RUGBY SEVENS: The Qantas Australian Men's Sevens team has finished sixth at the Paris Sevens after falling just short to South Africa in the Plate Final.
Australia were pipped at the death once again by Fiji (17-15) in the Cup Quarter-Final before beating in-form Kenya (26-7) in the Plate Semi-Final. Australia left the Stade Jean-Bouin with 12 World Series points after defeat to South Africa (17-7).
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens Head Coach Andy Friend said: "I was much happier with our performance today than I was yesterday. I thought we lost our way a bit in the games against England and South Africa on Day Two but we showed a lot more physicality and we were a lot more accurate at the breakdown today.
"I thought we had the game to beat Fiji, but we really need to be finishing those types of games. I keep saying it, but I truly believe we are getting closer to them.
"We recovered well to beat a strong Kenyan side but South Africa seem to have the wood on us at the moment so we need to look at our game plan against them."
On the performance of the returning Jesse Parahi, Friend added: "He was a big positive. Jesse's like a bull and carried the ball so well when we needed it. Con Foley was another who impressed me, he did really well at nine for us."
Fiji inflicted a second late Cup Quarter-Final defeat in as many tournaments after Samisoni Viriviri scored in the last minute to send the world champions into the last four.
Australia dominated for long periods of the opening seven minutes and were rewarded when Pat McCutcheon and Henry Hutchison both scored in the right hand corner. Leone Nakarama brought Fiji back into the contest when he glided over from close range but Hutchison restored Australia's 10-point advantage when Cameron Clark fed the 19-year-old to dive over on the right on the half-time siren.
Despite Andy Friend's side once again having the majority of possession and territory, it was Fiji that scored the two decisive tries in the second half to progress. Jasa Veremalua sliced through the Aussie defence to bring the Fijians within a score before Viriviri raced clear to have the final say.
The Australians got back to winning ways in the Plate Semi-Final with a clinical display against Singapore Sevens cup winners Kenya.
Commanding from start to finish, two tries from Con Foley and another from skipper Ed Jenkins gave the green and gold a richly deserved 21-point lead at the break.
Billy Odhiambu gave the Kenyans a glimmer of hope when he scored under the posts but Henry Hutchison booked Australia's spot in the Plate Final when he just managed to stay in play to dot down on the right.
The Australians lost to South Africa for the second time this weekend in the Plate Final.
Dylan Sage gave the Blitzbokke an early lead only for Boyd Killingworth to respond almost immediately for the Aussies as he capitalised on an awkward bouncing ball in midfield. However, South African captain Kyle Brown powered over from close range to hand his team the advantage at half-time.
In a second half devoid of clear-cut opportunities, Rosco Specman made sure of the win when he sprinted clear on the right to give South Africa a lead they were in little danger of surrendering.
Elsewhere, Samoa incredibly recovered from 26-7 down to stun series leaders Fiji (29-26) in the Cup Final while hosts France saw off the challenge of Argentina (26-17) in the 3rd Place Play-Off.
With just one round of the 2015-16 World Rugby Sevens Series left, Australia (127 points) remain fourth on the World Series standings. Fiji (166 points) has all but sealed back-to-back World Series titles after finishing runners-up in Paris. South Africa (152 points) sit second with New Zealand (145 points) in third spot.
The tenth and final leg of the season heads to Twickenham next weekend - the last tournament for the Australians before Rugby Sevens makes its bow at the Summer Olympics in Rio in August. All of the action from London will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
Head Coach Andy Friend is expected to name his squad for the London Sevens on Tuesday morning (AEST).
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens results in Paris, France, 14-16 May:
Australia 38-0 Brazil, Pool C
Australia 24-19 England, Pool C
Australia 0-31 South Africa, Pool C
Australia 15-17 Fiji, Cup Quarter-Final
Australia 26-7 Kenya, Plate Semi-Final
Australia 7-17 South Africa, Plate Final
Final placings for the Paris Sevens (Top 6): 1. Samoa (22 World Series points), 2. Fiji (19 points), 3. France (17 points), 4. Argentina (15 points), 5. South Africa (13 points), 6. Australia (12 points)
Current 2015-16 World Series standings (Top 6 - after nine rounds): 1. Fiji (166 World Series points), 2. South Africa (152 points), 3. New Zealand (145 points), 4. Australia (127 points), 5. Argentina (107 points), 6. USA (100 points)
Australian Rugby Union
