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Sione Mulia and his All Blacks Sevens team have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Cape Town World Championship.
The All Blacks Sevens have another result credited with keeping them alive in the second leg of the World Championship after a memorable opening day in Cape Town.
The New Zealand men’s team, which finished third in the opening round held last weekend in Dubai, qualified for the quarter-finals, but with great difficulty, as it qualified as the second best third-placed team in the three-group system.
That was on the back of a shock 19-7 loss to Canada for the first time on Saturday night (NZ time), which, though backed up by a convincing 35-5 win over Australia, was followed by a 21-14 defeat to Samoa. .
Leroy Carter scored a hat-trick in a stunning 35-0 first-half rout of the Aussies, which was no doubt fueled by new coach Tomasi Kama’s words ringing in their ears after they messed up their lineout in the opener.
New Zealand has an 11-game winning streak against Canada, dating back to 2017, and although they were given a scare in their opener in Dubai last weekend, which they managed to win 26-21, there has been no such escape this time.
How significant was Scott Curry’s last-minute consolation attempt (and Tepai Cook-Savage’s conversion) in the final pool game against Samoa – which had already suffered two heavy defeats – which secured a bonus point for New Zealand (introduced this season for narrowly losing teams). seven or less).
This is because, while leaving the New Zealanders in third place in Group C, they had four points for the competition, so although Great Britain subsequently won in Group A over the United States, the British could only finish the group with three points.
The All Blacks Sevens will face Ireland in the quarter-finals, 9.56pm on Sunday (NZT) after last weekend’s eighth-placed side, who finished fifth last weekend, stunned hosts South Africa – the weekend’s tournament winners. Last – 14-12 to top Group A.
The Blitzboks will contest their quarter-final against Australia, who, despite their heavy loss to New Zealand, went on to top their group. The other matches in the quarter-finals will see Argentina face Canada, and Fiji face France.
Meanwhile, the passage into the quarter-finals was clearer for the Black Ferns Sevens, who were not short of motivation after their disappointment in Dubai as Australia snapped their record 41-game winning streak in the final, which left captain Sarah injured. Hirini watches from home as she treats a knee injury, on her birthday, no less.
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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe was back to her best in the Black Ferns Sevens opener in Cape Town.
The Kiwi Women duly got off to a brilliant start, with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe providing a reminder of her speed and power, making a stunning first-minute tackle and making two diving tries to help lead her side to a 37-5 first win over Great Britain.
Corey Sweeney’s side then faced a tough test against Brazil, winning 22-12, and then while they found themselves 7-0 down against Ireland two minutes before half-time, they were able to take a 14-7 lead, and continue to lead. Mission in a 33-7 win.
They will thus face the best third-placed team – Canada – in the quarter-finals, at 9.06pm on Sunday.
Australia, fresh off their win in Dubai, look in an ominous position again, with a +113 lead in pool play, and will face Ireland in the quarter-finals, while Great Britain takes on the United States, as in the men’s event. France faces Fiji.
