swipe late on Day One when they were defeated 29-5 by the impressive USA side, the Las Vegas bronze medallists.
Sitting just below the Aussies in the Series’ standings, the Americans arrived in Vancouver determined to build on the success of last week.
The final result reflected that determination and the number of errors this young Aussie side dished up under constant pressure at the breakdown.
It was a display of power, pace and experience by the USA and the longer the game went the more the Aussie error count rose.
The Aussies at one stage looked like they might be kept scoreless but Lachie Anderson scored in the dying seconds.
In a slow start against France, Australia went into the half-time break 7-7 after Nick Malouf levelled the ledger.
With a strong second half try to Ed Jenkins, Australia got the job done over France 12-7.
The second game in their Pool C fixture saw the Aussies begin in a similar fashion against Japan.
James Stannard saved a certain opposition try with a big chase down and a cheeky ankle tap.
Hashino got Japan on the board a short time later but Aussie captain Tom Lucas put in an answering try to see the score all tied up at the break again for the Aussies 7-7.
Coach Andy Friend must have inspired at the huddle as the second half was a very different story.
A quick try to Henry Hutchison put Australia into the lead which was quickly followed by one from Liam McNamara.
Last week’s try scoring machine Lachie Anderson extended the Aussie lead, pushing through defensive attempts to pull him back and going up a gear to get over the line.
McNamara then went to town with two more tries, giving him a treble for the game and helping Australia run out convincing winners over Japan 36-7.
QUALIFIED: Both @USARugby and @Aussie7s have qualified from Pool C into the Cup quarter-finals at the #Canada7s with one pool match to go pic.twitter.com/JCmzGmZpwI
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) March 11, 2017
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