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IRB Sevens World Series leaders South Africa went unbeaten with New Zealand and hosts England on day one of the Emirates Airline London Sevens, which produced twists and turns throughout.
The IRB Website reports that at the end of the first day’s play at Twickenham three of the four pools were decided by points difference with Scotland, France and Portugal progressing to the Cup quarter finals but Kenya, Argentina and Samoa all missing out.
Cup quarter finals
South Africa v France
New Zealand v Fiji
Scotland v Portugal
England v Australia
Scotland upset Fiji 12-7 and then overcame the USA to book their place in a first Cup quarter final this season, while Portugal and France both needed to wait for the result of nail-biting final matches with their destiny out of their hands.
South Africa remain poised to add the IRB Sevens World Series trophy to their silverware cabinet for the very first time.
After a fine season, Paul Treu’s side lies 28 points ahead of closest rivals England. Mathematically the Twickenham hosts can still catch them in the race for the title, although the Boks would have to slip up badly over the closing two tournaments, and England would probably need to win both.
The London event is the penultimate in the 2008/09 World Series, which reaches a climax next weekend at Murrayfield.
IRB Sevens World Series points
Cup winners – 20
Cup runners-up – 16
Losing Cup semi finalists (x2) – 12
Plate winners – 8
Plate runners-up – 6
Losing Cup quarter finalists & Plate semi finalists (x2) – 4
Bowl winners – 2
South Africa top Pool A
South Africa beat Australia 17-14 in a tight pool decider, Vuyo Zangqa crossing for the decisive try to ensure that the Boks’ overall title aspirations on track
Earlier South Africa started with two impressive wins, 29-5 against World Cup-winners Wales and then 70-0 against Germany. Renfred Dazel set them on their way against the Welsh and they led 12-5 at the break when Craig Hill cancelled out Ryno Benjamin’s try. Captain Mzwandile Stick scored a brace as they accelerated away in the second half, Gio Aplon also touching down. Against the Germans Zangqa scored a hat trick, Ryno Benjamin a brace and Dazel, Aplon, Chase Minnaar, Robert Ebersohn and Kyle Brown one each.
Newlook Australia also kicked their Twickenham campaign off with two wins, outclassing Germany 50-0 and then coming from behind to beat Wales 31-21. Willie Bishop scored a hat trick of tries and there were also scores for James Stannard, Will Brock, Shaun Foley, Clinton Sills and Francis Fainifo in their first match, before a real cracker against the Welsh. Ifan Evans and Craig Hill put Wales ahead and Patrick McCutcheon pulled on back before the half, before a purple patch after the break that produced three quick scores for the Aussies through James Stannard and Shaun Foley (2). Tal Selley pulled one back to make it 24-21 but Francis Fainifo’s score put the match beyond doubt.
Wales finished on a high, beating Germany 45-5, but will contest the Bowl on day two. Ifan Evans scored two tries against the Germans and there were further tries for Craig Hill, Will Harries, Tom Isaacs, James Merriman and Tal Selley. Germany’s first try of the tournament was scored by Benjamin Simm.
Pool B: England go unbeaten and send France through
England were made to work hard for their opening 20-14 victory against France, but then powered to a fine 61-0 win against Georgia. Kevin Barrett and Ollie Phillips both scored for the hosts early on against the French but Thomas Combezou’s try cut the lead to three points. Chris Cracknell and Ben Gollings both scored in the second half to stretch out to a 20-7 lead and Paul Albaladejo crossed for a late try.
Against Georgia Tom Biggs, Micky Young and powerful Uche Oduoza all grabbed braces in a nine-try win, Ben Gollings, James Rodwell and Rob Vickerman also crossing for scores.
In the pool decider Ben Ryan’s men had to show all of their mettle and captain Ollie Phillips inspired them to an impressive 31-14 win, which also denied Samoa a place in the Cup quarters by edging France ahead of them on points difference.
Earlier, the defending London champions Samoa had also proved far too strong for Georgia, powering to a 47-0 win, but needed a last-second converted try to draw with unlucky France 26-all. Mikaele Pesamino grabbed a hat trick against the Georgians and there were also tries for Uale Mai, Morgan Salesa, Levi Asifa’amatala and Kirisimasi Lesa, but France provided an altogether tougher challenge. Paul Dabrin’s two tries, and others for Paul Albaladejo and Thomas Combezou, gave France the lead against Alafoti Fa’osiliva’s brace and Reupena Levasa’s effort, before Levasa crossed again at the death allowing Lolo Lui to convert for the draw.
