In the wake of last weekend’s Tournament in Tokyo, Japan, the 2013 Hong Kong 7s Tournament should live up to the high annual standards set by the World’s most famous Rugby 7s Event . Green and Gold Rugby have prepared this guide to educate even the least partial of Aussie 7s’ fans in all you need to know heading in to the Tournament.
The stage is set for the Annual Hong Kong 7s Tournament, generally regarded as the premier Rugby 7s Tournament in the world. Thousands will flock to Hong Kong Stadium for the last weekend of March to celebrate the height of 7s rugby in a carnival atmosphere, just as they have done every year since 1976.
While the spectators may come to party*, and to some small degree actually watch the rugby, the players will be competing for 22 competition points on the HSBC World Series in addition to a cool $100,000 US prize packet for coming first. As the Hong Kong Sevens are the 7th stage of the tour out of 9, the results of the tournament will go a long way in deciding the winner of the series.
South Africa currently lead the series with 116 points, closely tailed by New Zealand on 114. England, Fiji, and Australia make up the rest of the top 5 with respective scores of 95, 85, and 72 points respectively.
Australia haven’t exacted landed in a pool of death, but it definitely is no walkover – mainly due to the presence of competition front runners South Africa, France, and surprisingly, Spain.
Spain
Whilst Spain may be at the bottom of the IRB World Sevens table, and at risk of relegation from the World Series, this is precisely why they pose a dangerous threat. The Spanish are a wounded beast, and as is the nature of wounded beasts will be playing with pride on the line. Spain have showed through the 2014 world series that they have the potential to upset unsuspecting teams through good support play and pace out wide. But, if Michael O’Connor can galvanise his troops for his last ever Hong Kong 7s as Australian Coach, then Spain shouldn’t prove too much for the young Australian team to handle. This will be the second Tournament in a row where Spain and Australia will meet in the pool stages, with the last match to the tune of 28-7 in favour of the Green and Gold.
Australia play Spain at 7:08 pm local time (9:08 pm AEST, 10:08 pm ADST) pm ADST) on Friday in the first pool match of Pool B. This match will be televised on ‘Fox Sports Plus (Channel 505)’ on Foxtel. Green and Gold Rugby will post a match review from Hong Kong Stadium 30 minutes post match, circumstances permitting.
France
In Tokyo, France were very much a mixed bag, with positives and negatives both arising from the Tournament. In the first pool match France attempted to ambush eventual winners Fiji playing high intensity running rugby and defending well, but went down 22-19 in a close affair. France failed to carry the momentum of good performance in to their next match against Samoa, losing 28-14. Against a young and talented US Eagles team the French were able to comfortably put away that side 22-12. France were then able to progress to the Cup Quarter-Final, where they overcame Argentina, but were unable to overcome Scotland in the Semi. This run of play from Tokyo leaves a good description of what to expect from the Frogs in Hong Kong – who knows??
Australia will get their crack at the French on Saturday at 1:02 pm local time (3:02 pm AESt, 4:02 pm ADST), and the strength of the Australian performance should be a good early indicator of how our side will fare against South Africa by comparing the result with Day 1’s clash between the French and SA. This match will be televised on ‘Fox Sports Plus (Channel 505)’ on Foxtel. Green and Gold Rugby will post a match review from Hong Kong Stadium 30 minutes post match.
South Africa
South Africa were pipped at the post in Tokyo by a strong Fijian side in the Cup Final, and beat England convincingly in the Semi-Final. While South Africa will be smarting, they will undoubtedly return to competition hungry to put space between themselves and New Zealand leading in to the final stages. However, with the need to perform at the highest level a factor through each one of the tournament matches, South Africa will be undoubtedly be feeling under pressure not to slip up. This may just be the situation Australia need in overcoming the 7s Rugby Powerhouse in Hong Kong.
Australia play South Africa at 6:54 pm local time (8:54 pm AEST, 9:54 pm ADST) on Saturday, again televised live on ‘Fox Sports Plus’. Green and Gold Rugby will post a match review from Hong Kong Stadium 30 minutes post match, and will also attach what happens next, against who, and whether or not Australia are still in the running to win the Hong Kong 7s for the first time since 1988.
Stay tuned.
