Australia's World Series title aspirations boosted after dominant opening day

Sun, Aug 28, 2022, 2:41 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Aussie 7s are London 7s champions after taking out an epic final in London.

Australia's hopes of a maiden men's World Series Sevens crown remain alive after topping their pool at the Los Angeles tournament.

John Manenti's side went into the ninth and final tournament in second place, two points behind South Africa, and in reach of an historic double after the Australian women won their World Series in May.

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Their hopes were boosted when Commonwealth Games gold medallists South Africa were shock losers to the United States and New Zealand to bomb out before the quarter-finals. Australia, Argentina and Fiji now all remain in with a chance to be crowned Series champions come Sunday evening (local time).

Australia blitzed the pool stage, beating Japan 61-0, Argentina 19-14 and Spain 54-0.  Against fellow title contenders Argentina, the South Americans took a 14-5 lead at halftime through converted tries from German Schulz and Matías Osadczuk while Henry Hutchison did the business for Australia.

Dietrich Roache and Maurice Longbottom then scored second half tries - with two conversions from the former - for Australia to storm back to take an important win.

The men in gold have never won a World Series title, with their best finish a runner-up placing back in 2000-01.

Australia will take on Kenya in the first Cup quarter-final on Sunday (3:13 am AEST) before Olympic champions Fiji meet Team USA.

Samoa will play Argentina and New Zealand, who trumped their pool, line up against Ireland.

The tournament semi-finals and final also will be played on Sunday (local time).

Due to the effect of COVID-19 on the Sevens calendar, final placings will be decided on teams' best seven results in the nine rounds.

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