France’s late 57-7 win against Georgia gave them every chance of making the Cup quarter finals.
Pool C : Scots fly high and Fiji deny Kenya
Scotland produced the biggest upset so far at the Emirates Airline London Sevens, recovering from an early loss against Kenya to beat Hong Kong champions Fiji 12-7 and top their pool. The Scots followed up the surprise win with a more routine 40-0 win against USA to reach a first Cup quarter final this season in the World Series.
In an intriguing pool Fiji then had to beat Kenya by at least 14 points to make it through to the Cup quarters in their place, and did so with a fine 26-5 victory. At 12-5 with three minutes to play the Kenyans seemed well set, but Seremaia Burotu added to Vereniki Goneva’s two first half tries to make the lead 14, and Orisi Sareki sprinted clear on the hooter to seal victory.
For Scotland Scott Forrest opened the scoring against the Fijians but Emosi Vucago’s converted score edged Fiji ahead before Greig Laidlaw’s decisive try. Against USA, Andrew Turnbull scored a brace and Colin Gregor, John Houston, Scott Forrest and Ally Hogg one each to send the Scots through a week before their own event at Murrayfield.
Earlier, Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange had broken Scottish hearts in their opening game, scoring the winning try after the Africans came back from a 12-0 half time deficit. Michael Adamson and Colin Gregor each crossed in the first half but Kenya were a different proposition after the break, Kayange scoring tries either side of his brother Collins Injera, the leading try scorer in the Series this year. And the Kenyans took that fine form into their match against the USA, Sidney Ashioya and Collins Injera each scoring a brace and Victor Simiyu one in a 33-0 win.
The Fijians also started with a win, 26-10 against the Americans. Seremaia Burotu and Waqa Kotobalavu gave the islanders a 12-0 lead, but Mark Bokhoven hit back for the States. Pio Tuwai and Nasoni Roko then scored to put the game beyond doubt for Fiji and Tai Enosa crossed for a late USA consolation.
Pool D: New Zealand lend Portugal a hand
Zar Lawrence inspired New Zealand to a fine 38-0 win against the Pumas of Argentina to ensure that they top their group, Ben Souness’ final try also sending Portugal through to the Cup quarter finals on points difference, in Argentina’s place.
The New Zealanders had kicked off their London campaign with a superb six-try victory against Canada, and followed it with another impressive win 43-7 against Portugal. Solomon King set them on their way and Lote Raikabula and captain DJ Forbes also scored in the first half, and Tim Nanai-Williams, Julian Savea and Save Tokula added tries after the break in an initial 40-0 win. Against Portugal King and Savea both scored twice, while Save Tokula, Kurt Baker and Lote Raikabula added one apiece.
Argentina and Portugal started with a lung-busting 21-all draw, before the Pumas recovered to beat Canada 24-12. The Portuguese led against Argentina 14-7 at the break, Goncalo Foro scoring twice either side of Santiago Gomez Cora’s effort. Gabriel Ascarate pulled it level early in the second half and the prolific Gomez Cora edged them ahead before Antonio de Aguilar’s late try earned a deserved draw. Against Canada the Pumas had captain Santiago Gomez Cora to thank, his two tries taking him beyond 1,100 career points – the fourth highest all time.
The Portuguese finished their day’s play on a high, beating Canada 24-7 with Diogo Mateus scoring the 22,000th try in the 10 year history of the Series, and New Zealand’s late burst against Argentina did them the ultimate favour to send them through to the Cup.
So this is the scenario going into this round
South Africa 104
England 76
Fiji 74
Argentina 68
New Zealand 64
Kenya 58
With a maximum 40 points on offer in the final two rounds, any of the top 5 teams can still win it in the unlikely event that SA don’t get any points.
SA however just need 13 points, from two rounds,to secure the title.
Points available from each of the following two tournaments.
Cup winners – 20
Cup runners-up – 16
Losing Cup semi finalists (x2) – 12
Plate winners – 8
Plate runners-up – 6
Losing Cup quarter finalists & Plate semi finalists (x2) – 4
Bowl winners – 2
Plain and simple. To win the title this week already we need to make the Cup Final and even if we lose we will be the new title holders.
Cup quarter finals
South Africa v France
New Zealand v Fiji –
One of the giants are going home early and we play the winner. We are going to have to work hard for this title.
