2018-2019 World Sevens Series

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Too easy. Shit defence from SA. Try Nareki under the sticks. Knewstubb converts.

21 - 0 NZ

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That's the half time score. AB7s had an excellent first half.

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Curry off, possibly for a HIA, following a high tackle. Don't know why that wasn't a yellow.

Now, SA scores.

21 - 7 NZ with 4 minutes 20 to go.

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Lots of mistakes and ill-discipline from SA. Penalty.

Awesome try from Knewstubb! He converts his own try.

28 - 7 NZ with 2 minutes to go.

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Some great passing from the AB7s. Try Amanaki Nicole in the corner.

33 - 7 NZ and time is up! Still getting a re-start.

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Haha, Curry has enough and just walks the ball over the touch line.

Great to reach the final in the last tournament of the Series!

I doubt I'll be awake for the Final, but it's at 4.33am NZT.

Hoping Fiji is already celebrating their Series win ...

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Woke up to the news that Fiji, unsurprisingly, have won the final and the tournament, on top of winning the Series. Well-deserved!

Looking at the score, the AB7s put up a good fight: NZ 24 - 35 Fiji.

South Africa beat the USA 24 - 7 and won bronze.
France finished 5th after beating Samoa 40 - 5.

Anyway, this is the tournament's dream team, with Curry and Knewstubb:

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Awards
Napolioni Bolaca - HSBC Player of the Final
Mark of Excellence Award at the Paris Sevens goes to Fiji head coach Gareth Baber
Impact Player for Paris is France's Jean Pascal Barraque

The Mark of Excellence award for 2019 goes to USA's Danny Barrett.
USA coach Mike Friday was named Coach of the Series 2019.
Impact Player award for 2019 is Fiji's Vilimoni Botitu clocking up 356 points in that ranking (so not points scored).
This is a weird one: Spain's Pol Pla has won the Don't Crack Under Pressure award for their win against New Zealand in Vancouver.
Fiji's Meli Derenalagi who has won the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Rookie of the Year award.
The winner of the Top Try Scorer Award is Carlin Isles with 52 tries across the series!

One Kiwi finished on top in one of the rankings:

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Fiji, USA, New Zealand, South Africa and, as the hosts, Japan, have qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Japan drops out of the Series and loses it's core nations status; Ireland has qualified for next season's Series and will take Japan's spot as a core nation.

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Final standings:

[ARHS]

Very good effort from NZ at this tournament. They competed all the time. Those long limbs of the Fijians make a big difference - arms and legs. They were just a class above.

[ACT Crusader]

@ARHS said in 2018-2019 World Sevens Series:

Very good effort from NZ at this tournament. They competed all the time. Those long limbs of the Fijians make a big difference - arms and legs. They were just a class above.

Agree. Even with a couple of question marks over our squad, I thought we showed a bit of steel and resolve out there.

Congrats to Fiji and the US

[mikey07]

I was quite happy we made the final I knew Fiji would win as they are the complete package this year, still the boys showed a lot of fight which made me proud but we just don’t have the same level as everyone else it seems.

[Stargazer]

Black Ferns 7s for the Biarritz Sevens

1 Ruby Tui
2 Shakira Baker
3 Terina Te Tamaki
4 Niall Williams
5 Sarah Hirini – captain
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Tyla Nathan-Wong
8 Kelly Brazier
9 Cheyelle Robins-Reti
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Dhys Faleafaga
12 Alena Saili

*Tenika Willison is the travelling reserve.

With Olympic qualification secured, the team will look for a strong finish to the season with a fifth HSBC Sevens Series title within their grasp.

The Black Ferns Sevens finished agonisingly close to the Series title last year but heading into this weekend the team are 12 points clear of USA in second place.

“We control our destiny this weekend – we are well aware of that. As long as we go out there and perform with focus the results will take care of themselves,” said Sweeney.

Pool games
Saturday, 15 June
11.36pm: v Scotland

Sunday, 16 June
2.20am: v Russia
5.04am: v England

Where to watch
World Rugby Sevens facebook page
(only the Finals will be broadcast on Sky Sport Pop-up 1 (channel 55)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34273/black-ferns-sevens-eye-series-title-in-biarritz

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Livestream on Youtube:

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Great first try to Ruby Tui. Scotland aren't a core nation, so one of the weaker teams. This should be easy for the Ferns.

5 - 0 NZ

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Wow, Blyde. So quick! Try time.

12 - 0 NZ

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Great try from Scotland. Ferns missing tackles.

12 - 7 NZ

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Black Ferns hit back immediately. Try Nathan-Wong. Great work from Faleafaga, Physical.

HT: 19 - 7 NZ

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Now a great team try scored by Hirini.

24 - 7 NZ

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Great speed from Brazier brings her close to the try line; Blyde scores her 2nd.

29 - 7 NZ

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Now Brazier scores a try of her own.

34 - 7 NZ