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Paul Ryding

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Hong Kong Sevens

As it happened: Hong Kong Sevens 2019 live blog day three -- Fiji beat France for five Cups in a row; Hong Kong lose out to classy Ireland in Qualifier

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Catch up on all the action from day three at Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po, where Fiji beat France to make it five Hong Kong crowns in a row in the World Series, while Hong Kong finished runners-up in the Qualifier


HSBC Sevens World Series

Hong Kong Sevens: As it happened

Live

Here we are. Championship day, D-Day, final day -- essentially the last day of action from the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens.
A day that could end in glory for Hong Kong's men as they claim their place at the top table of world sevens from next season. And a day when Fiji could make it a fantastic five in a row.


Good morning. Welcome to day three

So far this morning, there have been "Challenge Trophy" games (the second-tier competition on the World Series).
Scotland skittled Spain 33-14 to advance to the semi-finals.
Australia, who have endured a pretty torrid Hong Kong Sevens by their own standards, survived a huge scare against Portugal. They trailed 21-0 at the interval. They got their act together in the second half and secured their place in the semi-finals 26-21.
Wales, who have been a basket case at this tournament -- losing big to England after holding a strong lead and being outclassed by Belgium, but beating the Series leaders USA in their other pool game -- are being hammered 38-0 by the Series whipping boys Japan in the third Challenge quarter-final right now. Highly curious from the Welsh.


What have we missed?

And how about that other barometer of the day, the most important for some, the South Stand?

We could kindly call it a sleepy start to Sunday for the South Stand.
A few ominous clouds overhead too, as you can see. Alexa very firmly told me there would be no rain today. She must have been drunk.


The crowd

Quite staggering loss for the Welsh. It's been that kind of tournament for them.
Up next: Canada vs Kenya.


Full-time: Wales 0-38 Japan


Fiji play their quarter-final against Argentina at 11.20am
New Zealand face France at 12.07pm
Germany vs Ireland in the Qualifier semi-finals starts at 12.32pm
Hong Kong are up against Chile at 12.54pm



Key moments today

For a bit of context, here are the current World Series standings. Remember, there's the added incentive of Olympic qualification for the top four this year.



Current Series standings

Kenya swatted aside the Canadians the final Challenge quarter-final tie.
Now, the Cup quarters get underway.
USA vs South Africa first up.


Big one now

The defending series champions are in front, 7-0, after Impi Visser goes over with 5:36 on the clock.


Try -- South Africa

Wowzer. Sensational score from the Eagles. Blistering turn of foot from Carlin Isles on the left touchline, and it's converted with a little help from the upright. 7-7. Good match shaping up.


Try -- USA

There was a collective intake of breath as the Eagles skimmed the ball out wide to Isles, this time on the right wing, and he effortlessly scampered away from the South Africa backs to go over on the hooter. Converted. it's 14-7 to the US at the interval.


Impi Visser it is again for the Blitzbokkes. It's unconverted, though. USA lead 14-12.


The Eagles are in again. Ben Pinkleman over, and it's converted. USA 21-12 in front with 3:30 on the clock now.


Turn-up for the books. USA eliminate Series champions South Africa at the quarter-final stage of the Cup. South Africa's wait for a Cup win in Hong Kong goes on, while the Eagles are on course for their first.
Next up: Fiji vs Argentina.


Full-time: South Africa 12-21 USA

You have to fancy Fiji here. I'd go as far as to say a margin of less than 10 points would be a good showing from the No 8 ranked South Americans.


Who will face US in semis?

There are bigger queues for water than there are for beer at this point on Sunday.



Telling

Argentina into a big lead here against Fiji. They cross for their second try of the first half. Converted. It's a shocking 12-0 to Argentina with 2:38 on the clock.
I really should keep my predictions to myself.


What have we here?

A bit more like it for Fiji. Paula Dranisinukula goes over. Converted. 12-7 now.


Try -- Fiji

Crazy first half. Argentina ran in three tries to Fiji's two. Unexpectedly, Fiji trail to the South Americans at the mid-way point.
Can Argentina hold on to complete the biggest upset of the last few years in Hong Kong?


Half-time: Fiji 12-17 Argentina

Heartbreak for Argentina -- they were a matter of yards away from scoring themselves, but for an unlucky ball break. Fiji scooped it up and got down the other end in seconds. Now it's level at 17-17.


Meli Derenalagi goes over for Fiji. They've steadied the ship now. Unconverted, but they lead 22-17 now. Four minutes to go.


Another for Fiji and that should be that. Converted too. 29-17 now, and Fiji should be in the semi-finals.


