England and NZ Sevens on collision course

Story:  www.irb.com

HSBC Sevens World Series joint leaders England and New Zealand have reached the Cup semi finals of the USA Sevens along with Fiji and South Africa in front of a 25,000-strong crowd in Las Vegas.

The World Series leaders remain on course to play each other in what would be a third successive Cup final as Ben Ryan's side face South Africa and Gordon Tietjens' team meet Fiji. 

In a change to the usual competition format, the Cup quarter finals were staged late on day one to tie in with the first live broadcasting of the World Series on network television across the States, on NBC.

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England became the first team through to the Cup semi finals after a 28-14 victory over Kenya. Humphrey Kayange had given Kenya a 7-0 lead in their first Cup quarter final since the 2010 Hong Kong Sevens but two tries from both James Rodwell and Mat Turner secured England's place in their fourth successive Cup semi final.

Argentina also scored first in their quarter final through Javier Ortega Desio but seven New Zealand tries including two from man of the moment Declan O'Donnell ensured Gordon Tietjens' side reached the semi finals.

In Fiji's quarter final against Pacific Island rivals Samoa they took a 12-0 lead before Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Alatasi Tupou drew the scores level. Iliesa Tanivula's side lost to Samoa at the same stage of the NZI Sevens last week but Peni Ganimeke - billed as the next William Ryder - ensured Fiji's place in the semis.

South Africa reached their first Cup semi final of the season after beating Australia 19-14 in the final match of day one thanks to tries from Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez and captain Kyle Brown.

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Earlier, Collins Injera scored his 100th career try in the World Series during Kenya's 25-10 defeat to New Zealand. England captain Ben Gollings also recorded a piece of history, surpassing 2,500 all time points.

Bowl quarter finals:
France v Uruguay
USA v Canada
Scotland v Japan
Wales v Guyana

Pool A - ENG, ARG, FRA, GUY

England topped Pool A after a narrow 17-14 victory over Argentina in the pool decider thanks to tries from Mat Turner and Dan Norton (2). Both sides had earlier beaten France and Guyana who enter the Bowl quarter finals on day two. 

Tries from Ben Gollings, his 211th in World Series history, Tom Powell (4), Simon Hunt and Turner helped England record a 49-0 victory against Guyana in the opening match of day one.

Gollings' try also brought up his 2,500th all time point in the World Series and he scored a further six points in their 33-14 victory against France as Turner scored his second and third tries of the tournament and Powell added his fifth. Steve Barry scored both tries for France.

Ramiro Moyana, Francisco Cuneo and Francisco Merello all scored twice as Argentina also beat Guyana 47-0 to secure their place in the Cup quarter finals following a 21-19 victory over France. Despite trailing 7-0, Gaston Revoi, Merello and Walter Weiss all crossed for Nicolas Fernandez Lobbe's against the French. 

Guyana had only played five matches before on the World Series, at the 2010 USA Sevens, but will have gained a lot of experience from playing at the USA Sevens.

In their final match they were unable to prevent France recording their first victory of day one but captain Claudius Butts received the biggest cheer of the day when he scored Guyana's only try in the 57-7 defeat.

Pool B - NZL, WAL, KEN, URU

New Zealand finished on top of Pool B after their 26-5 victory against Wales in their final pool match on day one as Declan O'Donnell scored their first try before Buxton Popoalii, David Raikuna and Scott Curry helped secure their place in the Cup quarters.

Kenya reached their first Cup quarter final since the 2010 Hong Kong Sevens and joined the pool toppers in the last eight.

Earlier Gordon Tietjens's side recorded 40-0 and 25-10 victories over Uruguay and Kenya respectively in their opening two matches. The South American side put in a spirited display but Toby Arnold (2), Solomon King, Bryce Heem, Frank Halai and captain Lote Raikabula all crossed for tries in the victory. 

Despite crossing for his 99th and 100th all time World Series tries, Collins Injera was also unable to halt New Zealand as Tomasi Cama, King, Arnold, Tim Mikkelson and Halai all secured New Zealand's 25-10 victory.

But 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 before Injera scored a hat-trick in their 28-7 victory against Uruguay to qualify for the quarter finals.

Ifan Evans, Rhys Jones, Gareth Davies, Richie Pugh and Alex Cuthbert ensured Wales won their second match 33-10 against Uruguay, but the biggest cheers were for Federico Favaro and Filipe Berchesi who scored their first two tries of the tournament.  

Pool C - FIJ, AUS, SCO, CAN

Fiji ended the pool stages on top of Pool C after their 35-10 victory over Australia. Peni Gaunimeke showed glimpses of why he has been tipped to be the next William Ryder with two tries in the match. 

Mitieli Nacagilevu, Nikola Matawulu (2), Seremaia Burotu and captain Emosi Vucago earlier helped Fiji beat Scotland 31-14 whilst Joeli Lutumailagi (2), Nacagilevu and Vucago (2) all scored in their 33-0 victory over Canada. 

Australia captain Bernard Foley scored his third and fourth tries of the tournament in Australia's 31-14 victory against Canada after Jonathon Lance opened Australia's account and Ed Jenkins scored twice to complete the victory.

Foley opened his account at the USA Sevens with two tries in a 12-7 victory against Scotland and despite Struan Dewar's try in the second half and long periods of poessesion, Graham Shiel's side were unable to break down the Aussie defence. 

Scotland did, however, defeat Canada 21-19 to finish third in Pool C but both teams will enter the Bowl competition on day two. 

Pool D - SAM, RSA, USA, JPN

South Africa and Samoa reached the Cup quarter finals after playing out a 7-7 draw with the sun setting on the Sam Boyd Stadium. Uale Mai, on his return to the Samoa Sevens squad, gave his side the lead before Renfred Dazel cancelled out his effort. 

The reigning World Series champions met the winner of Pool C, Fiji, in the Cup quarter finals after 31-7 and 28-12 victories against Japan and hosts USA.

Shohei Toyoshima had provided the first scare of the day as he gave Japan a 7-0 half time lead against the defending champions but second half tries from Reupena Levasa, Ofisa Treviranus, Simaika Mikaele, Fautua Otto and Afa Aiono ensured there was no upset.

Mikaele, Aiono, Treviarnus and Levasa also crossed in the victory over hosts USA, who enter the Bowl competition which they won in 2010 and finished the day with a morale-boosting 24-7 win against Japan, Paul Emerick, Zach Test, Ronald Suniula and Tai Enosa all scoring before Aisea Mataali Havea's late consolation.

Cecil Afrika marked his return for South Africa with his 18th try of the HSBC Sevens World Series against hosts USA in a 27-5 victory. Captain Kyle Brown had given his side the lead and crossed again after Afrika's try in the first half but the biggest cheer came when Zach Test scored for the hosts.

Afrika scored his 19th of the season and Bernado Botha completed his first hat-trick on the World Series in their 35-0 victory against Japan as they booked their place in the quarter finals.

Hosts USA finished third in Pool D after beating Japan 24-7 and they will now look to defend the Bowl title they won in 2010.

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