Aussies storm into Sevens quarter-finals

[travelling_gerry]

Aussies storm into Sevens quarter-finals

AAP March 28, 2010, 3:07 am

Australia have stormed into the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sevens after coming through their pool matches, to set up a clash with England.
Liam Gill scored a hat-trick of tries to lead Michael O'Connor's side to a 33-12 victory over Tonga and James Stannard bagged a double to lift his side to a 36-12 win over Canada at a packed Hong Kong Stadium.
Australia finished top of Pool D following a comprehensive 45-12 victory against China on Friday, while Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and England also topped their respective pools.
Hosts Hong Kong delighted the home crowd by clinching an against the odds victory over last year's Sevens World Cup winners Wales, 21-19.
Australia will face a fired-up England team on Sunday, keen to avenge their 17-12 loss suffered in the pool stages of the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide last weekend.
Australia captain Patrick McCutcheon believes his team can better their performance in Adelaide where they made their second-consecutive Cup Semi-Final appearance.
"We were pretty rough this morning (Saturday) versus Tonga, although we put on a bit of a score in the second half, we let ourselves down with our discipline," said McCutcheon.
"We took a more disciplined approach into our match against Canada and we had good control of that game so that was pleasing."
"To get over England tomorrow, we're going to have to continue to work hard on our discipline and not give away too many penalties while keeping a good defensive structure.
O'Connor's side have been beaten in their last two Cup semi-finals appearances in Las Vegas and Adelaide by the in-form Samoans, who went on to win both events.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...uarter-finals/

[beige]

Wales were beaten by Hong Kong, who were smashed by Japan, who were beaten by Wales!

[travelling_gerry]

Hong Kong Sevens: Final day Latest
(IRB.COM) Sunday 28 March 2010
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Hong Kong Sevens: Final day Latest
Can Zar Lawrence help inspire the Series-leading New Zealanders to victory?


All the latest from the third and final day's play at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, the sixth event in the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series.

Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia all went unbeaten over the first two days at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens to make Sunday's Cup quarter finals with the two best runners-up, USA and Kenya.

- LATEST FIXTURES & RESULTS >>
- LATEST TEAM REACTION >>

Cup quarter finals
Samoa v USA
England v Australia
Fiji v South Africa
Kenya v New Zealand

Argentina were unlucky to narrowly drop to the Plate on points difference and look the pick of the sides in the second tier quarter finals where they face Wales.

So far this season there have been three Cup winners in the IRB Sevens World Series - New Zealand (2), Fiji and Samoa (2) - and currently the kiwis lead the race for the overall title by just two points from the in-form Samoans.

- WORLD SERIES STANDINGS >>

Who's going to win today? Join the debate >>

Cup & Plate

Thirty World Series points are up for grabs for the Cup winners here, which could be crucial in deciding this year's eventual overall winners. Of the current top eight-ranked sides in the Series, only Argentina are not contesting the Cup with the USA making the last eight here for the first time as one of the two best pool runners-up.

For the first time here in Hong Kong, the losers of the Cup quarter finals will go on to contest a Plate competition with the chance of winning 16 Series points, as opposed to the 30 on offer to the Cup champions, 25 to the runners-up and 20 to the losing Cup semi finalists.

Bowl

The Pumas face a Bowl quarter final against Wales, a replay of last year's Rugby World Cup Sevens Final. Also in the Bowl are Canada, Tonga, Scotland, Japan, France and Portugal.

Shield

Five Asian sides will compete for the Shield, including home favourites Hong Kong and China. Their stiffest test is likely to come from Zimbabwe and Russia, who were unlucky not to qualify to contest higher honours.

http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/edition...s+final+latest