Sydney Sevens: Day One Wrap

Editor

New Zealand fought back to secure a late 17-17 draw with hosts Australia in the final match of day one of the Sydney Sevens on Saturday.

In the Pool A decider, New Zealand came from 17-5 down at half-time to level the scores thanks to tries from Augustine Pulu and Ardie Savea, putting the All Blacks Sevens through as pool winners on points differential and they will meet USA in the first quarter-final on day two, while England await Australia.

At a sun-soaked Allianz Stadium, World Rugby Sevens Series leaders South Africa, second-placed Fiji and fourth-placed England also impressed winning all three of their matches in front of a sold-out crowd of 36,218 fans.

Ben Ryan's Fiji continued their impressive pool stage record, their three wins ensuring they have now tasted victory in 39 of their last 39 pool matches after victories over Samoa, France and Argentina.

Savenaca Rawaca scored twice in the 19-14 Pool C deciding win over Los Pumas, and they will face Kenya in their quarter-final on day two.

Series leaders South Africa also won their three matches, beating Kenya 26-19 to finish top of Pool B with Seabelo Senatla, who leads the way in the performance index in Sydney, scoring his 24th try of the series so far. Neil Powell's Blitzboks will come up against Argentina in a repeat of the Cape Town Sevens final.

England beat USA 17-14 in a thrilling Pool D decider, Alex Davis, Alex Gray and captain Tom Mitchell scoring the tries in the victory.

Sunday's fixtures

Cup

New Zealand v USA
Fiji v Kenya
England v Australia
South Africa v Argentina

Bowl

Portugal v Japan
Samoa v Russia
Wales v Canada
Scotland v France

Results

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Portugal

New Zealand 27-12 Canada
Australia 24-7 Portugal
New Zealand 40-5 Portugal
Australia 26-12 Canada
Canada 17-26 Portugal
New Zealand 17-17 Australia

Pool B: South Africa, Kenya, Scotland, Russia

South Africa 33-7 Scotland
Kenya 24-10 Russia
South Africa 40-0 Russia
Kenya 17-14 Scotland
Scotland 40-5 Russia
South Africa 26-19 Kenya

Pool C: Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, France

Fiji 31-0 Samoa
Argentina 17-7 France
Fiji 49-5 France
Argentina 14-12 Samoa
Samoa 29-14 France
Fiji 19-14 Argentina

Pool D: England, United States, Japan, Wales

England 26-5 Japan
United States 42-0 Wales
England 21-5 Wales
United States 33-17 Japan
Japan 21-26 Wales
England 17-14 United States

With thanks to the World Rugby website