======================
Scotland v Portugal
England v Australia
England have a doddle through to the final IMO.
Can you believe the dude from the player 23 advert, Jan(Malcolm Ferreira) is a Sharks supporter
there is a second player 23 ad, first showing will be this saturday, Robbie Wessels has a mullet 
@JarsonX (Comment 4) : Malcolm: ”Ek is mal oor die sharks maar Ryan Kankowski staan uit, omdat ek die geleentheid gehad het om aan sy boud te vat”
so when is the next game? Im glad fiji and nz are playing each other and not us, good chance for us to go through to the final. Wheres kenia?
@JarsonX (Comment 6) :
i answered that almost immediately, I think my connection musta bombed out.
here we go again.
All times are UK time.
http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/edition=8/fixturesresults.html
25 24-05-2009 11:00 Wales – Georgia ENG 1/4 final Bowl
26 24-05-2009 11:22 Argentina – USA ENG 1/4 final Bowl
27 24-05-2009 11:44 Kenya – Canada ENG 1/4 final Bowl
28 24-05-2009 12:06 Samoa – Germany ENG 1/4 final Bowl
29 24-05-2009 12:28 South Africa – France ENG 1/4 final Cup
30 24-05-2009 12:50 New Zealand – Fiji ENG 1/4 final Cup
31 24-05-2009 13:12 Scotland – Portugal ENG 1/4 final Cup
32 24-05-2009 13:34 England – Australia ENG 1/4 final Cup
33 24-05-2009 14:06 Loser M25 – Loser M26 ENG SF Shield
34 24-05-2009 14:28 Loser M27 – Loser M28 ENG SF Shield
35 24-05-2009 14:50 Winner M25 – Winner M26 ENG SF Bowl
36 24-05-2009 15:12 Winner M27 – Winner M28 ENG SF Bowl
37 24-05-2009 15:34 Loser M29 – Loser M30 ENG SF Plate
38 24-05-2009 15:56 Loser M31 – Loser M32 ENG SF Plate
39 24-05-2009 16:44 Winner M29 – Winner M30 ENG SF Cup
40 24-05-2009 17:06 Winner M31 – Winner M32 ENG SF Cup
41 24-05-2009 17:28 Winner M33 – Winner M34 ENG Final Shield
42 24-05-2009 17:56 Winner M35 – Winner M36 ENG Final Bowl
43 24-05-2009 18:24 Winner M37 – Winner M38 ENG Final Plate
44 24-05-2009 18:52 Winner M39 – Winner M40 ENG Final Cup
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : so we are either meeting fiji or nz in the final
Go Bokke!
@JarsonX (Comment 8) :
No we are either meeting NZ or Fiji in the Semi-Final.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
provided we MAKE it to the Semi-final of course.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
approve my new pic please
@JarsonX (Comment 12) :
Done.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : thanx
score???
@JarsonX (Comment 15) : uk time
im a wee bit early
@JarsonX (Comment 16) :
I’m in the office.
So the scores are updated on the IrB site and they usually take at least 20min after the game before they update
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : Ha Ha, how WAS your weekend?
When does CC SB start?
@Rahul (Comment 19) : sometime near the end of June i think
Half time score:
SA 14 France 0
@wpw (Comment 21) :
Okay that was 10 minutes ago. what was the final score?
@Rahul (Comment 19) :
SB for CC is already there we will enter a pool soon.
@wpw (Comment 21) :
OY!!!!!!!!
What kind of a commentator are you. The match after ours is already at half time and you still haven’t given us a full time score.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : I think he has fallen asleep
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : thats what happens when you support wp/stormers
@Whindy (Comment 25) :
He better check the fax machine. There is a “don’t come monday” waiting.
SA 21 – 5 France
Full Time.
One win away from securing the title. Our opposition for the next match will be decided in a minute.
I am not only missing this i am missing the Manaco GP at the moment as well.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : Know the feeling,bugger having to work on Sundays
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : button to win again
@Whindy (Comment 29) :
It Sucks. At least if these guys move to a Fri Sat weekend i can see ALL the S14 games.
@JarsonX (Comment 30) :
I hope not. The POMS already blow enough smoke up his arse.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : Ja at least I have had that privilege
okay so NZ THUMPED Fiji 33 – 14
So we play NZ for the title in effect.
Cup SF at 17:44 SA time.