Fiji get the job done, but not without an almighty scare from the South Americans, who went over again after the hooter and converted.
Fiji will meet the USA in the last four. That ought to be a super clash at 3.41pm this afternoon.


Full-time: Fiji 29-24 Argentina

England have been impressive so far this weekend. Now for a big test against the No 7-ranked Pacific Islanders.


England vs Samoa

Samoa go over through John Vaili. Converted. 7-0.
England haven't had their hands on the ball yet. Still 4:42 on the clock.


Try -- Samoa

Harry Glover hits back for England. Good work from the English when they finally gained some possession. Unconverted. 7-5 to Samoa.


Try -- England

Applause from the crowd as Dan Bibby makes way with an apparent shoulder injury. He's been key to England's success this weekend, and that's a blow for Simon Amor's men.


England injury

Dan Norton, the all-time leading points scorer on the Series, scores after the hooter to put England in the driving seat at the interval.
Converted too.
Pretty even opening period here. Anyone's match.


Half-time: England 12-7 Samoa

Peculiar Sevens Sights No 35

Peculiar Sevens Sights No 36

Samoa get their noses back in front after a converted try under the posts from Tila Mealoi. 14-12.
2:58 on the clock. England need to find a way back into this now.


This could be it for them. A stoppage with 0:05 on the clock ...


Time running out for England

A shock there. Samoa make the Cup semis after pulling off a narrow win over England, who had looked so good up to now this weekend.
Samoa will face either France or New Zealand in the semi-finals now.


Full-time: England 12-14 Samoa

It's been a morning of shocks so far. Are we about to see another one? France fire back from 0-5 behind to move into a 14-5 lead at the half-way mark.


Half-time: France 14-5 New Zealand

The colourful Fiji contingent are present and smiling again as their team made the semi-finals of the Cup.




Fiji fans bringing the colour

The final Series quarter-final is ongoing and it's a ding-dong battle. France lead 14-12 with 2:44 on the clock.



France vs New Zealand

What a shock! New Zealand dispatched by France. Super performance from Les Bleus. They've really turned their World Series around in the last two legs: finalists in Vancouver, now at least a top-four finish in Hong Kong. Stunning stuff.
That means we'll have either Samoa or France in the Hong Kong final. Samoa last made the final in 2010. France have never made it that far.
Now to the Qualifier semi-finals.


Full-time France 14-12 New Zealand

These have been the best two qualifier sides this weekend. Not a loss between them.


Germany vs Ireland

On the stroke of half-time Ireland run in the first try of the match through Jordan Conroy. Unconverted, it's 5-0 to Ireland at the interval. Close match, though.


Half-time Germany 0-5 Ireland

Don't go anywhere. Hong Kong meet Chile for a place in the final at the conclusion of this semi-final clash.


Hong Kong are up next

Germany have come from behind against Ireland and rattled in two tries. Ireland with it all to do with 3:00 left to go here.


Germany turnaround

Ireland needed to find something after conceding two second-half tries, and they provided it. A superb fight-back with a couple of minutes on the clock sees Ireland through to the final.
They will provide formidable opposition in the final for Hong Kong or Chile.
Excellent from the men in green.


Full-time: Germany 10-19 Ireland

Huge game this for Paul John's men.
Come on Hong Kong!


Hong Kong are out on the pitch

Ref is consulting the video. The ball was flicked backwards behind the Hong Kong try-line, and the Chile player pushed it down ...


Hong Kong could be behind ...

Chile lead. Missed conversion, though. Hong Kong trail 5-0.


Try -- Chile

Huge cheer as Salom Yiu goes over on the hooter. Connverted too. Hong Kong edge in front 7-5 at the interval.
Half-time now.


Try -- Hong Kong

Ireland's Greg O’Shea, who is a quarter Hongkonger, said: “we’ll take either team, they’re both great” in reference to whether they wanted Hong Kong or Chile in the final.
It's still very much in the balance at the moment.



O'Shea say 'either will do'

Yellow card for one of the Chile players. Advantage Hong Kong.


Chile down to six

2:00 left on the clock. That's how close Hong Kong are to the final here. It's very tight ...


So tense

An almighty roar goes up at Hong Kong Stadium as the hosts book their place in the final.
A very, very tight 7-5 win over Chile.
Hong Kong definitely got the rub of the green a few times with refereeing decisions, but you make your own luck, mostly, right?
The Hong Kong players celebrate as well they might. That was a gutsy showing from them, and they return to the final of the World Series Qualifier for the first time in three years. They're one step away from the promised land of the Sevens World Series.
They will meet Ireland at 4.30pm.
Don't miss it!


