New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane races away for a try while the Aussies stay in hot pursuit during the Sydney Sevens match on Saturday.
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The absorbing Final delivered a fitting finale to a tournament that will leave a lasting legacy. “I thought we scrambled really well and the guys dug deep”.
“He’s getting better and better and he’s enjoying being part of the team and learning something new”.
“Either way we have to win that first game tomorrow morning so it doesn’t matter”, Jenkins said.
“There’s been a lot of great Rugby played for the Sydney crowd that’s turned up that witnessed an wonderful two days”.
Australia, showing themselves to be genuine medal contenders at this year’s Rio Olympics, progressed to the decider thanks to two gutsy wins over top-four rivals England and South Africa.
“I had the ability to find that last bit of effort in me and get the last try to seal the deal against the Poms”, Hutchison said.
Fiji, beaten 14-12 in the semi-finals by the All Blacks, will depart for the next round in Las Vegas top of the series standings on points difference after their victory over pacesetters South Africa in the third-place playoff.
A barnstorming run was finished off superbly when brother Reiko finished off under the posts.
Both teams scored again to go into the break, 12-all.
“We said it would take 20 minutes to win, and it did”, continued Mikkelson, who crossed for a crucial long-range try – the 166th in his career – in the final to make it 17-all in the second half.
South Africa – Tries: Dylan Sage, Sandile Ngcobo.
Host Ireland led 13-0 but Wales fought back to lead 16-13 after Taulupe Faletau’s try was converted by replacement fly half Rhys Priestland, who was also on target with a 72nd minute penalty to edge his side ahead.
A desperate ankle tap grassed Clark, but the home team remained patient and broke through moments later through Hutchison.
They and the soldout Sydney Football Stadium must have thought the match was Australia’s, only for Ioane to have the last say after an extended period of play in which the Kiwis did extremely well to keep the ball.
Former league star Sonny Bill Williams was sent to the sin bin late in the first half for a high tackle. Phil Mack scored a late Canadian try.
The Aussies injected fresh legs into the contest and Lewis Holland again showed creative flair, throwing a looping pass into the hands of bench forward Sam Myers who charged into the corner to give Australia the lead.
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New Zealand have not let a World Rugby investigation into an eight-man breach affect them at the Sydney Sevens, swatting aside the USA 24-7 in their quarter-final.
