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Australia kick off Sevens campaign with win over Portugal
March 06, 2009 Australia made a solid start to their Rugby World Cup Sevens campaign by downing Portugal 24-12 in their first Pool match in Dubai.
Richard Kingi opened Australia's account with a try and kicked the conversion to make it 7-0 at the break.
Australia found their rhythm in the second half with Henry Vanderglas, Damon Murphy and Brian Sefanaia all running in five-pointers, while Portugal could only manage 12 points.
Coach Michael O'Connor said he was relieved the Australians got a way with the win.
"Portugal is a good side, the last time we played them under 12 months ago they beat us quite comfortably in London," O'Connor said.
"They have done very well in recent tournaments and it was never going to be an easy game for us.
"The players showed a lot of commitment and courage in defence. They really didn't have much form in the first half."
Australia next meet Ireland on Friday and play their last pool match against Samoa later that evening.
AAP
Kenya and Wales join big guns in Cup quarters
(IRB.COM) Friday 6 March 2009
http://www.rwcsevens.com/men/news/ne...s+cup+quarters
Kenya's Humphrey Kayange kicks ahead during the match against England, which Kenya lost 26-7 Photo: ZoomfijiKenya and Wales have secured their places in the Melrose Cup quarter finals at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai as the two best runners-up across the six pools, joining New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, Samoa, England and Argentina at the top table approaching the business end of the tournament.
The second day's play at 'The Sevens' provided a number of absorbing encounters, with several matches decided after the final siren.
To underline the competitive nature of play across the 24 teams, co-leaders on the IRB Sevens World Series South Africa and England were both taken to the wire on a day when New Zealand made light of their injury woes, Fiji quietly built up momentum and Argentina went about their business with some clinical performances.
Pool A
Even without injured Super 14 star Victor Vito, out with a claf injury, New Zealand proved too strong for all comers in Pool A. Tonga finished second courtesy of their 31-10 win over Italy. The Arabian Gulf went close to earning the biggest roar of the day but were pipped at the post by a tenacious Italy, 19-17.
Pool B
After a less than convincing 12-point win over the USA, Fiji finished strongly on the second day of their title defence, overpowering impressive France with a 38-5 victory. Les Bleus were rampant early on in seeing off Georgia 33-0 and with two good pool wins can count themselves unlucky not to make the last eight in the Cup.
Pool C
South Africa were tested by Canada in their first match of the day before sealing a 15-7 win. They needed all 14 minutes against the Cannucks and then scored again at the death to account for Scotland, 19-16.
Scotland were impressive winners over Japan earlier in the day and unlucky not to be in contention for the Melrose Cup, cruelly denied by Bok captain Mpho Mbiyozo at the death.
Pool D
Pool D was dominated by Samoa who remained undefeated on day two with a 19-0 over Australia and a 13-point victory over battling Portugal. But it was Ireland who sent out the early shockwaves with a 24-21 win over Michael O’Connor’s Australian side in the dying moments of the match. Ireland weren’t able to continue their run, though, downed by Portual 17-5.
All three eventually shared the honours on the second rung in the pool with one win apiece, none of them with a strong enough points difference to reach the Cup.
Pool E
England were pushed all the way by a determined Tunisia, who outscored them three tries to one in the second half, but got away with a nervous 28-24 win to ensure their quarter final aspirations remain on track.
Ben Ryan's side followed up with a much-improved performance over Kenya 26-7. Despite that loss, Kenya also advanced to the quarter finals after a solid win over Hong Kong 43-7 earlier in the day.
Tunisia and Hong Kong provided one of the more entertaining matches of the day with the score see-sawing throughout, the North Africans finally clinching the game on the final siren.
Pool F
Winners of the recent IRB World Sevens Series event in San Diego, Argentina crept under the radar all day with fine wins over Zimbabwe and Wales. They didn’t have it all their own way against the Welsh, who also booked a deserved place in the Melrose Cup quarter finals with a good win over Uruguay.
Zimbabwe and Uruguay also fought out a closely-contested match, Zimbabwe squeezing out a four-point win.
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but but Ireland beat Australia - doesn't happen everyday
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Kenya beat reigning champs Fiji 4 trys to 1 and through to the semis of main comp against Argentina, who beat 7s series leaders South Africa. Earlier Wales beat New Zealand and will face Samoa who beat England.
Semis -
Wales v Samoa
Kenya v Argentina
how is that for a boil over!!!! all four top seeds out in the quater finals!!!!
hehe loved Kenya's win over Fiji they were shell shocked i tell ya!
Argies too strong for Kenya![]()
Wales v Argentina in the Final!!!