Full-time: Hong Kong 7-5 Chile

No doubt, a very relieved Hong Kong coach Paul John. Note the distress of the Chile player in the background ...



John relieved

Paul John tells our man Patrick Blennerhassett: "[Ireland] are a very well coached team, very fit, great squad, we have our work cut out for us. They got to two World Series semi-finals last season."
And on something that's been nagging him all weekend: "We need to take better care of the ball and hold possession more, we didn't do this against Chile again."
As he illustrates, Hong Kong will need to be at their very best to stand any chance against Ireland. Nothing less than their best will be good enough.


Hong Kong win reaction

Images from Hong Kong's win over Chile

Michael Coverdale (left) and Seb Brien tell our man Ben Young that as long as the team plays “selfless, Hong Kong rugby”, they will get the job done against Ireland.
Confident talk from our lads.



Hong Kong confident

Yesterday, Yiu Kam “Salom” Shing told Ben Young he didn’t want to be called a "superstar". After scoring the winning try for Hong Kong today, it appears he'll have to put up with it a while longer.



Superstar Salom

How about this for nostalgia? An authentic '80s Hong Kong Sevens T-shirt collection. 
"Borrowed from my parents," says SCMP's Tom Bell. "I'm wearing 1984 today -- the year of the best Fiji side I've seen in Hong Kong (indeed the best 7s side I've seen full stop)," he adds.



A stroll down memory lane

We're currently working our way through the jostling for the minor placings on the World Series.
The Shield, Bowl and Plate semi-finals are being fought out before the Cup semi-finals get underway at 3.41pm
Hong Kong vs Ireland is 4.30pm. Set a reminder.


Out on the pitch

Australia and Scotland just fought out a thrilling Bowl semi-final. Scotland led all the way but the Aussies fought back ferociously and just ran out of time. Great game. It meant a lot to the Scots who celebrated wildly at the end too.
It completes a poor Hong Kong leg for Australia.
Next up is Kenya vs Japan in the other Bowl semi.


Australia 17-19 Scotland

Scotland reaction

Japan beat Kenya 21-12 to set up a clash for eight points in the Bowl final later today.
Kenya complete a miserable weekend. Incredible to think they made the Cup final last year!
Next up is South Africa vs Argentina in the first Plate semi-final. The winners of the Plate final pick up 13 World Series points. All points are crucial with Olympic qualification on the line.


Japan vs Scotland in the Bowl final

After a slow start, So Kon Po is beginning to wake up now.
And the fan zone doesn't look too bad either.



Atmosphere heating up in Hong Kong Stadium

Hopefully, we can have the old stadium rocking by the time Hong Kong take the field for their big finale at 4.30pm



Atmosphere building

Close game, but the Blitzbokke's just have the edge at the interval.
Argentina came into it more as the half went on. All to play for in the second half.


Half-time: South Africa 12-5 Argentina

Another shock. The defending Series champions may have just relinquished their crown for this year.
It was a long way back for them in this Series, but a loss in the 5th-place semi-final is a blow to their hopes.
Argentina will now contest the 5th place final against either England or New Zealand. Who are out on the pitch now.


Full-time: South Africa 17-19 Argentina

The All Blacks have been all class in that first period. England have scarcely managed to get out of their 22 for most of that half.
New Zealand cruising at the moment.
Stroke of luck for England after the hooter to keep them in touching distance, but England will need something different in the second half if they're going to make the 5th-place match here.


Half-time: England 5-12 New Zealand

New Zealand just too good for England in the end. England fought back and enjoyed a better second half. But it wasn't enough.
Mike Ellery charged in for England's second try just after the restart. But soon after the All Blacks went over again to nudge New Zeland clear again at 17-10.
Now, back to the Cup: USA take on Fiji for a place in the Cup final.
It's widely expected that your champion is coming from this tie.
 


Full-time: England 10-17 New Zealand

Savuloni Mocenacagi goes over for Fiji after an extended spell of pressure from the Eagles. Converted. The Hong Kong champions lead 7-0.


The amazing musical talents of drunk people at the #HongKong7s #Rugby #Rugby7s pic.twitter.com/7hqyy6qKyQ
— Ben Young (@taipo_dragon) April 7, 2019


South Stand is officially full

Very tense between the US and Fiji. 2:20 on the clock.


Great game

There he goes. No stopping Carlin Isles, I'm afraid. He weaves his way through the Fiji giants and dumps it through the posts at a canter. Converted. 7-7 now.
