News

England leave Fiji behind in Dubai

November 28 2008

England created the upset of Day One of the IRB Dubai Sevens, beating Fiji 28-5 in stylish fashion on Friday.

Despite a number of ultra-competitive matches on day one of the Dubai Sevens, all the other top teams have progressed unbeaten through their opening matches.

Reigning IRB Sevens World Series champions New Zealand started with three convincing wins against Wales, Zimbabwe and Australia at Dubai's new stadium, 'The Sevens'.

International Sevens Player of the Year, Kiwi captain DJ Forbes led by example, scoring, creating and marshalling the defence as coach Gordon Tietjens sets about blooding a new batch of youngsters in time for the World Cup Sevens in March.

Their closest challengers look likely to be either Samoa or South Africa, although both Fiji and England have also impressed in their bids to return to top form.

Quarter-final line-up

New Zealand v Kenya

England v Argentina

Samoa v Fiji

South Africa v Australia

Bowl quarter-finals

Wales v Arabian Gulf

Portugal v Georgia

France v USA

Scotland v Zimbabwe

Reports

Pool A

Defending champions New Zealand proceeded unbeaten on day one after capping an impressive start with a ruthless 33-7 victory over Australia.

Zar Lawrence opened the scoring and a further Tom Mikkelson try made it 14-0 at the break. Luke Morahan pulled one back soon after the restart but tries by Mikkelson, Cama and Nafi Tuitavake put the match beyond doubt.

Earlier New Zealand dominated the forward exchanges in respective 28-7 and 43-7 victories against Wales and Zimbabwe as Gordon Tietjens took the chance to give a first ever taste of the action to 18-year-old Julian Savea, Tim Nanai-Williams, Paul Grant and Kurt Baker. Seasoned pros Tomasi Cama, Zar Lawrence, Solomon King and Raikabula also starred.

Michael O'Connor's newlook Australia had got off to a winning start, first coming from behind to win 21-12 against the Zimbabweans, and then jinxing their way to a thrilling 22-17 win against the Welsh.

Wales must make do with a place in the Bowl quarter finals on day two, with the consolation that victory against the Zimbabweans has secured them a favourable draw in the last eight.

Pool B

South Africa once again look a class act in Pool B, any number of players providing a genuine attacking threat going forward. First they outpaced Scotland to win 31-10 and then, after a slow start, Ryno Benjamin and Gio Aplon upped the ante against the much-improved hosts Arabian Gulf to inspire a comfortable 33-0 win.

The ever dangerous Kenyans also saw off both the hosts and the young Scots, Collins Injera contributing four tries in 28-7 and 38-0 wins.

The Arabian Gulf showed just how far they have come with the help and guidance of Springbok coach Paul Treu, scoring first against Scotland before eventually going down 19-14.

Pool C

Rudi Moor's experienced Samoan outfit was made to work hard first up against France, eventually coming through 19-14 thanks to Apelu Fa'aiuga's winning try. They were far more impressive, though, in beating the rugged Georgians 33-7, captain Uale Mai pulling the strings and test forward Alafoti Fa'osiliva catching the eye in his second season of Sevens.

In helping Argentina to an opening victory against Georgia, Santiago Gomez Cora reached 200 tries in the IRB Sevens World Series - the leading all-time mark - eight years after scoring his first here in 2000. The Pumas won that first match 26-7 and then battled from 7-7 at the break to beat the French in an energy-sapping second half, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino capping a fine move to break the deadlock before a further score took them out to 21-7.

France were then taken to the wire by the Georgians in the pool's all-European match-up, winning another tight game 14-12.

Pool D

England announced themselves as genuine title contenders here in Dubai for the first time since December 2005. Two Fijian-born players Isoa Damu and Josua Drauniniu provided telling contributions in two opening wins, 31-7 against the Portuguese and 24-10 against the USA, while Ollie Phillips and Uche Odouza also showed good form, that suggests Ben Ryan's side may be capable of upsetting the big four in the latter stages to win a first Dubai title since December 2005.

In the pool decider Damu scored two tries against Fiji and one each for Odouza and Mickey Young combined to produce a convincing 28-5 victory.

Fiji themselves played some sparkling rugby in seeing off USA 47-12 and then ground out a hard-fought victory against Portugal, who held them to 0-0 until half time with some typically dogged defence before Vereniki Goneva and Osea Kolinisau scored unanswered tries after the break.

In another absorbing match the Portuguese then edged USA 22-12, Pedro Leal's late try taking them seven points clear before his neat penalty goal confirmed victory.

Day One results:

(Kick-off is local time - GMT + 4 hours)

Match 1: New Zealand 28 Wales 7

Match 2: Australia 21 Zimbabwe 12

Match 3: South Africa 31 Scotland 10

Match 4: Kenya 28 Arabian Gulf 7

Match 5: Samoa 19 France 14

Match 6: Argentina 26 Georgia 7

Match 7: Fiji 47 USA 12

Match 8: England 31 Portugal 7

Match 9: New Zealand 43 Zimbabwe 7

Match 10: Australia Wales 17

Match 11: South Africa 33 Arabian Gulf 0

Match 12: Kenya 38 Scotland 0

Match 13: Samoa 33 Georgia 7

Match 14: Argentina 21 France 7

Match 15: Fiji 12 Portugal 0

Match 16: England 24 USA 10

Match 17: Wales 26 Zimbabwe 12

Match 18: Scotland 19 Arabian Gulf 14

Match 19: France 14 Georgia 12

Match 20: USA 12 Portugal 22

Match 21: New Zealand 33 Australia 7

Match 22: South Africa 31 Kenya 0

Match 23: Samoa 19 Argentina 5

Match 24: Fiji 28 England 5

With thanks to the IRB