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| Photo Credits: Getty Images |
Pool A
Team profiles (NZL, SAM, SCO JPN)
New Zealand ended day one with a
100% record after beating Samoa 19-7 in the final match of day one after
Tomasi Cama had scored 24 points in the hosts' 54-0 victory against
Japan.
The defending champions began their
campaign against Scotland, recovering from a 7-0 deficit at half-time to
secure a 29-7 victory thanks to a hat-trick from captain DJ Forbes.
The
2009/10 Series champions Samoa also overturned a half-time deficit,
coming from 14-10 behind to record a 29-14 victory against Japan thanks
to two tries from Lolo Lui.
In their second
match they also came from 14-7 behind to beat Scotland 21-14 and book
their place in the Cup quarter-finals. Michael Fedo also scored a
hat-trick against Japan, helping Scotland beat Japan 55-0 to finish
third in Pool A.
Pool B
Team profiles (RSA, ENG, USA, COK)
South Africa maintained their 100% record on day one with a 14-10 victory against England in the Pool B decider.
England's
Tom Mitchell scored the only try of the first half before Mark Richards
and Branco du Preez crossed for Paul Treu's side in the second, but it
was du Preez's two conversions that proved decisive.
Earlier
they became the first side to win both of their opening two pool
matches, adding a 43-0 victory against the Cook Islands to an earlier
defeat of the USA.
England also made it two wins from two as they beat the USA 29-0, adding to an earlier 27-12 win against the Cook Islands.
Dan
Norton scored twice, Mat Turner added his 16th of the season and
Mitchell scored on his World Series debut, ensuring there was no repeat
of the upset caused in 2008. Arthur Mui and Sean Fletcher crossed for
Ramsey Tomokino's side.
Cecil Afrika scored
14 points in South Africa's 21-0 victory against USA in the day's first
match ensuring they have won all of their 20 encounters with Al
Caravelli's side.
And in the pool's
penultimate match, the Cook Islands made matters worse for the Eagles
one week out from their home event in Las Vegas, coming from behind to
beat them 26-22 through Jerome Vogel's late winner.
Pool C
Team profiles (FJI, WAL, ARG, TON)
Tonga
defeated Argentina 24-14 to book their place in the Cup quarter-finals
as Pool C winners, ending day one of the Hertz Sevens unbeaten thanks to
two tries from Vaea Poteki and setting up a quarter-final clash with
England.
Earlier they stunned Pacific
neighbours Fiji, beating the current joint-Series leaders 17-14 with
Jack Ram scoring two tries in the victory in Pool C.
Fiji
won here two years ago and got their campaign off to a flying start
with a 31-0 victory against Argentina, thanks to 11 points from Osea
Kolinisau, but were unable to cope with Tonga. In their final match they
beat Wales 19-0 to finish second in the pool.
Wales, who beat Fiji 48-0 in the Plate final in South Africa, met Tonga
in their first match which ended in a thrilling 14-14 draw before they
beat Los Pumas 19-7.
Argentina have
struggled for consistency this season, reaching a Cup semi final in
Dubai but otherwise flattering to deceive, and they now enter the Bowl
competition having finished fourth in Pool C.
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| Photo Credits: Getty Images |
Pool D
Team profiles (FRA, AUS, CAN, KEN)
Canada
booked their place in the Cup quarter-finals with a 21-14 victory
against Kenya. Despite trailing 14-7 at half-time, Nayak Dala and Conor
Trainor, scoring his second of the match, crossed to secure their place
in the last eight on day two.
Geriant John's
side stunned France recording a 19-14 victory against the Dubai Sevens
runners-up in their opening match. Sean Duke and Nathan Hirayama had
given Canada a 14-0 lead but they were pegged back to 14-14 before
Ciaran Hearn struck the final blow.
France,
who were able to win their second match 26-17 against Kenya thanks to
two tries from skipper Vincent Deniau before a 10-10 draw with Australia
was enough to put them through as pool runners-up.
Australia
beat Canada 14-12 to ensure each side in Pool D sat on four points
after the first two rounds of pool matches but their defeat to France
meant they finished day one third in Pool D.
Earlier
Collins Injera had scored his 125th and 126th tries in another surprise
result in Pool D as Kenya scored five tries in a 35-10 victory against
Australia. Captain Sidney Ashioya also scored twice before former
captain Humphrey Kayange completed the victory.
