Monday’s rugby news has the Aussie Sevens earning a second place finish, the Women’s team defeating Ireland, the Reds losing heavily and a good start for England under Eddie Jones.
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Sevens team finishes second
New Zealand has beaten Australia 27-24 in a dramatic Cup final to win the inaugural Sydney 7s title at Sydney Football Stadium. Henry Hutchinson scored two first-half tries for Australia, but in a see-sawing game the New Zealand side grabbed a late win with Rieko Ioane scoring in the corner after time had expired.
Earlier, Australia qualified for the Cup final after beating England 12-7 in the quarter-finals and South Africa 12-7 in the semi-finals. “It’s been an amazing weekend on both fronts, on the on-field for our team which has been really special, for the Sydney crowd that’s turned up or everyone that’s turned up, it’s been an amazing two days,” new coach Andy Friend said.
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Women win three against Ireland
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Crusaders defeat Reds
The Crusaders triumphed 31-3 over the Reds in what was their opening pre-season match at Ballymore Stadium. Playing in front of 6,721 fans in wet conditions, the Reds took a 3-0 lead into half-time, but made multiple changes in the second half and fell away.
Simmons, the acting Reds captain while James Slipper recovers from shoulder surgery, downplayed the scoreline after the Reds tried to establish a number of new combinations but he did emphasise a number of flaws in the team’s performance. “There was plenty of intensity and scramble, but we need to get our play shape,” Simmons said. “The discipline slipped at the end of both halves.”
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Eddie wins first England hit-out
England have won a hard-fought 15-9 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield in Eddie Jones’ first match in charge. England scored the only two tries of a dour match, through lock George Kruis in the first half and winger Jack Nowell in the second.
Scotland barely threatened England’s tryline, managing just three penalties from captain Greig Laidlaw, and slipped to its eighth loss in the last nine meetings with its bitter rival. “It’s a good start but not the prettiest performance,” said new England skipper Dylan Hartley. “It was physical and we’re happy to get that one out the way.”
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