Rugby World Cup | Ireland’s victory against South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens was a shocking result
Rugby World Cup : In the day’s last match, the Irish punished Blitzboks mistakes with surgical precision, ultimately prevailing 24-14 thanks to Jordan Conroy’s heroics on the field.
The result prevented South Africa from ending Neil Powell’s distinguished tenure as Blitzboks coach with a fairytale home triumph in his last tournament in command and was Ireland’s first-ever win against South Africa at a RWC Sevens.
Since the All Blacks beat Argentina in a hard-fought match to get to the semifinals, Ireland will face the All Blacks in a highly anticipated semi-final on Sunday.
Australia, the defending winners of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, advanced to the semifinals with a narrow victory over France and will now play Fiji, who had earlier eliminated Samoa from the tournament.
The women’s Black Ferns team, led by Portia Woodman, the RWC Sevens’ all-time leader in try scoring, easily defeated the Irish.
Australia’s women, the favorites and World Series winners, cruised to a victory against England, with tournament leading try scorer Faith Nathan continuing her spectacular form with a hat trick.
On Sunday, the Black Ferns Sevens play France, who shocked Fiji with a last-second victory, and the United States, who advanced with a close victory over Canada.
There were jubilant scenes when Uruguay’s men defeated the United States handily to advance to the Challenge final, while Poland’s women achieved their first-ever RWC Sevens triumph in the quarterfinals of the Challenge, and then backed it up with a victory over Spain.
OUTSTANDING ADVANCEMENT IN IRELAND
There was high anticipation at the Cape Town Stadium for the top-seeded Blitzboks to advance against an Ireland team that had previously only defeated them once, during the May tournament in Toulouse.
Mark Roche scored the first try, and Mark Smith was denied a second when the TMO ruled that he had made an early challenge before touching down a bobbling ball, but it was evident that the Irish were in inspired spirit.
Conroy’s rapid speed boosted to Ireland’s advantage as he crossed twice before a late Mfundo Mdhlovu consolation for South Africa. South Africa answered via Muller Du Plessis to pull level before halftime, but Harry McNulty restored Ireland’s lead after stealing two Blitzbok lineouts.
New Zealand’s undefeated RWC Sevens record was threatened by Argentina, but after a dramatic 12-5 victory, the All Blacks extended their winning streak to 12 games.
The Pumas’ German Schulz scored in the corner thanks to a fantastic offload from Matias Osadczuk, but the All Blacks’ Scott Curry responded just before halftime.
The Kiwis didn’t play very well, but the game was transformed by Moses Leo’s brilliant breakaway that saw him race the length of the field and dive for the try line.
When the game progressed, there was some cause for worry when the referee had to be changed after suffering a blow in an accidental collision and as Argentina pounded on the door in the dying moments but were unable to score.
In the first half of Australia’s match against France, both teams were locked in a stalemate that resulted in a yellow card for Jean Pascal Barraque.
There was no score on Les Bleus’ power play, but the game was decided when Henry Paterson crossed the try line on the last play.
When the restart, France responded with a spectacular team play of intertwining passing and movement that Paulin Riva finished off, but Australia quickly regained control after Maurice Longbottom scored a goal.
Fiji, the reigning Olympic champions, advanced to the semifinals with a 21-10 victory against Samoa, erasing an early Steve Onosai try.
Clinical Fiji scored tries through Jerry Tuwai, Kaminieli Rasaku, and Sevuloni Mocenacagi, with Onosai scoring a late consolation try to bring his RWC Sevens 2022 total to five.
FAVORITE RED HOT AUSTRALIA
Australia showed why they were the top seed by beating England 35-5 in the first quarterfinal match of the evening.
The Australian Sevens jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead thanks in large part to two tries from lightning-quick Nathan, who on Friday became the first player to score five tries in a single match.
After the half, England got on the board thanks to a try from Emma Uren, but it didn’t take long for Nathan to pin her ears back and score her third try of the match, giving her an eight-try tournament total.
With a 26-0 victory against Ireland, New Zealand has advanced to face France in the RWC Sevens semi-finals.
Error-plagued first half saw Niall Williams score the sole try, but the Black Ferns’ superiority was on display when Woodman set a new record with her 20th RWC Sevens touchdown after running from beneath her own posts.
Alena Saili and Shiray Kaka scored the last tries to seal the victory after the team overcame early mistakes to pull away.
France edged over Fiji 19-14 in a nail-biting quarterfinal thanks to a sensational try from Joanna Grisez in the last moments of the game.
Fiji took the lead on a goal by Ana Maria Namiasi after she danced past the French defense, but Les Bleues came out of halftime a completely different squad.
