USA Sevens - Day one latest
STORY: www.irb.com
The 2011 USA Sevens, the fourth leg of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series, takes place at the Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas and IRBSevens.com is the only place online for up-to-date news, results, statistics and reaction throughout the tournament.
Latest Buzz: Ben Gollings scores his 2,500th point in World Series history with the first try of day whilst Kenya come from 12-0 behind to beat Wales 19-12. Argentina, New Zealand and Fiji also record victories against France, Uruguay and Canada.
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England and New Zealand are currently joint top of the standings with 64 points, ahead of Samoa (52), Fiji (44) and South Africa (32), and the two teams have met in the two previous finals in New Zealand and South Africa. The four Cup quarter finals will be played at the end of day one for the first time at the Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas.
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The hosts USA are in Pool D with reigning World Series and defending USA Sevens champions Samoa, South Africa and Japan. They begin their campaign at 11:58 against South Africa but have failed to taste victory in any of their 16 previous encounters against the Boks.
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Pool A - ENG, ARG, FRA, GUY
Tries from Ben Gollings, his 211th in World Series history, Tom Powell (4), Simon Hunt and Mat Turner helped England record a 49-0 victory in the opening match of day one.
In the second match of the day Argentina edged past France 21-19 despite trailing 7-0 and two tries from Frenchman Jean Baptiste Gobolet. Gaston Revoi, Francisco Merello and Walter Weiss all crossed for Nicolas Fernandez Lobbe's side and they now play Guyana.
Guyana have only played five matches before on the World Series, at the 2010 USA Sevens, but were able to draw 12-12 with France last year, a side they also meet in Pool A at 17:19.
Pool B - NZL, WAL, KEN, URU
New Zealand are favourites to progress to the Cup quarter finals after their 40-0 victory over Uruguay. The South American side put in a spirited display but Gordon Tietjens' full time outfit proved too strong as Toby Arnold (2), Solomon King, Bryce Heem, Frank Halai and captain Lote Raikabula all crossed for tries.
A Cup win in USA will mean they will have won three tournaments in a row and would take a lead on top of the Series standings at the half way stage.
Buoyed by their victory in the Bowl competition at the NZI Sevens Kenya came from 12-0 behind at half time to beat Wales 19-12 in their first match of day one. Captain Humphrey Kayange began the fightback before his brother Collins Injera scored twice to secure the victory. Injera is now just two short of 100 all time tires on the World Series.
Pool C - FIJ, AUS, SCO, CAN
Joeli Lutumailagi (2), Mitieli Nacagilevu, Seremaia Burotu and captain Emosi Vucago all helped Ilieisa Tanivula's Fiji defeat Canada 33-0. Peni Gaunimeke showed glimpses of why he has been tipped to be the next William Ryder throughout the match including in the build up to Burotu's try - his 18th on this year's World Series.
Pool C is the only pool where all four teams played in last week's tournament in Wellington, New Zealand and Scotland and Canada meet each other at 18:03.
Australia reached their first Cup semi final of the season last weekend whilst Fiji failed to reach the same stage for the first time. These two teams will be favourites to progress to the Cup quarter finals at the end of day one but their match at 17:41 will be one to watch.
Pool D - SAM, RSA, USA, JPN
Defending champions Samoa begin the defence of their title at 11:36 against Japan. The return of Uale Mai, who was instrumental in their win in 2010, will help in the absence of Lolo Lui and they also play hosts USA and South Africa.
Alafoti Fa'osiliva is another player who could notch up 100 all time World Series tries this weekend as he currently has 98.
The hosts, who won the Bowl in 2010 will be hoping to reach the Cup competition on home soil at the Sam Boyd Stadium and their first match is against South Africa at 11:58.
Cecil Afrika returns for South Africa who will be looking to progress further than the Cup quarter finals for the first time on the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series having appeared in all thre Plate finals so far - winning two of them.
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