Australia beat Japan (41-0) and Wales (19-14) but lost to New Zealand (24-10) to finish second in their pool.

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach Geraint John said: “I think today has summed up our season. There were highs but then at other times we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit. In the Wales game we were 7-0 up on their try-line and allowed them to score and in the New Zealand game we got a little enthusiastic in the contact area. However, at other times we executed very well.

“Tomorrow we have a tough test against a Scotland team who did fantastically well to win three from three and beat England on their home turf in the pool stages. We’ll need to be on our game if we are to make it through to the Semi-Finals.”

Australia got their campaign in London off to the best possible start as they comfortably saw off the challenge of Japan. Incessant pressure from the men in gold saw them race into a 22-point lead at the break with Nick Malouf, Ed Jenkins, James Stannard and Lewis Holland all scoring five-pointers. The second half saw little change as Australia dominated in both defence and attack to register their second biggest winning margain over the Japanese. Greg Jeloudev’s double and a Tom Lucas score capped an encouraging first hit out of the day.

The Aussies qualified for the Cup Quarter-Finals after seeing off the challenge of Wales in a scrappy encounter. Tries from Nick Malouf, Ed Jenkins and a second-half score from gun centre Cameron Clark proved enough. The Welsh responded with excellent tries from Will Harries and Kristian Phillips but they proved in vain.

In a straight shoot-out for top spot in Pool B, it was New Zealand who got the better of Australia. Despite a powerful start from the Aussies, it was Scott Curry who touched down for the All Blacks in the right corner only for Pama Fou to level it up almost immediately. Rieko Ioane restored New Zealand’s lead right on the half-time siren but once again Fou scored in the left corner early in the second period. However, a converted try apiece from Sherwin Stowers and Curry again gave New Zealand the win.

In the other Cup Quarter-Finals, series leaders Fiji meet South Africa, New Zealand take on England while the USA play Canada. The English confirmed Team GB’s qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics by securing a spot in the last eight of the Cup competition, meaning Australia will battle it out in the Oceania Regional tournament in Auckland in November.

Finals Day from Twickenham Stadium in London will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2 from 7.25pm on Sunday 17 May.

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens results in London, England, 16-17 May:
Australia 41-0 Japan, Pool B
Australia 19-14 Wales, Pool B
Australia 10-24 New Zealand, Pool B

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens fixture in London, England, 17 May:
Australia v Scotland, Cup Quarter-Final, 7.50pm AEST