The Cape Town 7s semi-finalists were confirmed at the end of the first day and according to the new format of play, the team that topped each pool was to automatically qualify for the Cup Semi Finals.
The second men’s semi-final sees a repeat of the Olympic gold medal match as Fiji take on France as both teams topped their pools with perfect win records.
South Africa sent a raucous and passionate crowd at Cape Town into raptures with a 29-5 win over Argentina in the last match of the first day at the DHL Stadium, having earlier overcome a depleted Ireland with a comfortable 34-7 win.
Dubai finalists Spain secured a semi-final berth for the second week running with a thoroughly impressive 19-14 win over Australia in the deciding match of a tight Pool B. Earlier they were made to work for their 14-7 win over Kenya who returned to the SVNS series this year.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
- Follow us on Scrummage Africa FB
- Mike Friday advice to Kenya 7s
- List of laws to be used in Kenya Cup 2024/25
- 1 step forward, 2 back: A story of Kenya Rugby Referees
Olympic champions France laid on an attacking masterclass to beat New Zealand 47-15 after Les Bleus had laid down an earlier marker with an eight-try 50-12 win over the USA, who have yet to win on this season’s tour.
Fiji began the day with a scintillating 10-try 70-7 victory over a Uruguay, before clinching a hard-fought 17-12 victory over Great Britain to top pool A.
The women’s semi-finals see Olympic champions New Zealand face France, while reigning SVNS champions and current leaders Australia take on the USA in a repeat of the Olympic bronze medal match in Paris which saw the USA claim their first rugby sevens medals in history.
Australia survived being reduced to five players for more than a minute unscathed as they beat Olympic silver medallists Canada 26-10 to continue their unbeaten run in this HSBC SVNS series. The match was notable that Australia’s Maddison Levi failed to get on the scoreboard for the first time in 27 matches. The recently crowned World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year had earlier taken her try tally this season to 18 with a hat-trick as Australia beat Brazil 45-5.
New Zealand – runners-up in Dubai last weekend – survived a Pool B scare against Japan to set up a semi-final against France. The Black Ferns Sevens earlier made rather lighter work of opening opponents China, running in six tries – Mahina Paul and Risi Pouri-Lane getting two each – to open their Cape Town account with a 40-10 win
Cape Town 7s Results
Women’s results
USA 31-0 Fiji
Ireland 34-5 Spain
Japan 14-7 China
Canada 43-17 Brazil
Great Britain 22-5 Fiji
France 21-0 Spain
New Zealand 40-10 China
Australia 45-5 Brazil
Great Britain 14-31 USA
France 15-0 Ireland
New Zealand 22-12 Japan
Australia 26-10 Canada
Men’s results
France 50-12 USA
Australia 12-19 Kenya
Great Britain 33-15 Uruguay
South Africa 36-7 Ireland
New Zealand 19-17 USA
Spain 14-7 Kenya
Fiji 70-7 Uruguay
Argentina 29-7 Ireland
New Zealand 15-47 France
Spain 19-14 Australia
Fiji 17-12 Great Britain
Argentina 5-29 South Africa
Cape Town 7s Day 2: Semi-final fixtures
Women’s semi-finals
9th place semi-final: China vs Spain (10:00 AM)
9th place semi-final: Brazil vs Fiji (10:22 AM)
5th place semi-final: Japan vs Ireland (10:44 AM)
5th place semi-final: Canada vs Great Britain (11:06 AM)
Cup semi-final: New Zealand vs France (2:12 PM)
Cup semi-final: Australia vs USA (2:34 PM)
Men’s semi-finals
9th place semi-final: Australia vs Ireland (11:38 AM)
9th place semi-final: Uruguay vs USA (12:00 PM)
5th place semi-final: Kenya vs Argentina (12:22 PM)
5th place semi-final: Great Britain vs New Zealand (12:44 PM)
Cup semi-final: Spain vs South Africa (2:56 PM)
Cup semi-final: Fiji vs France (3:18 PM)