I will give live commentary
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : nice one
@JarsonX (Comment 37) :
And it will be for the WHOLE game, not WPW style.
i love sevens!:-)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) :
@robdylan (Comment 39) :
Please tell me you are at the venue?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : alas no. At home and Matthew has just vetoed watching it on tv
. I know I had plans to go at one stage. Not sure what happened to those plans
Sorry about earlier gents. Jenson Button wins the Monaco grand prix!! So much for Ferrari…
has any of you seen the super kings rugby jersey, its nice, it might actually be the best thing about them
@wpw (Comment 43) : well i have always been a braun fan myself
@JarsonX (Comment 45) :
And Braun is a Manchester united fan, I wonder if WPW knows that.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) : i have absolutely no favourite soccer team, i dont even watch it although i’ll check out the games when bafana banana is playing
@JarsonX (Comment 47) :
I don’t watch it AT ALL. Unless i am stuck somewhere and I have no control over the remote.
@JarsonX (Comment 47) : when its world cup and we did qualify
Just over 10 minutes to SF Kick-off.
any minute now
They have crossed to london.
GO Bokke!!!!!
teams are on the pitch
@JarsonX (Comment 44) : from yesterdays Beeld
Sa Kick off
SA went deep.
Pk against NZ at ruck.
Stick takes it quickl and knocks on.
scrum inside the NZ 22
NZ in posession and throwing it around.
Ruck.
Adv SA for NZ not rolling away.
Adv over
SA Pkd for # 8 not rolling away
NZ go for LO on the half way
4:12 left
@KSA Shark © (Comment 57) :
Forbes brought down 2m from our line.
SA turn it over and try and run it out.
Not successful.
SA clears from behind the line into the poles.
Scrum SA. 5m from our line
2:29 left
SA carry it over
scrum 5 SA put in
messy scrum, reset.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : i tend to forget how quickly theses matches are over
time off for injury to Mbiyozo.
PK NZ 7m out to restart
@JarsonX (Comment 63) : and you are posting even faster
TRY NZ.
Conversion missed.
SA 0 – 5 NZ
HALF TIME
@JarsonX (Comment 65) :
Hehehehhe
so we like that Super Kings Kit, dont we
2nd half about to start.
@JarsonX (Comment 69) :
YIP i do.
NZ kick-off
SA knock it on.
scrum NZ just outisde our 22
how do you score 70 points in 14mins, was the opposition on the field
PK NZ for SA going off their feet.
NZ tap and go
TRY NZ
skew mullet baker scores the try.
@JarsonX (Comment 73) :
damn!
NZ knock on from their own Kick off and SA have the scrum.
win it and spread it wide.
3:50 to go
NZ have the ball
PK SA for NZ entering ruck illegally.
Set up LO on NZ 22
2:53 to go
Sa take the LO
Aplon TRY!!!!!!!!!!
@JarsonX (Comment 69) : i’ll sommer convert
Conversion taken to close and it goes UNDER the crossbar from right in front.
SA 5 – 10 NZ
2min
well done gio
NZ have the ball and are on attack inside our 22
1:02min
PK NZ on our 22
@KSA Shark © (Comment 83) :
NZ set up LO 15m out
35sec
skew throw.
SA opt for scrum
10sec
so how many points did we get overall
Hooter looooong gone.
Sin bin for NZ and SA have the PK inside their own half.
SA hoof it up
Ebersohn chases and the bounce beats him for skew mullet baker to get the ball.
Hoofs it into touch.
FULL TIME
SA 5 – 10 NZ
SA get 12 points for being losing semi-finalists in this tournament.
We needed 13 to secure the championship.
Need 1 point from Edinburgh next week.
oi!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : so we definitely win the series, unless we lose all our games, GO BOKKE
Hold on a sec.
We will end this round on 116
England have to win to keep the championship alive.
If they win they will be on 96 with 20 points up for grabs next week.
if England don’t win this tournament then we ARE the Champions.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : So that’s a shield win right? I don’t know how one wins points in this comp.
@JarsonX (Comment 93) :
We could win before that, if England don’t beat NZ in the final.
WTF is going on this week. I have to shout for the bulls 2 weeks in a row and now i have to shout for NZ in the final tonight.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) : whether we play or not
england will lose
@klempie (Comment 95) :
look at comments 1 and 2
@JarsonX (Comment 97) :
Better take my jersey off then.
On that note, a mate of mine who works for caterpillar (sponsor of leicester tigers) gave me a Tigers Jersey for my Birthday. The thing looks like a Blue Bulls Jersey.
