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The USA will have to wait a little longer to officially book their tickets to the 2020 Olympics. A strong showing by England at the Singapore Sevens kept the team mathematically in touch though realistically even catching 4th-place South Africa will be a challenge.
It was the Blitzboks who came away champions over the weekend after defeating Fiji thanks to a rare penalty goal from Selvyn Davids in the dying moments of a tense Cup Final. It completed a stunning 20-19 come-from-behind win after the Fijians had led 19-0 at halftime.
The Eagles did not look their best on Day Two, just scraping by Argentina in the Cup Quarter Finals after Agustín Segura made a critical error and touched the dead ball line before grounding the ball for what would have been the winning try. They were then well beaten by South Africa and had little energy in the Bronze Final defeat to England.
Los Pumas would see their tournament come to an early end as they fell to Samoa in the 5th Place Semi Final. A late try from Matías Osadczuk was not enough as Tila Mealoi led the Samoans with a try and two conversions in the 14-12 win.
Canada cruised past an overpowered Japan in the Trophy Quarter Finals, but then let a 12-7 halftime lead slip away against France in their second match of the day. It was a largely forgettable trip to Asia for the North Americans and they will look forward to a few days of rest before regrouping for the European leg which begins in London next month.
Argentina remain in a right race with Australia for 7th place overall and are now 8 points back of 6th-place Samoa. Canada can still overcome Spain but will have to make up a 6-point gap in the two remaining tournaments on the 2018-19 season.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL D
New Zealand 43 – 0 Japan
Samoa 40 – 14 Spain
New Zealand 53 – 0 Spain
Samoa 57 – 5 Japan
Japan 17 – 5 Spain
Samoa 22 – 26 New Zealand
POOL C
England 36 – 7 Kenya
USA 31 – 12 Wales
England 0 – 12 Wales
USA 17 – 14 Kenya
Kenya 19 – 14 Wales
USA 22 – 7 England
POOL B
Argentina 17 – 22 Australia
France 26 – 7 Hong Kong
Argentina 31 – 5 Hong Kong
France 12 – 24 Australia
Australia 47 – 0 Hong Kong
France 7 – 19 Argentina
POOL A
South Africa 36 – 10 Scotland
Fiji 50 – 12 Canada
South Africa 36 – 0 Canada
Fiji 12 – 19 Scotland
Scotland 10 – 33 Canada
Fiji 7 – 17 South Africa
DAY TWO RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Scotland 38 – 10 Spain
Wales 19 – 17 Hong Kong
Japan 14 – 33 Canada
France 24 – 14 Kenya
CUP QUARTER FINALS
South Africa 21 – 12 Samoa
USA 12 – 10 Argentina
New Zealand 5 – 19 Fiji
Australia 19 – 31 England
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Spain 38 – 12 Hong Kong
Japan 24 – 31 Kenya
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Scotland 33 – 12 Wales
Canada 12 – 19 France
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Samoa 14 – 12 Argentina
New Zealand 27 – 22 Australia
CUP SEMI FINALS
South Africa 24 – 12 USA
Fiji 26 – 12 England
13th PLACE FINAL
Spain 5 – 21 Kenya
TROPHY FINAL
Scotland 19 – 22 France
5th PLACE FINAL
Samoa 19 – 17 New Zealand
BRONZE FINAL
USA 7 – 28 England
CUP FINAL
South Africa 20 – 19 Fiji
