Flying to glory: Fiji
Fiji retained their Gold Coast title on Sunday after defeating New Zealand 32-14 in the opening HSBC IRB World Sevens Series leg of the new season.
In a repeat of the 2011 final Fiji once again proved too strong for the All Black Sevens at Skilled Park with Ratu Raitini scoring an impressive hat-trick and Joji Raqamate crossing the line twice.
The victory means Fiji collect 22 Series points to sit top of the standings, ahead of New Zealand (19) and South Africa (17) who beat Kenya (15) in the third place play-off at the Australian event.
Plate
Argentina scored two first half tries through Nicolas Bruzzone and Fernando Luna to beat France 14-7 and win the Plate.
France beat Samoa in the first Plate semi-final 21-7 while Los Pumas inflicted yet more heartbreak for the hosts as Australia conceded a second last-minute try of the day to lose 17-14.
Bowl
Spain beat England to claim eight Series points by winning the Bowl.
With the scores locked at 14-14 it was substitute Matias Tudela who scored the decisive try in sudden death extra time.
England reached the Bowl final after Marcus Watson snatched their own sudden death extra time try for Ben Ryan's side to beat Canada, and Spain defeated Wales 26-17 thanks to two tries from Pedro Martin.
In the first Bowl quarter final Canada beat Portugal 31-0, before England proved too strong for Scotland to set up the first semi final.
In the third quarter final, Wales came from 19-10 behind and scored three second half tries to run out 27-19 winners against USA whilst Spain moved into the semi finals in their first tournament as a core team, beating Tonga 19-7.
Shield
Michael Fedo and James Fleming both scored hat-tricks as Scotland beat USA 40-5 to win the first Shield of the season.
It was Fleming's second hat-trick of the day as he earlier helped Scotland beat Portugal 33-0 and reach the Shield final. Carlin Isles, who can run the 100m in 10.13 seconds scored two of six tries in a 33-26 victory against Tonga for the USA.
Results
Finals
Cup: Fiji 32-14
Plate: Argentina 14-7 France
Bowl: Spain 19-14 England
Shield: Scotland 40-5 USA
Semi-finals
Cup: South Africa 10-21 Fiji, New Zealand 15-5 Kenya
Plate: France 21-7 Samoa, Argentina 17-14 Australia
Bowl: Canada 19-24 England (AET), Wales 17-26 Spain
Shield: Portugal 0-33 Scotland, USA 33-26 Tonga
Bowl quarter-finals
Canada 31-0 Portugal
England 35-7 Scotland
Wales 27-19 USA
Spain 24-7 Tonga
Cup quarter-finals
South Africa 26-14 France
Samoa 7-19 Fiji
Argentina 7-12 New Zealand
Australia 14-21 Kenya
With thanks to the IRB
Comments
jontheref says...
Paddy may not be on the selection committee, but it is he who puts up the list they choose from!
If you have any doubt about this, read the below from a woman ref, Dana Teagarden, and Paddy was not in his current, but previous role at the time!
"impressing iRB Referee Manager Paddy O¿Brien so much that he asked the USA to appoint her to the USA 7s in San Diego in February 2007.
Only guaranteed one match to prove that a woman referee could handle the speed and intensity of senior men¿s international 7s, Dana earned appointment to 6 matches, including the Bowl Final between Tonga and Argentina. "
So it is the "hand of Paddy" you can blame!
Posted 12:29 17th October 2012
tha_mai says...
rugbyphile - that's right, it's all Paddy's fault
He is Sevens Referee Manager, as he was with XVs - and is not on the IRB Match Official Selection Committee who make ref appointments for sevens and XVs. IRB Match Official Selection Committee: John Jeffrey (Chairman), Tappe Henning, Lyndon Bray (both SANZAR), Donal Courtney, Clayton Thomas (both 6 Nations) and Joel Jutge (IRB Referee Manager).
Send your complaint to him.
Posted 11:28 15th October 2012
rugby_lord says...
Spain were really good. Well coached.
Posted 09:51 15th October 2012
rugbyphile says...
Is Paddy O Brien now running the 7s refs? Whoever it was --why pick the Argentinian for the final---he was hopeless compared to many of the other refs on show. Great tournament though--
Notice how much more mobile DJ Forbes was when he lost the beard?
Posted 09:29 15th October 2012
sandal says...
Spain beat Wales, Tonga, England?
Go Spain!
Posted 06:40 15th October 2012
TheRoof says...
Gareth Williams-Spiers - quit rugby and play hockey. You were crap in the final.
Posted 17:32 14th October 2012