(Photo World Rugby)
Defending champions New Zealand showed their class to make it two wins from two on day one of the Hong Kong SVNS at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The Black Ferns Sevens were joined by Canada, Australia, USA and France in making a 100% start as the quarter-final line-up begins to take shape.
Meaningful pool games await when the last-four line-up will be decided after a series of off-your-seat try-scoring moments at the new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, which comes 50 years after the first Hong Kong Sevens.
POOL A: Black Ferns Sevens flex their muscles as Miller seizes centre stage
New Zealand’s women are the finest team on the planet in Sevens Rugby and they made an ominous start on day one in Hong Kong with two straight wins to top Pool A ahead of the quarter-finals.
First, they claimed a 23rd straight win against Brazil in HSBC Sevens but were made to work for their 29-12 success.
Katelyn Vahaakolo scored an early hat-trick and Jorja Miller was also on target against the Brazilians.
Brazil, though, gave the Black Ferns Sevens a fright with Camilla Carvalho’s delightful quickfire double before Kelsey Teneti added a fifth try for the reigning champions.
New Zealand then beat Japan 38-7 in the last women’s fixture of the day with a hat-trick from the brilliant Jorja Miller and further scores from Mahina Paul, Risi Pouri-Lane and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
Mei Ohtani scored Japan’s try but the Black Ferns Sevens were comprehensive victors as Miller went on to complete her hat-trick before Risi Pouri-Lane also touched down.
Head coach Cory Sweeney said: “The girls were awesome and are preparing for totally different situations all the time.
“We’ve been going well but will continue to take things one game at a time.”
Meanwhile, Fiji overcame rivals Brazil 15-12 for their first win in a tense clash that could have easily gone either way.
Atelaite Ralivanawa, Verenaisi Ditavutu and Silika Qalo scored for the Fijiana with Thalia Costa and Yasmim Soares touching down for Brazil.
Fiji captain Ditavutu said: “We played with some real teamwork and just went out and showed what we are capable of.
“That’s what the Fijiana is all about – making our supporters proud and everyone back home.”
Japan, meanwhile, eked out a hard-fought 12-5 win over Fiji.
Atelaite Ralivanawa opened the scoring for the Fijiana before tries from Mei Ohtani and Natsuki Ouchida gave Japan victory.
But they were brought back down to earth by the Black Ferns Sevens in the final women’s game of the day.
POOL B: Canada and Australia take maximum points
Canada showed their class with two comprehensive wins to claim top spot in Pool B after big wins over Great Britain and South Africa.
First they flexed their muscles with a 41-7 victory over GB with scores from Caroline Crossley, Breanne Nicholas, Alysha Corrigan and Charity Williams (two) Kennedi Stevenson and Savannah Bauder with Heather Cowell replying for GB.
Canada wowed the Hong Kong crowd again with a 31-0 win over South Africa.
This time their tries came from Alysha Corrigan (two), Charity Williams, Florence Symonds and Carmen Izyk.
There was a similar statement of intent when Australia sailed to two big wins over South Africa and Great Britain.
First they ran out comprehensive 33-0 victors over South Africa as Bienne Terita and Teagan Levi both scored twice while Kaitlin Shave also touched down.
Australia then further illustrated their quality by beating Great Britain 34-7.
The mercurial Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan both scored twice and Kaitlin Shave and Bienne Terita also touched down with Katie Shillaker replying for GB.
Maddison Levi’s scores saw her equal Portia Woodman-Wickliffe’s try tally at 256.
POOL C: USA and France show their mettle with two wins
France and the USA both claimed two wins on day one and the French kicked off proceedings with a 29-14 victory over Argentina.
Sofia Gonzalez and Josefina Padellaro scored for Argentina but tries from Lou Noel, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Lili Dezou, Alycia Christiaens and Chloe Jacquet secured a comfortable win for France.
USA claimed an impressive 24-7 win over Spain as Sammy Sullivan scored twice, and Ariana Ramsey and Kaylen Thomas also got on the scoresheet, while Spain’s sole try came from Juana Stella.
Another entertaining encounter saw France beat Spain 31-14.
France led 19-0 at the break through tries from Alycia Christiaens, Anaick Konyi and Chloe Jacquet before Juana Stella and Denisse Gortazar hit back for Spain.
Further scores, though, from Christiaens and Marie-Aurelie Castel confirmed France’s superiority.
The in-form Sammy Sullivan continued her blistering start to the weekend with another brace as USA beat Argentina 27-5.
