Rugby minnows Portugal and the United States enjoyed a memorable first day at the South African leg of the World Sevens Series on Friday.
The Americans beat their far more fancied Pool B opponents Australia 28-26 to keep the Aussies out of Saturday’s Cup quarter-finals.
Portugal surprised not only their opponents, but probably themselves when they qualified for the quarterfinals after winning all three their matches in Pool D.
With a team made up largely of players who specialise in the 15-man code, they kicked off their day with a 14-12 win over African giant-killers Kenya and followed that up with a first ever triumph over Sevens powerhouse Samoa 19-17.
They then beat Wales 19-17 to top Pool D.
Despite finishing second in their pool, it wasn’t the best of days for the Samoans, who not only lost to Portugal, but were made to fight all the way in downing Kenya 17-12.
Zimbabwe also impressed with an emphatic 17-7 win against Scotland in Pool C, won by Fiji with a three from three record.
Argentina was second then Zimbabwe and Scotland.
World Sevens series title holders and defending champions here, New Zealand, made up for their slip-up in the semifinals against England in Dubai a week ago by beating them in their final Pool A match of the day, 19-7.
New Zealand also picked up comfortable victories against France (40-5) and Tunisia (36-0) and DJ Forbes’ team finished top of their pool with England second.
Hosts and champions from Dubai last week, South Africa, in their quest to win their first home tournament, advanced to the Cup quarterfinals after a perfect record on day one.
They started with a 24-0 win over the USA and followed that up with an even better display in beating Georgia 31-5, but were made to sweat in the last match of the day against Australia, eventually running out 17-7 winners.
The USA, with two wins from their three matches, finished second in the pool and advanced to the Cup quarterfinals.
Saturday’s action will see the sides competing in the knock-out phase of the competition with the four Cup quarterfinals seeing New Zealand tackle the USA, Portugal facing Argentina, Fiji clashing with Samoa and arguably the biggest of the matches, South Africa coming up against the team they beat in the final in Dubai last weekend, England.
MarkH
Guest
Thats great news. I think the USA have come miles and will continue to do so. As for portugal, like Georgia, they are on the way up. Great stuff.
Ian Noble
Guest
Steffy Most countries have a squad of specialist 7s players. The English squad is made up of a mix of National Division1 players and academy players from the GP. In the last two/three years players such as Care, Haskell, Varndell, Crane, Moyne, Tait and Ojo have cut their teeth on the 7s circuit and it has helped their development in the 15s game. With the World Cup in Dubai on the horizon whether the RFU might wish to involve more GP players such as Care etc with obvious 7s skills is open to debate, I suspect if it ever became an Olympic sport then the players might have a say through their Players Union on the Professional Game Board. Gollings by the way is an exception having played for Quins and Doncaster is now living in Australia for family reasons and I think plays for Sunnybank. He is the 3rd highest points scorer in the IRB 7s through his 7s career which stretches over many years.
brad
Guest
when will the Olympic committee make their decision over the fate of rugby?
Spiro Zavos
Expert
USARUGBY has set itself the goal of maSking the quarter-finals at the next Sevens World Cup, and the RWC in 2011. I would think that they must be a chance for the Sevens tournament as they are now going to have a term permanently in the IRB Sevens circuit, something they have not been able to achieve in the past.
Steffy
Guest
What sort of teams do the "big" nations field? I saw the England squad for Dubai and some chap called Gollings was the only one I had vaguely heard of.
Ian Noble
Guest
It didn't surprise me. I thought both Portugal and the USA played very well in RWC2007 and at 7s they could make a real impact. Remember the USA wing skinning Habana, both teams have some very fast and skillful players who with more experience will progress further and be a real threat.