After Naimasi’s second touchdown cancelled out Jade Ulutule’s first, Fijiana seemed to have the upper hand after being handed a penalty with time running out, but France fumbled the ball and Grisez scored the game-winning try on a break down the left wing.
The United States and Canada, two of their closest neighbors in North America, played each other for the first time in a RWC Sevens, and the United States came out on top in a grueling 10-7 victory.
After scoring a triple trick in the round of 16 versus Poland, the United States finally took the lead thanks to a try by Jaz Gray.
After the interval, Canada took a two-point lead with to a converted Keyara Wardley try, but as the penalty count rose, Ilona Maher pushed her way through two defenders and crossed the try line for the game-winning touchdown.
A BURNING URUGUAY
A memorable day in the Challenge bracket for Uruguay was reached as they defeated two seeded teams to go to the championship game.
Beginning with a 19-12 victory against Canada in the quarterfinals, the South Americans then edged the United States 21-19 in the semi-finals to set up dramatic celebrations. Because to their 33-5 victory against Wales, the United States advanced to the semi-finals.
The weekend’s 250th try was scored by Felipe Etcheverry in the first half, helping Uruguay to a nine-point advantage that the United States ultimately couldn’t overcome, despite the best efforts of American great Perry Baker.
Following a phenomenal day of form, Tony Roques’ Uruguayan team defeated Chile 35-0 and Kenya 36-0, scoring six tries in the latter victory to advance to Sunday’s Challenge final, when they will play England. The Kenyans defeated Scotland by a score of 25-4 earlier.
Chile’s late converted try forced extra time in their placement match against Scotland, where Diego Warnken’s drop kick penalty proved decisive, making it a fantastic day for South American rugby as a whole.
After Canada’s 33-19 victory against Wales on Saturday, the 13th place match between Chile and Canada will be played on Sunday.
WOMEN MAKE HISTORY IN POLAND AND MADAGASCAR
In the Challenge quarterfinals, Poland overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat China 20-14, marking a remarkable day in Cape Town.
Finally, they improved on that by beating Spain 19-10 and earning a spot in the championship game against Japan. The Spanish advanced to the semifinals with a 12-0 win against Madagascar.
Wakaba Hara scored two tries to give Japan a 19-10 victory over Brazil in the semi-finals; she had already crossed the line once earlier in the day during Japan’s narrow 14-12 victory over South Africa.
Brazil started off the tournament on a high note with a 33-0 rout of Colombia on Friday, but they were unable to repeat that performance in their semifinal against Argentina and will now play Spain in the 11th and 12th place match on Sunday.
Debutants Despite the team’s third loss of the weekend, a 36-5 setback to China in a placement match, there were celebrations as Jinah Kelly Razanamahefa scored Madagascar’s first ever RWC Sevens try.
Nadine Roos, a South African speed demon, dazzled the home fans by scoring four tries as her team defeated Colombia 27-0 in a placement match.
BOWL LIGHTS IN GERMANY AND UGANDA
Against Sunday, Germany will take on Uganda in the Bowl championship game after the two teams each won two consecutive elimination games.
After losing in overtime to Chile on the opening day, the Germans came back to overcome Portugal 21-14 and then Tonga 17-12 in the semi-finals with a try on the last play.
Tonga, who had just defeated Jamaica 17-0 to advance to the semifinals, had a seven-point lead going into the final minute. However, Germany scored two tries in two minutes to turn the game on its head at the death, with Bastian van der Bosch scoring the game-winning try in his 50th tournament appearance.
Uganda overcame Korea 12-0 and then Hong Kong 14-5 to go to the semi-finals. Hong Kong had previously eliminated Zimbabwe 28-0.
After victories against Jamaica (31-7) and Zimbabwe (21-19), Portugal and Korea will meet in Sunday’s 21/22 play-off. The 23rd/24th place game is between the two losing teams.
TIMELINE FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL DAY
Beginning at 08:30 local time, the last day of the RWC Sevens will include men’s placement matches until the Bowl final between Germany and Uganda at 9:36 a.m.
After the quarterfinals conclude, the semi-finals begin for both the men’s and women’s championships.
New Zealand’s ladies take against France at 12:07, followed by Australia’s match against the United States at 13:05.
The men’s and women’s Championship semi-finals are played simultaneously; at 12:35, Ireland take on New Zealand, and at 13:33, Australia play Fiji.
At 15:21, Poland will take on Japan for the women’s trophy, and at 17:04, Uruguay will face off against England for the men’s trophy in the finals of the challenge placement matches.
The fifth through eighth places will be determined after the women’s bronze medal final at 19:01 and the men’s at 19:25.
The last event, the Championship finals, is the grand finale. First up is the women’s final at 20:17, then the men’s at 20:54.
