Impressive Aussie Sevens coast into Cup Quarters in Las Vegas
The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens team has won its opening two games of the Las Vegas Sevens to clinch a spot in tomorrow’s Cup Quarter-Finals.
Healthy Pool B wins over Scotland (26-0) and Japan (35-5) saw Australia book a place in the last eight with one group game – against old adversaries England – to play.
Day One at the Sam Boyd Stadium was also notable for the long-awaited Sevens debut of Wallaby wizard Quade Cooper as well as returning forward Pat McCutcheon.
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach Andy Friend said: “I thought our defence was really impressive today. We were disciplined in defence and clinical in attack. As we saw in their other games today, Scotland can throw it around a bit as can Japan.
“The day was really good for the two new additions. It was so pleasing that Pat [McCutcheon] could get 14 minutes under his belt against Japan while Quade [Cooper] felt a lot better in that second game too. He’s a quality footballer, no doubt about that.
“However, we need to keep this momentum going. We have two games tomorrow and we have done nothing yet – absolutely nothing. First up we have an England team that will no doubt come out firing after what was a tough day for them. We’ll then have a Quarter-Final against either Fiji, Argentina or Samoa. Anything can happen.”
Australia got its campaign in Las Vegas off to the perfect start with a professional display that proved far too good for Scotland. Allan Fa’alava’au drew in two opposing defenders before releasing teenage outside back Henry Hutchison to dot down on the right early on.
Sam Myers was then the beneficiary of a Con Foley break as he gave the Aussies a 14-point lead at half-time. Wallaby Quade Cooper was introduced for his World Sevens Series debut midway a second period that saw skipper Ed Jenkins and then Tom Lucas put the seal on a comfortable win.
Suffocating defence and clinical attack underpinned another convincing performance, this time against Japan. Greg Jeloudev opened the scoring when he spotted a gap on the right edge of the ruck and Allan Fa’alava’au then crossed over as the Aussies asserted their dominance.
Jeloudev notched a second – the 66th of his World Series career – before Cameron Clark was picked out by Quade Cooper to add another score. Lomano Lava Lemeki replied for the Japanese but returning forward Pat McCutcheon had the final say when he powered over to put the exclamation on a win against a side that had earlier drawn with England.
Australia’s win over Japan was soured by a serious knee injury sustained by half-back Tom Lucas which is likely to rule the 22-year-old Queenslander out for at least the rest of the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens World Series.
On Lucas’ injury, Friend added: “We’re all devastated for Tom. Fingers crossed he can make a speedy recovery and come back fitter and stronger in time.”
Australia round out pool play with a clash against England. A win will secure top spot ahead of the Cup Quarter-Finals later on Day Two.
FOX SPORTS Channel 505 will be broadcasting the Las Vegas Sevens LIVE tomorrow from 6.20am AEDT.
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens results in Las Vegas, USA, 5 March
Australia 26-0 Scotland, Pool B
Australia 35-5 Japan, Pool B
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens fixture in Las Vegas, USA, 6 March
Australia v England, Pool B, 8.46am AEDT
Cup Quarter-Finals from 12.30pm AEDT
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