Sevens World Cup day one: As it happened

Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 7:00 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
The 2017/18 World Series champions have a date with France for a spot in the Rugby World Cup Sevens big dance after demolishing Spain 34-0 at AT&T Park. Hear from skipper Sharni Williams who made her return from injury in the green and gold today.

Australia's Sevens had mixed fortunes on the opening day of the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

The women won through to the Cup semi-finals, but it was heartbreak for the men who have been knocked out by France.

Here's how the day unfolded.

2pm - Walsh won’t offer excuses after shock loss

See what coach Tim Walsh had to say after his side were eliminated from World Cup competition.

RESULTS

Men’s Round of 16

Scotland 31 - Kenya 26

Argentina 28 - Canada 0

Australia 17 - France 22

England 19 - Samoa 15

New Zealand 29 - Russia 5

Fiji 35 - Japan 10

South Africa 45 - Ireland 7

USA 35 - Wales 0

1:20pm - Men’s Round of 16 - Australia 17 France 22


A stop-start Tom Lucas run and subsequent grubber was the spark Australia needed after a slow opening two minutes, Lachie Anderson cleaning up the crumbs to dot down.

Some stout defence repelled the first French attack in the minutes after Anderson touched down but the pressure eventually told, Tavite Veredamu beating a gassed wave of cover defence to level the scores with one minute remaining in the first term.

Maurice Longbottom immediately made his impact known off the pine, cleaning up the ensuing kick off and creating the space from which Ben O’Donnell put the Australians back in front.

The French responded with interest, putting their noses in front at the break after Terry Bouhraoua beat Lucas for speed.

Kevin Bly extended the French lead when play resumed, maintaining possession until the space cleared out wide.

Longbottom was, once again, the catalyst for more Australia points, slicing the line off a scrum 40 out and dishing to comeback kid Henry Hutchison for a five pointer.

John Porch had been one of Australia’s best and he slotted the sideline conversion to level things up at 17-all with just under three minutes to play.

France, as they had all afternoon, maintained possession, spread the ball to their left edge and relied on Veredamu to beat the final man, which he did.

That was all she wrote, Australia knocked out of Cup contention in one fell swoop.

12pm - Williams happy with day one returns

See what co-captain Sharni Williams had to say after her side cruised through their opening day fixtures at AT&T Park.


RESULTS

Women’s Cup QFs

Ireland 0 - New Zealand 45

Spain 0 - Australia 34

France 24 - Canada 19

USA 33 - Russia 17

11:10am - Women’s Cup QF - Australia 34 Spain 0


Two superb Emilee Cherry touches set up Vani Pelite for Australia’s first, Demi Hayes making the initial break.

A smart Alicia Quirk grubber in behind then put Emma Tonegato in but Sharni Williams put the ensuing kick off out on the full, Spain making their first raid into the Australian 22.

But it was to no avail, Ellia Green getting her hands on the ball and scoring a customary try.

That left the score poised at 17-0 at the break, Tonegato touching down once more after Charlotte Caslick created space down the right hand edge.

Pelite added two more tries to her tally at the death, Australia’s shining light in a comfortable yet unconvincing result.

They’ll face the winner of the France/Canada quarter-final in a Cup semi-final on Sunday at 4:42am AEST.

7:15am - France flog Jamaica to book clash with Aussie men

France have hammered Jamaica 50-0 in their Round of 16 qualifier, booking a showdown with Australia.

6:30am - Spain showdown the norm for Aussies

Australia’s women have had some enthralling showdowns with Spain this season and Emilee Cherry is expecting another cracker in their World Cup quarter-final clash.


“We always seem to face Spain in these really big games,” she said after guiding Australia to a 34-5 win over PNG.

“Whether it’s World Cup last time where we went down to them, the Olympics we beat them in a quarter final as well.

“We know they’re really tough and they gave it to us in Kitakyushu.

“We just can’t give them the ball and we know they like to play around the ruck.

“If we can play a really open, flowing game against them I think we can get the win.”

6am  - Women’s Cup quarter-finalists decided

The women’s round of 16 is in the books - eight teams remain in the hunt for the World Cup.

New Zealand will kick off the quarter-final action with a clash against Ireland at 10:30am AEST, the latter upsetting arch rival England in their first match of the day.

Australia will be up next, a 10:52am AEST clash with Spain their next task.

France will then take on Canada at 11:14am AEST, with USA facing off with Russia at 11:36am.

4:50am - Women’s Round of 16 - Australia 22 PNG 5


The Australians received the opening kickoff and slowly but surely worked their way upfield, several phases eventually creating the space for a Vani Pelite try 90 seconds into the first term.

Emilee Cherry then added her name to the score sheet, splitting the line after PNG gifted the ball back with a crooked lineout throw.

A brilliant turnover by Charlotte Caslick reclaimed possession moments later and some lovely hands from Cherry put Emma Tonegato over, opening up a 15-0 lead with two to play in the first term.

PNG had not entered the Australian half for the entirety of the first term but as the siren sounded for the break, Chelsea Garesa split the line down the right edge and beat Caslick to the line, leaving the score poised at 15-5 at the break.

PNG held the ball for the first two minutes of the second term but the Australians repelled the attack, forced a knock on and Caslick scored from the turnover ball.

Caslick then crossed again before Ellia Green nabbed her first try of the tournament - a blistering 60m run down the left hand sideline.

A Cup quarter-final showdown against Spain at 10:52am AEST awaits the Aussies.


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