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New Zealand hang on to claim Vancouver Sevens title as hosts Canada surprise to finish third
The All Blacks Sevens have hung on in a tightly-contested final to dispatch trans-Tasman rivals Australia and claim the Vancouver Sevens in Canada.
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The 17-14 victory didn’t come easily for New Zealand, who have now extended their lead at the top of the World Sevens Series standings to 11 points.
A late yellow card to veteran Sam Dickson meant the Kiwis had to final the clash with just six men, but two earlier sin bins to Australian duo Maurice Longbottom and Lachie Miller proved to be too much for the runners-up to overcome.
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Demoted to five men for a short period in the second half, the Australians couldn’t hold out what eventuated to be the tournament-sealing try to Joe Ravouvou in the 10th minute as he strolled over the line in the left-hand corner unopposed.
His try was one of two that New Zealand nabbed to secure a second half comeback after Andrew Knewstubb fooled the opposition defence from close range with a sharp dummy to score near the posts.
Those two scores helped overturn a 14-5 half-time deficit as a pair of converted tries to Longbottom and Lachie Anderson offset Ravouvou’s first try in the opening half.
The tournament title is New Zealand’s third this season after having claimed winners’ medals in Cape Town and Hamilton.
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Subsequently, a gap has opened up between them and the second-placed South Africa, who were stunned by a rampant Canadian side who beat the Bitzboks in front of their home fans in the bronze final, their first win over the South Africans in sevens years.
Canada went into the contest as the surprise package of the tournament after having defeated Fiji, Wales and France to top Pool B and then beating Spain in the quarter-finals to qualify for a rare Cup semi-final berth.
Despite being beaten 19-14 by Australia in the final four showdown, the hosts bounced back to run four tries past South Africa to chalk up a 26-19 win, which sent the home crowd into raptures once the referee blew his full-time whistle.
The defeat leaves South Africa on 104 World Series points, while New Zealand remain at the summit of the standings with 115 points to their name.
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Australia, meanwhile, have leapfrogged France and England to move into fourth place, where they lie just two points shy of Fiji.
The next World Sevens Series tournament is scheduled to take place in London on May 23-24.
World Sevens Series Standings
1 – New Zealand (115 pts)
2 – South Africa (104)
3 – Fiji (83)
4 – Australia (81)
5 – England (77)
6 – France (74)
7 – USA (72)
8 – Canada (57)
9 – Argentina (56)
10 – Ireland (49)
11 – Scotland (37)
12 – Kenya (35)
13 – Samoa (33)
14 – Spain (33)
15 – Wales (13)
16 – Japan (10)*
17 – South Korea (1)*
* denotes non-core series member
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments