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Paul Ryding

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Hong Kong Sevens

As it happened: Hong Kong Sevens 2019 live blog day two -- Hong Kong excellent as they reach the semi-finals of the World Series Qualifier

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

Follow all the action on day two at Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po, where Hong Kong's men continue their quest to qualify for the World Series


Follow all the action on day two at Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po, where Hong Kong's men continue their quest to qualify for the World Series


Hong Kong Sevens: As it happened

Live

Good morning and welcome to day two of the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens from a sizzling Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po.
Needless to say, the South Stand is stuffed, doubtless they're all in so early in anticipation of Hong Kong's first match of the day coming up at 10:52am against Tonga.
Can Paul John's side make it three from three in the pool stage?


Welcome to Sevens Saturday!

We had wondered what the theme for costumes in the South Stand might be this year. Freddie came up in discussion.



South Stand is rocking

The other two teams in Hong Kong's pool are currently in action.
the debuting Philippines have been a surprise package in the qualifiers this year. They're leading 17-12 against the Africans.
Hong Kong are up next.


Zimbabwe vs Philippines

Here we go. The South Stand goes wild as the Hong Kong team make their way out onto the pitch.


Hong Kong vs Tonga

Of course, two wins has already put the hosts in the knockouts, but a win against Tonga would be a huge confidence boost for Paul John's men.


Hong Kong qualified

Stunning start from Hong Kong. 17 seconds was all it took for Jack Neville to go over in the right corner. Converted, and Hong Kong lead 7-0 inside 50 seconds.


Try -- Hong Kong

Good, good try from the Pacific Islanders. Hong Kong unlucky in a couple of tackles, and it's converted for 7-7.


Try -- Tonga

Hong Kong's fine start is undone, and Tonga go in front. They're offloading very well in fairness. Unconverted, the score is 12-7 to Tonga.


Another one for the hosts in front of the South Stand. A fine passage of play and as the conversion is thwacked deep into the stand, Hong Kong lead 14-12 at the interval.


I think, I think ... that winning this match is the difference between playing Germany or Chile in the last-eight. Both pretty formidable opponents in truth ...


Draw for quarters

Advantage Hong Kong now. Tonga player deemed to have thrown in a terrible tackle and the ref produces the red card.
TRY -- HONG KONG!!! And immediately afterwards, Max Woodward goes over for Hong Kong's third try. 19-12 now to the hosts.


Tonga down to six men

Three from three for Hong Kong. A good win for our boys that. Tonga were stiff opposition. The win means Hong Kong will meet Chile in the quarter-finals. Probably the more preferable out of them and Germany.
A perfect campaign so far for the hosts.


Full-time: Hong Kong 19-12 Tonga

So we're still waiting for confirmation from the organisers, but it seems like Hong Kong vs Chile will be the fourth quarter-final match at 7.12pm this evening.


Hong Kong's next game

Our man Patrick Blennerhassett was in the thick of the Hong Kong team's post-match huddle (or right outside it, I suppose) and he heard coach Paul John describe the win over Tonga as "a classic win".



Hong Kong post-match reaction

In fairness, I was reluctant to go all in without confirmation, but Hong Kong will actually play the Philippines in the quarter-finals.
That's a much kinder draw for the hosts. Game on.



The actual quarter-final draw

So a win over Philippines, which we would probably be allowed to expect, would mean a semi-final clash against either Chile or Tonga. 
There are some good sides still in it on the other side of that draw, but this represents Hong Kong's best chance at qualifier glory in this blogger's memory, at least.


Route to the title opening up for Hong Kong

Some folks just can't hack the pace

World Series is ON

Jamie Hood was asked what's going right for Hong Kong as they head into the quarter-finals against the Philippines.
"We're just working hard for each other. Now every game matters. There's no easy games in this qualifier and now they get harder each match."


More Hong Kong reaction

Still deadlocked between South Africa and Scotland, but the good news is, England are up next against Spain. After a great win against Wales yesterday, they'll be looking to follow that up with a convincing win against the Spanish.


England up next

A job well done for Hong Kong

The two-time Series champions South Africa are in complete control against Scotland. it's 19-0 after a third try with 4:40 on the clock.


South Africa cruising to victory

Our man Jonathan White caught up with a group of Fiji fans who wouldn't say much more than they were confident their boys could get the job done again.



Fiji fans confident

Scotland battled their way back at the death to make the score respectable, but South Africa cruise to their second win.
Next up, England vs Spain.


Full-time: South Africa 26-10 Scotland

Spending five hours of your day out in a queue doesn’t seem like a heap of fun #HK7s pic.twitter.com/tXdtQSfSLk
— Jonathan White (@jmawhite) April 6, 2019


Needless to say, the South Stand is long full up

Will Edwards goes over for England after some nifty footwork. Converted. 7-0.


Try -- England

Dan Norton is over for a second try. Converted. 14-0.


A little late, maybe. But here is our lad's wrap-up from day one at the Hong Kong Sevens yesterday.



Wrap up

It's some whipping England are handing out to Spain here. A masterclass if you will. England lead 54-0 against Spain.


England well and truly in the driving seat

Spain get on the board at the death, but it's great win for England. They're definitely in the conversation here in Hong Kong.


Full-time: England 54-5 Spain

One of the Favourites here in Hong Kong, USA, are up now against Wales. They were impressive against Spain, let's see how they go when they step up a level here.


USA vs Wales 

USA on the back foot from the start here. Ben Cambriani has put Wales in the lead. Converted for 7-0.


Wales in front

Calin Isles crosses for USA with 1:50 on the clock in the first half. Scores level at 7-7 now.


Isles in

Well, what do we have here? Wales in front. 14-7.


Interesting ...

Yeah, that didn't last long. USA hit back through that mna Isles again. Blistering pace. Converted. It's level at the interval.


Half-time: USA 14-14 Wales

Superb from Wales. Joe Goodchild goes over and it's converted as they move into the lead with 0:56 on the clock!


Try -- Wales

Superb from Wales. Started strong, USA grew back into it, and at the death, the Welsh clinch the win. Superb match. First big upset of the weekend.


Wales stun USA

Wales 21-19 USA

The Eagles, leading the series coming into the Hong Kong leg, now have the unenviable task of needing a result against England to ensure they progress. That is presuming Wales floor Spain, of course.


USA under the cosh

'Group of death' returns

Dancing hot dogs? Some of the stuff at the Sevens is fever dream territory #hk7s pic.twitter.com/nrCA87PuYE
— Jonathan White (@jmawhite) April 6, 2019


You see it all at the Sevens

The All Blacks have a 12-0 lead against Kenya at half-time.


New Zealand leading

It's fair to say, away from the madness of the South Stand inside the stadium, there's a more family-suitable pace at the various fan zones around town.



A different pace

New Zealand trounce an uninspiring Kenya 36-0 to make it two wins and condemn Kenya to the lesser silverware come tomorrow after two losses.
Next up, defending champions Fiji against Australia.


Full-time New Zealand 36-0 Kenya

This could be an interesting clash. Fiji big favourites obviously, but Australia are sixth in the series standings.


Fiji vs Australia

Bright start. Australia claw there way back after going behind quickly.


Fiji 7-5 Australia

Fiji have opened up a pretty sizable gap by the interval. They've been superb in that first half. Big gulf in class.


Half-time: Fiji 17-5 Australia

From our man Ben Young:
New Zealand captain Scott Curry said after seeing the USA lose to Wales, they're definitely looking at this tournament as an opportunity to make up serious ground on them in the standings. They currently trail USA by seven points in second place.



New Zealand growing in confidence

Australia battling away, but Fiji in control here.


Fiji 31-12 Australia

Fiji complete a comprehensive win over the Wallabies. Seems there's a big quality gap between third and sixth in the standings in the series this year. That's two losses for Australia, and as always in Hong Kong, two wins for Fiji.
Next up is Argentina vs Portugal.



Full-time: Fiji 31-12 Australia

Iron Man in the house

Fiji supporters are consistently in the frame for the award of best turned out.



Fiji fans in fine fettle

Portugal are surprise leaders at the interval against Argentina.


Half-time: Argentina 7-12 Portugal

Portugal had a chance to register a win there; they were up by two scores in the second half, but Argentina had more in the tank and ran in three tries to take a deserved win.


Argentina 26-2ved win.1 Portugal

France into a swift lead in less than thirty seconds.


France vs Canada now

France looking for two straight wins in the pool stage, and they're off to a great start against Canada here. 12-0 now.


Try -- France

Canada really under the hammer now. France move the score along to 17-0 at the interval.


France running amok

The official penalty for that dangerous tackle in the Hong Kong -Tonga game:
Tonga #8 Inisi was suspended for 3 matches for a dangerous lifting tackle in Tonga’s match against Hong Kong.
Tonga #10 Moala-Liava’a received a Citing Commissioner Warning for his involvement in the same tackle.
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 6, 2019


Stern punishment for Tonga

Argentina head coach Santiago Gomez Cora admitted to our man Ben Young that his players were at less than their best against Portugal.
On his team’s crazy come from behind victory against Portugal, he said: “We played horrible, but we still won somehow. 
“The weather in Hong Kong is even hotter than back home.
“We had to spend 40 hours on an aeroplane to get here," he added. "No other team has to deal with the travelling we have to do. We can’t even focus on rugby tactics, a lot of it is just adjusting to the time difference and recovering from travel.”
He also said Brazil’s victory yesterday was “very important” as the objective is to develop rugby in South America so the teams don’t have to travel so much.”



Disadvantaged Argentina?

It’s a special place, the South Stand #HK7s pic.twitter.com/WTRHNggDrY
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 6, 2019


It sure is

France secure their second win with a dominant showing against Canada. Now there's a break in play for the "half-time show".
I'll be taking a bit of a break from the blog to grab some lunch.
Be back soon.


Full-time: France 24-12 Canada

After that Freddie Mercury-inspired interlude, we're back to the action with Japan taking on Scotland.
Japan 5-0 up within a minute.


We're back

The mid-day break was quite an experience, especially for our cameramen.



Special moments

The true heroes of the Hong Kong Sevens

Score moves on to 19-19 with 2:58 on the clock. Both sides looking for a bit of pride today.


Ding-dong battle between Scotland and Japan

Scotland it is who pull clear and claim the win.
Next up, South Africa, the defending series champions, and Samoa


Scotland 33-19 Japan

Cheering fingers on

Impi Visser goes over for the Blitzbokkes. They lead 7-0 after the conversion. Samoa have been solid for most of this first half, though.
