France, Match 2, 1:03 pm local time

Australia have guaranteed a spot in the Finals on Sunday with a 26-0 victory against France.

With inclement weather a factor in the lead up to the match, it was looking likely that this match would turn in to a slugfest. However, that turned out to be wrong as the rain halted and classical running 7s rugby was able to be resumed.

France looked a full head and shoulders better than their poor performance against South Africa last night (31-7),and were the better team against Australia for the opening quarter of the match. Fijian born Racing Metro winger Virimi Vakatawa was a star for the French, throwing his body into plenty of contact and relishing it.

The French pressure upon Australia nearly manifested in points in the opening minutes, as Australia gave away a turnover inside the 22 of France, but struggled to chase down the resulting exit kick. It was a one on one foot race for the ball between the Australian winger and Vakatawa, but the Frenchmen was able to toe the ball ahead just as his Australian opponent attempted to dive on it. The crowd roared as the flying Frog chased the grubbering ball in to the in-goal, but Vakatatawa couldn’t catch up and the ball dribbled in to touch.

The French were able to defend effectively in the first half, keeping Australia camped in their own half for the majority of the opening stanza.

When Australia finally made it back to the French 22, points weren’t too hard to come by. A French knock on awarded Australia with an attacking 10 metre scrum, and Cameron Clark took off on a horizontal race to the sideline. It proved effective as Clark, son of commentator Greg, was able to get outside his opposite number, dummy to danger man Greg Jeloudev on the right wing, and score untouched in an identical try to Tom Lucas’s yesterday against Spain.

Upon resumption of play after the break, Clark received the French kick-off at his own 15 metre and booted a line drive straight back to France’s. Australia stole the line-out throw, but the jumper was dragged down by Frenchman Jonathan Laugel, who received a 2 minute yellow card for his efforts. In spite of the new numerical advantage, Australia were unable to get the ball wide for the next minute in the face of a busy and determined French defence. However, returning Captain Ed Jenkins was able to shimmy his way through a hole on the right hand wing, and had an opportunity to score before being brought down by a downright nasty diving high tackle by Vakatawa, who earned another yellow for the french.

While the French were busy inventing 5 a side rugby, they didn’t notice that Australia had scored another 2 tries through Jesse Parahi and Greg Jeloudev down the left wing, and that the score now read 21-0.  Australia enjoyed a mountain of possession in the game, completing 49 passes to France’s 14, winning 4 line out throws (including 2 against the throw), and defending at a 100% tackle completion rate.

When France committed another criminal high tackle, this time on Afa Pakalani, they were again reduced to 6 men, and Sam Myers was able to open his scoring account at the Hong Kong 7s.

Australia again weren’t really tested in this match, and will need to play out of their skin to beat a very in-form South African side at 8:54 pm AEST tonight.

Pool News 

South Africa have beaten Spain 22-14. Spain scored a consolation try after full time.

South Africa, Match 3, 6:34 pm local time

In a major upset, Australia have won their pool by beating HSBC World Series Leaders South Africa 10-7!

South Africa and Australia had both won non-competitive victories over France and Spain previously in the pool stages,  but this match was certain to be different. The pressure was on, and the winner of the match was scheduled to meet with Canada in the Cup Quarter-Final, whilst the loser was booked a much tougher match against the in-form England.

South Africa had performed relatively better than Australia in the games against France and Spain, so Australia had well and truly been tarred with the underdog brush before the match had begun.

It didn’t look good for the Green and Gold, as South Africa went close to scoring a long distance try from the opening kick off, and if not for a desperate tackle from Alex Gibbon the South African thunderbolt Justin Geduld would have scored under the posts. Alas, Geduld was forced in to touch and crisis was temporarily averted in the hostile confines of Hong Kong Stadium.

Australia hit back almost immediately, forcing a turnover inside the South African half before spinning the ball wide to deadly finisher Greg Jeloudev, sliding through the scrambling defensive line to kick-start this pool stage Grand Final.

It was all Australia could do to hang on to the dynamic South African attack, but poor execution from the Rainbow nation proved invaluable in helping Australia weather the storm. Despite running excellent lines with good physicality, South Africa struggled to keep the ball in hand, and Australia attempted to capitalise by booting the absolute stuffing out of the ball, bargaining that their defence would hold.

The result was edge-of-your-seat football for the entire 14 minute period as the violently dangerous attack of the Africans was met by the desperate defence of the Australians at every turn.

With only seconds remaining in the half, Australia kicked deep for the right hand corner, forcing a South African clearance kick in return.

Not if Ed Jenkins had anything to say about it.

Jenkins rose up, charging down the kick, and was able to race ahead and dive on the escaping ball to give Australia a one score buffer heading in to the half.

In the second half, South Africa gave up on handling the ball and elected to beat the Australians in their own game, by smart tactical kicking. Australia began to bleed penalties as fatigue set in, and South Africa consistently kicked for the line – relying on the strength of their lineout and set pieces to dismantle their opponents.

Cecil Afrika set about peppering the outside backs with grubbers and chip kicks, hoping that the wet turf would assist the ball in bouncing unluckily for the Aussie’s.

This strategy came close to foiling the gallant Australians, as 2 near tries were denied by luck and good defence in equal measure. However, Seabelo Senatla could not be denied when he regathered a grubber 30 metres out, beating his opposite number and scoring a converted try, effectively on the buzzer.

With 10 seconds to go, the Australian’s successfully kept ball in hand, and pulled off arguably the greatest upset of the Tournament thus far.