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Olympic champions Fiji found their best form of the season on Day Three of the Hong Kong 7s with a stunning 22-0 win over Series leaders South Africa in the Cup Final capping their tournament. Earlier in the day they found an extra gear in the second half to race away from a determined Canadian side, and brushed off Australia in the Semi Final with relative ease.
The Canadians continued their recent upswing in form and qualified for the Cup knock-outs in a third successive tournament. They managed to draw level with Fiji at the half in the Quarter Final but could not stop the rampant Olympic champions from showing their class in the second half. A gut-wrenching defeat 20-19 to Argentina in the 5th Place Semi Final saw Franco Sábato’s late try save the Pumas from an early exit by the skin of their teeth.
Along the way star playmaker Nathan Hirayama passed the 1000 point mark on the HSBC Sevens Series, becoming the first Canadian to achieve the mark and only the 18th person all-time. His 1006 total at tournament’s end puts him four behind South Africa’s Branco du Preez, who also pushed past the 1000 mark in Hong Kong.
Argentina’s late escape against Canada saw them restore some credit to a somewhat disappointing showing despite their 6th place finish. Their form dipped badly against the USA in the final match of the pool stages and they flopped to an uninspired defeat against Australia in the Cup Quarter Finals. Their tournament ended with a 10-7 loss to New Zealand that saw them perform closer to their potential.
The USA continued their rise as they again reached the Cup Semi Finals, blasting through England by 27-7 in the Quarter Finals and taking South Africa into extra time in the Semi Final only to see Ruhan Nel end their dreams of a Cup Final. Australia were again a surprise package in the Bronze Final that saw the Eagles lose 26-19.
Canada rise one spot to 9th overall on the series standings while Argentina continue in 7th spot and the USA tops of the Americas in 5th place. The HSBC Sevens Series continues in Singapore next weekend, the 8th of 10 spots on the 2016-17 season.
DAY THREE RESULTS
TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Samoa 21 – 26 Scotland
Wales 21 – 28 France
Russia 43 – 0 South Korea
Kenya 24 – 17 Japan
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Australia 21 – 12 Argentina
Fiji 29 – 12 Canada
USA 27 – 7 England
South Africa 21 – 19 New Zealand
13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Samoa 12 – 26 Wales
South Korea 7 – 36 Japan
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Scotland 21 – 19 France
Russia 5 – 24 Kenya
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Argentina 20 – 19 Canada
England 7 – 21 New Zealand
CUP SEMI FINALS
Australia 12 – 33 Fiji
USA 24 – 29 South Africa
13th PLACE FINAL
Wales 21 – 28 Japan
TROPHY FINAL
Scotland 21 – 19 Kenya
5th PLACE FINAL
Argentina 7 – 10 New Zealand
BRONZE FINAL
Australia 26 – 19 USA
CUP FINAL
Fiji 22 – 0 South Africa
