The quest for a tournament win goes on for a frustrated Australia after finishing fourth at the Hong Kong Sevens.
The Thunderbolts came into the iconic event with high hopes having been pipped at the post in two finals in the past two months but they failed to come to grips with a rampant Fiji in the semi-finals.
Fiji – who went on to outclass New Zealand 21-7 in Sunday’s final – were in sizzling form in a 34-5 flogging of Australia and left coach Andy Friend scratching his head over his ultimate goal of winning gold at the Rio Olympics in four months.
Australia couldn’t handle Fiji’s frenetic pace and clinical finishing and the match was all but over at halftime with the score 22-0.
Australia were subsequently beaten 14-12 by South Africa in the bronze-medal match to complete their fourth consecutive top-four tournament finish without taking home any silverware.
“Yeah it’s very frustrating,” Friend told AAP.
“You don’t want to be sitting second, third or fourth; we want to be winning things. That’s what we’re about. No one is happy with that.”
The loss of playmaker Lewis Holland to a foot injury on Saturday was critical, meaning the ARU will likely increase their efforts in trying to convince French club Toulon to release Quade Cooper for at least one of the next three tournaments in Singapore, Paris and London.
Friend was still upbeat about Australia’s Olympic campaign, with John Porch’s try-scoring form among the positives as well as a gritty defensive display to defeat England in the quarter-finals 14-5.
“As everyone does, we want to be gold medallist in Rio,” said Friend.
“So this is a great litmus test for that – can you really handle the pressure when it really matters. Today we learnt a few lessons.”
Fiji, who were seconds from being beaten by Kenya in the quarter-finals before snatching victory with a try after the siren, were brilliant in the decider as Semi Kunatani provided the spark.
The victory keeps them on top of the world series standings.
Australia stay fourth on the table with the next stop in Singapore starting next weekend.
CUW
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RsQrPVcwGg Best tries: Hong Kong 7s
CUW
Guest
http://www.vodacomrugby.co.za/world-rugby-name-olympics-match-officials/ World Rugby name Olympics match officials some more experienced refs in 7s circuit may feel hard done by joubert getting a gig. lets hope hwe does not need to run down a tunnel again - but those 7s boys are pretty quick too :P
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well that would explain why he was mowed down. Was always going to be a struggle as he lacks express pace, and isn't a noted ball player or skilful player.
Chivas
Guest
Not sure how much you can curtail certain behaviours without affecting their game. Look at players like Phipps, Hooper etc. I think Chieka likes his players all fizzed up. It seems to be how some players are... Same as youngsters wanting to do all the miracle passes and flashy stuff, when often if you play to the structures it is a better percentage play. As long as niggle doesn't slip. Over into ill discipline and penalties, I tend to put it down to differences in personality.,But there will always be someone here wanting to talk about it :-).
CUW
Guest
DRAW FOR SINGAPORE 7S : Hong Kong Cup winners Fiji head up pool A and will face England, Samoa and Portugal, while Hong Kong's beaten finalists New Zealand will play USA, France and Canada in pool B. South Africa will play Kenya, Scotland and Russia in pool C and in the fourth of the pools Australia will face Wales, Argentina and Japan.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Chivas and Dan Man... no it was Kurt Baker, so thanks Dan Man. Ummm.... I'm not usually picky, but I've seen this guy on a few outings 'expressing' himself in ways where I just thought why bother? Chivas... it's all good. And the beauty of watching these guys, at times, is you do see things differently depending on who you're rooting for. Further it takes a mature balanced approach to see things as they are... not what you wish for. To that end I'll repeat my observation that Kurt Baker is an apparent niggler... and most definitely doesn't need to be so! I wonder what Gordon thinks... maybe he just somewhat raises eyebrows? :))
CUW
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/cummins-suffers-injury-setback/
riddler
Guest
seems as though he was injured after his first run.. and played on through it, rightly or wrongly.. will struggle to make the final selection even without the injury..
CUW
Guest
11 is kurt baker te tamaki is #10 sbw 12
CUW
Guest
dude , fifji almost lost the first match to canada and that woke them up :) nz were again hit by injuries and tim mic is a big player fro them. also they lacked the size - both ware and tetamaki are small compared ot the fijians who monstered them. to be fair to both nz and boks, they killed each other for 24 minutes in one semi. that really took all the juices out from both, thus nz or sa were not in top shape to go the distance.
WAZZA
Guest
And will always be runner up, Too many speedbumps in defence..
Dan Fan
Guest
Is that Kurt Baker? He's awesome.
Chivas
Guest
Te Tamaki is one of the best youngest players in the side, who made his debut last year. Is that who you mean. I think he offers a darn sight more than your characterisation of him and while his tackle last year got a bit of press; he is not a noted niggler, but I guess we all see different stuff. However, I will leave it to TMan to comment after all it was him I see your post was meant for.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yeah TM... Fiji were on song for this round. Very scary when they play like that, and more so when the ball bounces their way. To be fair to NZ and Aussie... lots of injuries in both camps. And the track was a bit dead. Hey, who's your #11 in the Kiwi side as I can't remember his name... he appears to be a bit of a niggler??
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Interestingly there is very little negative comments about Cummins. I think that's more of a reflection of his popularity off the field than his performance on it.
Chivas
Guest
Yes Fiji were deserved winners and the semi between NZ and SA was epic. Both NZ and SA had their chances. While SA are tenacious and fast they give up size/power and that is the compromise. Fiji were the team of the tournament and in my view were better than all considering they beat NZ by a healthy margin who beat SA. The hypothetical you pose is something no-one knows so you can be as smarty as you like making such comments. I also thought Australia came back well against SA in the play off to end up within two points.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Watching the two sides over the weekend there was only ever going to be one winner. NZ scraped through matches where Fiji walked them. SA would probably have been a better match for Fiji in the final and were unlucky not to progress from an amazing, and long, semi final.