DUBAI: The match that many predicted to be the cup final was, through the chance of the pool system the first round match for the England and US women’s rugby sevens teams. England captain Sue Day ran in two tries and was supported by Su Allen’s loner to give England a convincing 17–0 win after one try was converted.
It was a textbook perfect game with the first try coming just 37 seconds after the start catching the US defence completely off guard. It was rapidly followed up less than three minutes later by a second to give the US women a real challenge.
Despite better tackling skills and some very determined running, the Americans never really stretched England’s solid defence that turned tackles into attacking moves using disciplined running and covering.
For much of the first half, the US did not get inside the English half and when the third try came in a minute into the second half and was converted, the US found themselves battling to hold on.
Showing that their favorite ranking was no accident England later encountered Russia, always a tough challenge and meted out much the same medicine.
Disciplined and coolly executed teamwork and a high level of individual skills saw England through against some aggressive charging play by the Russians who defended their line with some vigor.
Two tries from Charlotte Barras and one from captain Sue day laid the Russians low, but their fate was sealed when a bold charge and kick-ahead that broke through the English line in the final two minutes was turned over and after passage of play that careered over the whole field was brought to an end by a try by Michaela Staniford. Topped by two conversions from Rachel Burford and the English women walked off with a comfortable 29–0 win.
In the men’s tournament, England started the second day with an outing against Tunisia which they scraped a 26-24 victory. Ben Collings contributed one try and three conversions that was followed up by Chris Cracknells one.
However Tunisia, who like every outsider team put everything into their game with one try in the first half and three in the second. Tries came from Abess Kherfani (two) and one each from Sabeur Ben Charrada and Amor Mezgah. Two of the Tunisian tries converted by Lofti Nino.
Psychological warfare or a real close run thing was the question buzzing along the terraces for the afternoon games. The balance of the scores — one in the first half and three in the second hints at careful control of the game by England but it was rather too close for complete comfort.
England faced up to Kenya in what was in what could have been the upset of the tournament. The Kenyans, who have beaten the best in the game on their day, were their usual athletic and opportunist selves and after England scored a converted try at the three-minute mark, snapped back with one of their own from Humphrey Kayange three minutes later levelling the score.
On the first half hooter England began a move that saw one more try on the board 16 seconds later.
The second half saw England change gear and keep the play securely in the Kenyan half, running in two more tries and conversions to finish with a comfortable win of 26-7.
The match that lifted the spirits of the crowd more than any other today and was for many the match of the tournament so far was between Scotland and the mighty South Africa.
It was in Melrose, Scotland that the game of seven a side rugby began and there was a sense of history being played out between two very proud rugby playing nations.
Scotland played their hearts out and raised their game far beyond anything they had shown in the tournament before this match. The tries, for South Africa Mpho Mbiyozo and Renfred Dazel, were countered for Scotland by Roddy Grant and Andrew Turnbull leaving the scores level at the full time siren.
Expectations of a sudden death play-off were high when with a blistering run out of nowhere the Springbok’s Paul Delport scored the winning try in the Scottish corner 56 seconds after time taking the final score to South Africa 19, Scotland 14.
Today is the final day of the World Cup Rugby Sevens and with the intensifying pressure and the prospect of lifting the Melrose (World) Cup to look forward to, there will be some outstanding rugby to seen.
