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Dubai champions Fiji look in prime position to repeat in Cape Town as they coasted through day 1 with disturbing ease. Scotland, Russia, and Argentina all fell heavily, with the latter two failing to score a single point against the Pacific Islanders. Australia were the only other side to make it through the day undefeated, scoring a last gasp try against the Eagles when the Americans turned down a chance to kick it dead and accept a draw.
Mike Friday’s team started slowly against Wales but showed their class to come through at the end before dispatching Portugal with ease. Carlin Isles was in mesmerising form, including a sensational solo effort against Australia that left the scores level on full-time. With ball in hand the Americans chose to play for the win, but instead coughed up the ball and 18-year-old Australian debutante Henry Hutchison scampered over for the winning try.
Argentina had little trouble with Russia, and did just enough to get by Scotland before running into a rampant Fiji side. They could do little but watch as the tournament favorites ran in seven tries to zero. The result mattered little, however, as a spot in the Cup quarter-finals had already been assured.
It was a day of mixed emotions for a Canadian side desperate to get back in the swing of things. They looked out of sorts again in the first match against Samoa, but somehow conjured the will to upset New Zealand for only the second time ever in their second match. The men in black were already decimated by injuries heading into the tournament, and lost both Declan O’Donnell and Joe Webber before the end of the second game.
Canada’s third match was a thriller that ended in a draw. A woeful first half saw France up three tries to nil at the break, but Canada showed great heart to dig themselves out and into the lead in the second half before Julien Candelon raced away to draw it level. With equal records, differential, and bonus points, the ticket to the Cup draw went to France by virtue of having scored one more conversion than Canada.
USA will take on Kenya in the Cup quarters, with Argentina matched up against New Zealand. Canada will contest the Bowl quarter-final against Russia.
DAY 1 RESULTS
POOL A
Fiji 34 – 19 Scotland
Argentina 33 – 5 Russia
Fiji 52 – 0 Russia
Argentina 19 – 14 Scotland
Scotland 33 – 10 Russia
Fiji 43 – 0 Argentina
POOL B
England 19 – 19 Kenya
South Africa 26 – 5 Zimbabwe
England 43 – 0 Zimbabwe
South Africa 12 – 14 Kenya
Kenya 36 – 0 Zimbabwe
England 0 – 10 South Africa
POOL C
USA 26 – 19 Wales
Australia 45 – 0 Portugal
USA 52 – 7 Portugal
Australia 21 – 14 Wales
Wales 40 – 5 Portugal
USA 21 – 26 Australia
POOL D
New Zealand 19 – 14 France
Samoa 24 – 10 Canada
New Zealand 12 – 24 Canada
Samoa 19 – 22 France
France 26 – 26 Canada
New Zealand 19 – 10 Samoa
DAY 2 FIXTURES
03:36 EST – BOWL QF – Scotland vs Samoa
03:58 EST – BOWL QF – Wales vs Zimbabwe
04:20 EST – BOWL QF – Canada vs Russia
04:42 EST – BOWL QF – England vs Portugal
05:04 EST – CUP QF – Fiji vs France
05:26 EST – CUP QF – Australia vs South Africa
05:48 EST – CUP QF – New Zealand vs Argentina
06:10 EST – CUP QF – Kenya vs USA
