The All Blacks Sevens made history claiming their third Rugby World Cup Sevens title

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The All Blacks Sevens made history claiming their third Rugby World Cup Sevens title with an impressive 33-12 win over England in the final on Sunday.

New Zealand opened the scoring within minutes of play, with Sione Molia finding the gap midfield to dot it down under the posts, and he crossed the whitewash again for his double to give the All Blacks Sevens a 14-0 lead. England hit back to get their first points on the board with Michael Ellery touching down to head into the halftime break seven points down.

The All Blacks Sevens were quick to get on the board once play resumed, with Joe Ravouvou adding to his try-scoring tally for the weekend to climb to six tries across the tournament. England closed the gap again with Ruaridh McConnochie palming off defenders to cross in the corner.

But New Zealand proved too good with Akuila Rokolisoa going over before Trael Joass put the nail in the coffin for England, jigging through the defence and scoring the knockout blow.

New Zealand broke Fijian hearts earlier in the day, when they downed the Olympic champions 22-17 in the semifinals to gain their place in the final.

Fiji, one of the favourites to win the title, were shocked after the All Blacks Sevens scored four tries to three, including a Ravouvou double.

Meanwhile, England shocked two-time reigning HSBC World Rugby Sevens World Series champions South Africa in a hammering 29-7 win. The Blitzboks could never get a foothold in the game, with England maintaining possession and slipping through the defence to score five tries to one.
South Africa shook off that disappointment to withstand an attacking barrage in the final minutes to defeat Fiji in the bronze final.

The Blitzboks crashing over three times within minutes to take a healthy 17-7 lead into the break, and they continued to build momentum with a 12th-minute try. Fiji refused to bow out quietly, however, scoring two tries in the final minutes to bring respectability to the score line.

Ireland upset Australia 24-12 in the play-off for ninth and the challenge cup, with the No. 16 seeds, late arrivals on the World Series scene this year, dominating possession to notch a second win against the Aussies in three attempts this season.

The Irish led 17-7 at the break and were never threatened in the second half despite a trademark Maurice Longbottom dash giving Australia some hope.

The defeat ended a disappointing tournament for the Aussies, who were knocked out of the championship race when they were shocked by France in their opening match of the tournament.

The USA hammered Scotland 28-0 to bounce back from their quarterfinal defeat by England but they had no answer for Argentina in their clash for fifth place, with Los Pumas Sevens making easy work of the Eagles to score a 33-7 win.

Meanwhile Scotland downed France 29-24 to take out seventh place, Wales pounced on a hurting Canada 35-12 to finish 11th. Samoa downed Russia for 13th, while Japan defeated Kenya for 15th.

Chile took out Hong Kong in the Bowl final, before Uganda defeated Uruguay for 19th place and Papua New Guinea beat Tonga for 21st. Rounding out the weekend, Zimbabwe defeated Jamaica for 23rd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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