Holders: New Zealand
The draw for the Port Elizabeth leg of the HSBC IRB World Sevens Series is out, with defending champions New Zealand grouped with Fiji and England.
New Zealand, who lost to Samoa in the Dubai final, are the top-ranked nation in Pool B.
The Springbok Sevens will face Dubai winners Samoa, France and Australia in Pool A in a very competitive race for the two group qualification spots on offer and passage to the Cup quarters.
Kenya head Pool C and were drawn alongside Wales, Argentina and Spain. Dubai surprise package Portugal, Canada, the United States and Zimbabwe complete the final grouping in Pool D.
New Zealand currently lead the World Series on 38 points after two rounds, followed by Fiji, Kenya, Samoa (on 32), France (27) and South Africa (24).
The first few teams will arrive on Sunday at approximately 9.20pm in PE from Johannesburg while the second group, including South Africa, are expected to touch down at 10.20pm.
The confirmed pools for the Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens are:
Pool A: Samoa, France, South Africa, Australia
Pool B: New Zealand, Fiji, Scotland, England
Pool C: Kenya, Wales, Argentina, Spain
Pool D: Portugal, Canada, United States, Zimbabwe
The HSBC Sevens World Series Standings after two rounds are:
1. New Zealand 38
2. Fiji 32
2. Kenya 32
2. Samoa 32
5. France 27
6. South Africa 24
7. Argentina 21
8. Wales 18
9. Canada 17
10. Australia 11
10. Portugal 11
12. England 10
12. Spain 10
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
History says that it's the other two teams that ought to be worried.
Not sure why the seedings have failed so spectacularly, have you seen Pool D!?! or did the irb forget to seed the teams??? D'uh.
Posted 09:57 05th December 2012
rugbylover says...
Oh hoh, PR. But not - apparently - a 'tough' draw for England & Fiji? sigh.
Posted 14:09 03rd December 2012
JMehrtens says...
Tough draw for New Zealand? What about Scotland?
South Africa is lucky they didn't end up in Pool B, although that would have been a great pool with 4 of the top 5 teams of last years.
Dubai's results made pool D possible, but what are the odds that the lowest ranked teams of each pot would end up together? 0.3%
Posted 08:44 03rd December 2012
rugbyforever says...
Ah Shame, does that mean it's not a tough draw for Fiji and England?
Posted 21:03 02nd December 2012