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 TEIVOVO.COM – 2006-07 IRB WORLD 7s SERIES
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Saturday 2 December 2006
South Africa claim Dubai 7s title
South Africa came from behind to beat New Zealand 31-12 in the final of the Emirates Dubai 7s to take an early lead in the 2006/07 IRB 7s World Series. Fiji went out in the semi-finals, losing 17-12 to New Zealand.
The Springbok 7s had playmaker Stefan Basson, and tireless forwards Jonny Mokwena and Schalk van der Merwe largely to thank as they scored 31 unanswered points in the second half to take the title.
New Zealand started well and kept up a high intensity level for the first 10 minutes of a fine finale in torrential conditions to lead 12-0 at the break, following tries from Edwin Cocker and halfback Nigel Hunt.
Danwel Demas had a golden opportunity to score for the Boks on the stroke of half-time but was unlucky to see his kick ahead stray wide. No matter, though, as Paul Treu's men responded to his every half time word of advice, Mdaka, Demas and Basson all going over for second half scores to leave New Zealand grasping at shadows.
Waisale Serevi's Fiji had earlier cruised past France 46-7 in the quarter-finals, but came unstuck in the wet to let a more determined New Zealand eke out a 17-0 lead with some sloppy tackling.
From the start, the Kiwis closed the game down, giving no room for the Fijians to move. They dominated territory and defended stoutly inside Fiji's half.
A knock-on from Cakau on his own line gave Edwin Cocker a simple try.
Fiji tried very hard to get into the match but Lote Raikabula furthered New Zealand's lead before half-time after the big tackle from Pelenise had resulted in a turnover.
At half-time, Serevi replaced Nabuliwaqa but Zar Lawrence slipped past Serevi's grasping fingers to score another from 80 metres out.
With only minutes remaining, Neumi Nanuku and Setefano Cakau scored good tries, and Nanuku was cruelly denied a second by the touch judge who ruled he had grounded the ball short.
In the end, that missed five-pointer proved the difference in the two sides as Gordon Tietjens racked up his first win over Fiji in more than 18 months.
Fiji's big win over France was almost effortless, with William Ryder scoring four times and the all-round skills quite remarkable given the conditions.
Napolioni Nalaga scored the first try after some great footwork down the touchline. This young 20-year-old will mature as the series continues, but may be better suited to centre or in the forwards and leave the wing to the outright pace of Ryder.
Cakau also showed a high work-rate, winning several balls from the re-starts.
The crowd then witnessed one outstanding move in the final stages of the game that resulted in Nanuku's try. Ryder made a break up the middle and flipped a backhand pass to Nabuliwaqa in support before the Naitasiri boy did likewise for Nanuku to finish off.
Nabuliwaqa picked up a yellow card for what unfortunately has become his trademark spear tackle, something he needs to control during this series. He put one in against Portugal on Day One and escaped with a warning.
Samoa take Plate
Samoa proved too strong for France in the final of the Plate, coming from behind after an early try by Bogdan Leonte to win 26-7. Samoa's captain Lolo Lui again proved the difference, inspiring the islanders in the absence of usual leader Uale Mai.
After a poor start to the tournament, France finally showed up against Canada and duly won 36-0 to reach the final, while Samoa had to come from behind to beat the impressive young Australian side amply led by Tim Atkinson, 12-5.
Bowl
Having recovered from a disappointing opening day, the Pumas of Argentina proved too strong for spirited Zimbabwe in the Bowl final, winning 26-7 without injured flyer Santiago Gomez Cora, whose tries earlier here took him ahead of England's Ben Gollings to top the all-time IRB Sevens try-scoring charts with 147.
Gomez Cora had inspired the Pumas, scoring twice in his side's 10-7 victory over Portugal in the semi final, while Zimbabwe had continued their fine tournament by overpowering the impressive Tunisians in another all-African encounter, 17-10.
Shield
Wales beat Arabian Gulf 33-0 to take the Shield title in Dubai. Never in trouble against the host nation, the Welsh will feel unfortunate not to have been contesting for higher honours after two wins on day one, but travel to South Africa with confidence restored.
They beat Scotland 17-12 in sudden death extra time to make the final against the Gulf, who compounded Kenya's misery here in Dubai to win their first match for three years, 12-7, and book their final place
Dubai 7s 2006
Exiles Ground, UAE
Saturday 2 December
Shield
Semi-finals:
Scotland 12 Wales 17
Arabian Gulf 12 Kenya 7
Final:
Wales 33 Arabian Gulf 0
Bowl
Quarter-finals:
Portugal 33 Scotland 12
Wales 10 Argentina 24
Tunisia 26 Arabian Gulf 0
Zimbabwe 12 Kenya 0
Semi-finals:
Portugal 7 Argentina 10
Tunisia 10 Zimbabwe 17
Final:
Argentina 26 Zimbabwe 7
Plate
Semi-finals:
France 36 Canada 0
Samoa 12 Australia 5
Final:
France 7 Samoa 26
Cup
Quarter-finals:
Fiji 46 France 7
New Zealand 31 Canada 0
South Africa 19 Samoa 10
England 21 Australia 5
Semi-finals:
Fiji 12 New Zealand 17
South Africa 19 England 0
Final:
New Zealand 12 - 31 South Africa
Digicel Fiji 7s Squad to Dubai
Mosese Volavola (capt), Amenasi Nava (Nadi), Epeli Dranivasa (Namosi), Sireli Naqelevuki (South Africa), Lepani Nabuliwaqa (Suva), Napolioni Nalaga (Nadroga), Neumi Nanuku (Nadroga), Senirusi Rauqe (Australia), Setefano Cakau (Namosi), Vima Tuidraki (Nadi), Waisale Serevi (Suva), William Ryder (Bua)
Day One report and results
IRB World 7s Series schedule
Int'l 7s main page
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