Sevens party kicks off - Watch out for Kenya

Just watched the first game between France and Kenya. Thoroughly entertaining match with France scoring the tournament's first try but Kenya coming straight back to score and they went try for try for a while until Kenya prevailed in the end.

Previously images of Kenyans on TVNZ had them portrayed  as skinny long distance runners but their Sevens team have definitely quashed that stereotype. Looking quite solid with good fends, they should do well. Especially given the French are no slouches currently running second in this world series and Kenya kicked their butt.

The competition is getting alot closer and NZ could also struggle in their first game against England.

 

Everyones talking about the speedster in the USA team. Carlin Isles apparently runs a 10.1 sec 100m so will be interesting to see how he goes again.

 

Portugal is also another team to watch as they beat England and SA to make the quarterfinals in Dubai.

 

South Africa and Bean Brains favourite team Samoa are playing at the moment...

 

....just went from SA10 -0  to 14 -10 to Samoa

 

Oh Dear...Samoa catch the ball from there own kickoff and score....

 

Game Over perhaps Samoa 19-  SA 10

SA did'nt even get one touch of the ball in the second half so how can you score tries without the ball i ask you.

Started so positively and then collapsed like a certain cricket team i won;t mention 

 

 

Series Standings

  Team AUS DUB RSA NZL USA HKG JPN SCO ENG Pts 1 New Zealand 19 19 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 2 France 12 15 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 3 Fiji 22 10 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 4 South Africa 17 7 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 5 Samoa 10 22 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 6 Kenya 15 17 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 7 Argentina 13 8 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 8 Wales 5 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 9 Portugal 1 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 10 Australia 10 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 11 Canada 5 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 12 United States 2 5 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 13 England 7 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 14 Spain 8 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 15 Scotland 3 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 16 Zimbabwe 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 17 Russia 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

Rank
  Team Participations Points Ø-Points 01.  New Zealand 13 1746 134.30 02.  Fiji 13 1507 115.92 03.  South Africa 13 1211 93.15 04.  England 13 1133 87.15 05.  Samoa 13 1123 86.38 06.  Australia 13 920 70.76 07.  Argentina 13 654 50.30 08.  France 13 320 24.61 09.  Wales 12 300 25.00 010.  Kenya 13 215 16.53 011.  Scotland 13 196 15.07 012.  Canada 13 147 11.30 013.  United States 13 104 8 014.  Tonga 13 83 6.38 015.  Portugal 13 47 3.61 016.  Cook Islands 11 25 2.27 017.  Spain 3 21 7

 

South Africa are up again and against Canada this time.

A must win game for both teams.

 

Canada have first blood with a try by the post which they duly convert.

 

South Africa strike back with a try but unable to convert so Canada still leads 7 - 5

 

Canada score again under the posts and now lead 14 -5

 

The half time hooter sounds but the Canadians have been penalised and SA break through for another try which they fail to convert. .

Any ones game so far. Can 14 - SA 10 at half time. .

Come on SA.

 

Second half and SBW pass from a Canadian backline move and another try to Canada that is converted from the sideline. Skills.

Kick off and SA can't hold the ball and Canada run away with another try.

 

26-10 and SA have to score three times with 2 min to go. Looks like an upset on the cards.

 

SA score a late try but the kick is wide and it's as good as over.

That's two losses from two for SA but it's a tough group and if they can beat Wales and other games go in their favour there still may be hope.

 

Plenty of drama here already as both NZ and Fiji also have lost their first games in pool play to England and Scotland respectively.

 

 

 

 

Shock Horror ... Fiji have been bundled out for the first time ever not reaching the quarter finals - losing to Scotland and Australia. Totally unheard of. WTF ???

 Looking for a new coach as we speak no doubt.

But South Africa are up again. Not the best of tournaments for them.

Tough pool this one and after losing to Samoa and Canada it does'nt get any easier.

 

South Africa can still go through on points differential if they get enough points here .

 

South Africa 7- 0 up at halftime.

 

 Another try to SA  so 14 - 0

 

Third try to SA !

 

SA goes through ! 21-0 over Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

Day Two

... and Samoa has disposed of Argentina to the delight of a big Samoan contingent in the crowd. Almost a home ground advantage you could say for Samoa.

 

...NZ looking more impressive today and fortunately there was'nt enough Kiwis in the Aussie team to sink us this time and the whistle blows with NZ winning 24 -5

 

Here goes South Africa again

 

Against Kenya this time.

 

Can SA overcome this Kenyan outfit that remains undefeated in this tournament thus far ?

 

TRY Kenya and great conversion from wide to put Kenya up 7 - 0

 

SA strike back with a try out wide but fail to convert..

Kenya still  leading 7 - 5

 

Kenya making loads of mistakes and SA capitalise on possession and score

TRy SA 

SA lead 10 - 7

 

More mistakes from Kenya and TR Y again to SA

3 Mistakes have cost Kenya 15 points

SA lead  15 - 7

 

Second half

SA is penalised. 3 penalties a piece so far .

Kenya capitalises on possession by Scoring a TRY

 

SA leads 15 to 14

 

Another TRy to SA but unconverted

 

SA still leading 20 - 14

Thats 4 unconverted tries to SA

 

Here comes Kenya

TRy under the posts

 

Kenya convert and are in front again to the delight of the crowd

 

Kenya lead 21- 20 with a minute and a half to go...

 

What can SA do????

SA ringing some changes...

30 sec to go

C'mon SA

SA has the ball but throw the ball a mile forward...

 

Thats it....

 

KENYA WIN

 

 

 

fiji vs france was awesome, love those battles that go down to the last seconds.

despite the results fiji wont be too happy with the results, this really will come back to haunt them near the business end of the season when there are bugger all IRB 7s points left up for grabs.

kenya vs NZ is a nailbitter. extra time and forbes is off injured, o_O didnt think kenya would have much left in the tank for this match, but holy moly theyre putting up a fight.

OMG wnat a shock loss, o_O congrats kenya, well deserved victory.

sasu ...imissed the Fiji game but they are always entertaining to watch.

Did say there would be some upsets today.

Have been following kenya with interest and this win will have done wonders towards promoting rugby in Kenya. Good for them . Watch out SA no doubt their 15 aside game will benefit .

I'm guessing the English will be regreting teaching Kenyans how to play rugby right about now...