World Rugby Sevens Series

Photo: HSBC Sevens

London Sevens: All the results and latest World Series Sevens table

Cracking weekend all wrapped up!

World Rugby Sevens Series

Photo: HSBC Sevens

Josua Tuisova scored a try to help fire Fiji to a 21-17 victory over arch-rivals South Africa to claim the London leg of the World Rugby Seven Series.

With just the Paris leg of the Series to play, next weekend, Fiji now stand atop the standings on 167 points, with the Blitzboks in second on 160. New Zealand sit in third on 133.

“There were a lot of new boys in the squad but we performed as a team, that’s why we overcame South Africa today,” Fiji skipper Jerry Tuwai said.

Fiji beat Canada 40-7 in the quarter-finals before seeing off Ireland 38-12 in the semis, while South Africa edged New Zealand 14-5 in the quarters and England 29-19 in their last-four play-off.

Fiji’s hopes of a fourth straight tournament win took an early blow when Sevuloni Mocenacagi was yellow carded from the kick-off for taking Justin Geduld out in the air.

South Africa immediately made their numerical advantage count, Stedman Gans scything through the stretched defence for the opening try, Geduld converting.

Fiji did well, however, to absorb the Blitzbok pressure when a man down, and showed just why they average just 23 passes per match such is the efficacity of their strike power.

Tuisova, also part of the Fiji team that won Olympic gold in Rio in 2016 but not a regular on the circuit, muscled his way past some weak defence for a try, converted by Amenoni Nasilasila, to pull the Pacific islanders level.

Paula Dranisinukula was the final recipient of an amazing display of off-loading rugby started by Semi Radradra, crossing for Fiji’s second try with Nasilasila making no mistake with a conversion in front of the posts.

The Boks hit back when Ruhan Nel expertly took a high pass one-handed and rode a tackle by Dranisinukula to cross in the corner, Geduld missing the extras.

But Fiji responded perfectly, Jasa Veremalua skilfully exchanging passes with Josua Vakurunabili to go over for Fiji’s third try, Nasilasila’s conversion taking the Fijians out to 21-12.

Bok Zain Davids bounced through a couple of desperate tackles for a fine individual try to set up a dramatic finale, but Fiji won the restart and safely ran the ball out to seal the win.

“I found it tough today but I got help from the boys and was hanging in there. I know we trust each other and finally we get the win,” said free-running Fiji back and man-of-the-final Radradra, who is quitting Top 14 club Toulon for Bordeaux-Begles next season.

Ireland, a “non-core team” in their maiden Series appearance, marked a remarkable weekend by edging England 21-19 to take third place.

Jordan Conroy scored a first-half brace of tries for the Irish, including one from 90 metres out, before Dan Bibby hit back with two of his own.

England speedster Dan Norton then took his record career try tally to 295 when he crossed early in the second half.

But Conroy showed all his gas by sprinting away for his hat-trick, Mark Roche nailing a tricky conversion to seal a memorable win.

London Sevens results: Sunday, 3 June 2018

Trophy quarterfinals results

Argentina 19-14 Samoa
Kenya 38-0 Spain
Russia 15-10 Scotland
Wales 33-29 France

Cup quarterfinals

Fiji 40-7 Canada
USA 12-22 Ireland
Blitzboks 14-5 New Zealand
Australia 17-21 England

Trophy semi-finals

Argentina 10-42 Kenya
Russia 12-27 Wales

Trophy final

Kenya 33-19 Wales

Cup semi-finals

Fiji 38-12 Ireland

South Africa 29-19 England

5th Place Play off
USA 5-26 New Zealand
Third place
Ireland 21-19 England

Cup final

South Africa 17-21 Fiji

All results for London Sevens on 2 June

Samoa 0-14 Canada
South Africa 31-0 Russia
Spain 24-12 Wales
Australia 33-7 Ireland
New Zealand 24-12 Scotland
Fiji 28-19 Argentina
Kenya 19-19 USA
England 34-0 France
Samoa 17-19 Russia
South Africa 17-7 Canada
Spain 10-38 Ireland
Australia 20-12 Wales
New Zealand 36-5 Argentina
Fiji 39-12 Scotland
Kenya 24-21 France
England 14-31 USA
South Africa 12-21 Samoa
Wales 21-19 Ireland
Australia 28-22 Spain
Scotland 19-22 Argentina
Fiji 27-7 New Zealand,
USA 38-14 France
England 38-12 Kenya

World Series Sevens latest table

This table will refresh automatically, it might take some time. At the time of writing, Fiji had extended their lead to 167, ahead of South Africa on 160.

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

Additional reporting from AFP.