Australian Men’s Sevens fall short in bid for Cup Quarter-Final slot at Twickenham

May 21 • General News, International, Sevens Rugby, Sevens World Series • 3289 Views • Comments Off on Australian Men’s Sevens fall short in bid for Cup Quarter-Final slot at Twickenham

A much-changed Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens side has dropped out of Cup competition at the London Sevens after finishing third in Pool B overnight.

The Aussies beat Wales (22-10) in its tournament opener before narrowly losing out to hosts England (10-7) and then Fiji (26-0). With the win, Fiji ensured qualification to the Cup Quarter-Finals and with it back-to-back HSBC Sevens World Series titles.

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach Andy Friend said: “Obviously it was a disappointing day in the end. I thought in the first game with Wales we played some good football but against England we had our chances but were not clinical enough when it really counted. We turned over possession too many times and missed too many opportunities when they were presented to us.

“We knew the last game was going to be tough against a side fighting for the title and I felt we actually started that game well. But when you have the ball five metres out from their try line – like we did in the first five or six minutes – you have to come away with points and we didn’t do that.”

On the prospect of playing in the Bowl competition on Finals Day, Friend added: “It’s the last chance for players to put their hand up for Rio selection. We have to lift and show pride in the jersey and I’m very confident we will do that.”

Australia kicked off its campaign in London with a hard-fought win over an energetic Wales side. Early pressure from the Welsh had Australia on the back foot but when they did get possession, the green and gold worked the ball up the field and Allan Fa’alava’au fed Henry Hutchison to race clear.

The World Sevens Series Rookie of the Year nominee doubled Australia’s lead when he dotted down in the same corner and Sam Figg increased his side’s advantage two minutes into the second half. Owen Jenkins gave Wales a glimmer of hope when he just managed to get over the try-line but Pama Fou scored his first five-pointer after a six-month injury lay-off to put the game beyond doubt. Jenkins did register his second of the game after the siren for Wales but it proved no more than a consolation.

Australia were on the back foot for the majority of the game against a full-strength England team, who had earlier easily beat Fiji in their opening match. The hosts opened the scoring through Dan Norton after five minutes but Sam Figg scored a converted try following strong work from Pama Fou on the right wing.

However, England reclaimed the lead in the last 90 seconds of the game. With Pat McCutcheon in the sin bin, the ball was worked to the inside left channel and Marcus Watson darted through to notch the winning score.

Despite Australia having the bulk of possession in the first seven minutes, it was Fiji that snared a 12-point lead through Samisoni Viriviri and Jerry Tuwai. The pattern of play continued into the second half but Kitione Taliga and Osea Kolinisau both profited from some brutal Fijian defence to put the seal on the win and ensure the Pacific Islanders could not be caught at the top of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Australian playmaker Allan Fa’alava’au will be assessed overnight after sustaining a head knock in the final game against Fiji while Jesse Parahi should be fit following a stinger to the shoulder in the same game.

In tomorrow’s Cup Quarter-Finals, South Africa will play Argentina, New Zealand take on the USA, England meet Scotland and Fiji will be up against France.

FOX SPORTS 2 will broadcast all of the action on the final day of the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens World Series LIVE at Twickenham from 6.15pm AEST on Sunday evening.

ENDS