Inspired SA impress on Sevens Mandela day
South Africa won all three of their matches at the Cell C Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa Sevens in Port Elizabeth, ending day one with a 100% record alongside Argentina, current Series leaders New Zealand and Fiji.
On an emotional day which saw all 16 teams join together on the pitch for the playing of the South Africa national anthem followed by a minute’s silence to honour Nelson Mandela, the Blitzbokke rose to the occasion and impressively beat Canada, Spain and former coach Paul Treu’s Kenya to set up a quarter final match with Portugal.
Portugal also impressed on day one, recording a shock 28-17 victory against Wales and a 33-17 win over the USA with David Matues scoring twice in both matches to reach their first Cup quarter finals of the season but second successive in Port Elizabeth.
Argentina won all three of their matches on day one, beating Zimbabwe, Samoa and England. Following their Plate victory last weekend in Dubai the Argentineans will now face last year’s runners-up France in the quarter finals after Julien Candelon broke a 12-12 deadlock against Australia to send them through and put Mic O’Connor’s side into a second successive Bowl.
New Zealand scored more than 40 points in each of their three matches, with Sherwin Stowers scoring six tries and they will meet Kenya who were runners-up in Pool B.
Last week’s champions Fiji were too strong for Australia, France and Scotland with Benito Masievu scoring in all three wins.
Ben Ryan’s side now face Samoa in an enticing first quarter final after Fale So’oialo scored four tries as Samoa bounced back from their 26-19 defeat against Argentina to book their place in the Cup quarter finals with a win over the only non-core side competing in Port Elizabeth, Zimbabwe.
Big guns drop into the Bowl
Dan Norton moved into second in England’s all-time leading points scorer list ahead of head coach Simon Amor in their win over Zimbabwe but his efforts were not enough and they miss out on the quarter finals for the first time after defeats to Samoa and Argentina, and await the auld enemy Scotland in the Bowl.
Two Luke Morahan and Shannon Walker tries helped Australia beat Scotland but their defeats to Fiji and with the last play of the match at the hands of France means they will play Zimbabwe in the Bowl while USA await Spain in the last quarter final.
Photo: Frankie Horne scored his 50th career try on day one of the Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa Sevens – Photo: IRB/Martin Seras Lima
Courtesy of IRB
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