No wonder meyer and Liefling were so keen to go there.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) : That’s how I understood it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) : the way i see it, we win anyways coz england need this win and the next round, and i dont see us getting zero points in the next
Scotland 12 – 14 England
Half time
@KSA Shark © (Comment 98) : A bowl win then…
@JarsonX (Comment 101) :
Who knows what could happen.
Never say never.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 102) : Och ayyyeeee!! Goh the Scooohts!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 104) : i guess but highly unlikely
they’ll have to implode even more than the sharks did
@JarsonX (Comment 106) : Why? Why bring that up? I was just starting to come to terms with it by looking forward to the B&I Lions game.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 75) :
Just incase you don’t know who skew mullet baker is.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13514837164#/photo.php?pid=1568437&op=1&o=all&view=all&subj=13514837164&aid=-1&oid=13514837164&id=551756990
from the Sharksworld Facebook group
@KSA Shark © (Comment 108) : sy mullet is skeef
thank you ma for not ruining my life with such a name
Game over
England thump Scotland.
18:52 NZ – England Cup Final
See you here at 19:52 SA time for live commentary
@JarsonX (Comment 109) : ok ive made the statement before i checked out FB
@JarsonX (Comment 109) :
Never mind the name!!!!!!!!!!!! he coulda had the best name in the world and he woulda ruined his OWN life with that Hairstyle.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 110) : GO NEW ZEALAND!!!
maybe i should try out that hairstyle
what was he thinking 
Okay i’m off for a bit, gotta rip the New Cds to get them on Kettes ipod for the vacation.
There’s Ultra Mel in the fridge!!
whats the dude’s real name?
@JarsonX (Comment 117) :
Somebody Baker.
Is no one jealous that I have Ultra Mel? I’d be jealous…ESPECIALLY if I was somewhere outside SA…somewhere like…oh I dunno…Saudi Arabia for instance…
CORRECTION: its Southern Kings not Super Kings
either the jersey is a beauty 
@klempie (Comment 119) :
i can get 1 if i like but not today 
now if it was a beer….
@JarsonX (Comment 121) : That’s my point. You couldn’t get one…today.
I can just walk right over to the fridge which is about 5m away. I’m first having some dinner though. KSA on the other hand….well he has to wait a week or so and spend a few k on a plane ticket to get HIS Ultra Mel. Poor lad. 
7minutes to kick off
GO KIWIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@klempie (Comment 122) :
Hehehehhe My ultramel stock that came back with me is long finished.
One correction though, when you work in KSA the company pays for your annual vacation not me.
Final is on.
Will give score updates.
Final is 10minutes each way.
NZ Try by KURT Skew Mullet Baker
converted
NZ 7 – 0 Eng
7:14 to go
NZ try!!!!!!!!! Julian Savae
Converted
NZ 14 – 0 Eng
3:55 to go
Savae 2nd TRY!!!!!!!!
conversion missed
NZ 19 – 0 Eng
3:20 to go
HALF TIME
NZ 19 – 0 England
2nd half on
Looks like we’re on our way to champ status. Pity we couldn’t do it ourselves.
Oduoza Try
Converted by Gollings to go to 1996 points
NZ 19 – 7 Eng
6:25 to go
Young try for England
Golling misses
NZ 19 – 12 England
4:08 to go
Rodwell scores under the posts
Gollings converts to go to 1998 points
NZ 19 – 19 England
2:25 to go
Geez. The Kiwis nearly fucked that up. SA are champs!!
Zar Lawrence TRY!!!!!!!!!!!
Converted
NZ 26 – 19 England
0:20 to go
England TRY!!!!!!
Gollings converts and goes to 2000 career IRB 7s points
NZ 26 – 26 England
Full time.
OK they HAVE fucked it up!
@klempie (Comment 135) :
you spoke to soon dude.
Extra time now.
5min each way with a sudden death score to decide the winner.
3min left NZ LO 5m from their own try line
England knock on in the LO.
NZ scrum 5m out on defence
NZ screw up the scrum and Young scores for England
ET
NZ 26 – 31 England
Shit.
Look at those stupid Poms. Carrying on like gay Premiership soccer players.
SA have to go to Edinburgh next week to get the one point required to ensure the title is theirs.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 144) : Or hope England don’t win the whole bang shoot.
@klempie (Comment 145) :
No. if we get no points and they win it we will be level.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 146) : Yeh. A tied series. Who wants that?
Jeez we played the wrong game last yesterday, what a muff show