Kaylen Thomas, Kristi Kirshe and Autumn Czaplicki also scored with Talia Rodich replying for Argentina.
Australia and New Zealand set for crunch showdown
Argentina, Fiji, France, New Zealand and Australia all claimed two wins apiece on day one of the men’s competition.
During a feast of thrilling Sevens Rugby played out in a party atmosphere, 50 years since Hong Kong first hosted a Sevens tournament, there was plenty of intriguing storylines at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Australia closed out the action on day one with an emphatic 38-5 win over the USA and are set to compete in the quarter-finals with New Zealand.
Intriguingly, the Southern Hemisphere powerhouses will play each in a mouthwatering clash on day two Saturday night to determine who finishes top of Pool C as the quarter-final line-up will be decided.
POOL A: Argentina show their mettle in some style
Argentina’s class is not in doubt and they proved that once again by downing Spain and then Uruguay – but that aside, Pool A remains wide open.
It was a comprehensive 38-14 victory for Los Pumas Sevens, the defending Hong Kong champions, over Spain in their Pool A opener.
Marcos Moneta scored twice with Pedro De Haro and Santiago Vera Feld also on target as Los Pumas 7s established a 26-0 interval lead.
De Haro claimed his second and Martiniano Arrieta also touched down but Spain fashioned a spirited response with scores from Tobias Sainz-Trapaga and Anton Legorburu Anso.
Argentina then recorded a six-try blitz of Uruguay to win 40-19.
Luciano Gonzalez (two), Pedro De Haro, Santiago Mare, Gregorio Perez Pardo and Marcos Moneta scored for Los Pumas 7s with Alfonso Chahnazaroff, Joaquin Fresnedo and Alfonso Vidal replying for Uruguay.
South Africa claimed a slender 12-7 win over Uruguay in Pool A with tries from Tristan Leyds and Selvyn Davids while Diego Ardao scored in reply.
Also in Pool A, Spain caused a big upset by defeating South Africa 31-12.
The Blitzboks are regular-season World Series champions and came to Hong Kong as the top-ranked team.
But Tobias Sainz-Trapaga and Eduardo Lopez both scored twice for Spain and Jeremy Trevithick also touched down with Shilton van Wyk and Donavan Don claiming South Africa’s tries.
POOL B: French connection and Fiji flair to the fore
France and Fiji recorded two wins apiece leaving top spot in Pool B in the balance heading into day two.
France registered a resounding 22-7 win over Great Britain as Paulin Riva, Simon Desert and Nelson Epee (two) scored with Ryan Apps crossing for GB.
They then produced a formidable display to beat Germany 35-0 with tries from Gregoire Arfeuil (two), Ali Dabo, Nelson Epee and Antoine Zeghdar.
Fiji also shone brightly in beating Germany 42-5 with try-doubles from Terio Veilawa and Tira Wilagi and further scores from Filipe Sauturaga and Tomasi Vuluma.
Yet the Germans’ spirits never sagged and they were rewarded with a late touchdown from Makonnen Amekuedi.
There was a close affair as Fiji overcame a spirited Great Britain 24-10 to claim their second win of the day.
Finley Lloyd-Gilmour scored twice for GB but tries from Terio Veilawa, Filipe Sauturaga and Tomasi Vuluma’s brace sealed the win for Fiji.
POOL C: Old adversaries set for crunch showdown to decide top spot
New Zealand edged out USA 19-12 in their Pool C opener with tries from Brady Rush, Akuila Rokolisoa and Sam Clarke with Lucas Lacamp replying for the Eagles Sevens.
New Zealand were pushed hard by Kenya as they beat the African nation 28-12.
Roderick Solo, Sam Clarke, Brady Rush and Kele Lasaqa while Kenyan’s brave efforts were rewarded with scores from Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa and Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa.
Also in Pool C, Australia beat Kenya 14-5 in a close-fought clash courtesy of tries from Josh Turner and James Turner, with Denis Abukuse touching down for the Kenyans.
In the final game of the day, Australia ran out comprehensive 38-5 winners over the USA.
Aden Ekanayake, James Turner , Maurice Longbottom (two), Dietrich Roache and Wallace Charlie all scored with Steve Tomasin claiming USA’s sole try.
Turner said: “It was a good performance from the lads against the USA. We had to play a little bit better than we did against Kenya and we managed to do that.
“Both teams are very physical and we had to step up our physicality against the USA. We did that and got our rewards. Now we’ll rest up and prepare for day two.”
