RUGBY SEVENS: The Qantas Australian Men's Sevens team has finished seventh in Singapore after losing to powerhouses Fiji and New Zealand on Sunday.
An inexperienced Australian team with seven players having six caps or less coming into the tournament lost to World Champions Fiji (19-14) in the Cup Quarter-Final and then New Zealand (31-7) in the Plate Semi-Final.
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens Head Coach Andy Friend said: "I thought our performance against Fiji was good but it was disappointing that we couldn't close it out. At the moment we are losing too many big moments, crucial moments, in the big games which is hurting us.
"Against New Zealand we simply didn't have enough of the ball. I think we only made it into their half once with the ball and that comes down to our restarts and our accuracy.
"I thought Con Foley was terrific for us all weekend and Tom Kingston was really strong. James [Stannard] perhaps didn't have his best weekend but I've seen the way he led the team and it is really impressive. Sam Figg is another that has put his hand up and said that he is keen to play."
Summarising the last two tournaments in Asia, Friend added: "There has been some positive elements to come out of the last couple of weeks. We've played good rugby and got into some very good positions. At the moment, we just don't have the mental capacity to finish off some of the positions we are getting ourselves into. Heading towards the next two tournaments and then Rio - we have to get that right and I'm confident we will."
Two Fijian tries in the last 90 seconds ended Australia's Cup aspirations in Singapore in heartbreaking fashion. Kitione Taliga broke the tackle of John Porch after two minutes. Despite being on the back foot for large portions of the first half, Australia hit back with two converted tries of its own from James Stannard and then Sam Figg to take a nine-point lead to the break.
With the game entering its final stages deep into the second period, a loose ball at the ruck was gathered by Jasa Veremalua who sprinted clear on the right to give Fiji hope. Straight from the ensuing kick off - and with the final play of the game - the islanders won the ball and Taliga held off the tackle of Boyd Killingworth to slam the ball down and rescue a win from the jaws of defeat for Fiji.
Australia's campaign at the National Stadium came to an abrupt end with a comprehensive defeat to series-chasing New Zealand in the Plate Semi-Final. Dylan Collier and Isaac Te Aute scored back-to-back tries in the opening three minutes to give the New Zealanders an early 12-point lead. Stephan Van der Walt reduced the arrears just before half-time when he finished off a well-constructed move involving Pat McCutcheon and Josh Holmes.
It was all New Zealand in the second half, however, and tries from Sione Molia, Isaac Te Tamaki and Teddy Stanaway wrapped up the win in a game that saw Australia well-beaten up front.
Elsewhere in Singapore - and after 114 tournaments - Kenya won a World Series event for the first time in its history after turning on the style to beat ladder leaders Fiji (30-7) in the Cup Final. South Africa came third having comfortably seen off the challenge of Argentina (28-0) while Samoa stunned New Zealand (26-21) to take the Plate and finish fifth.
Australia collects ten World Series points after its seventh-place finish and retains fourth spot in the overall standings. After taking out the maximum 22 points from the tournament, Fiji (147 points) extended its advantage at the top of the ladder with South Africa (140 points) second and New Zealand (135 points) a place behind in third.
The Sevens World Series heads to Paris (13-15 May) and London (21-22 May) for the final two rounds of the 2015-16 season next month.
Qantas Australian Men's Sevens results in Singapore, 16-17 April
Australia 7-12 Argentina, Pool D
Australia 17-12 Japan, Pool D
Australia 31-12 Wales, Pool D
Australia 14-19 Fiji, Cup Quarter-Final
Australia 7-31 New Zealand, Plate Semi-Final
Final placings for the Singapore Sevens (Top 7): 1. Kenya (22 World Series points), 2. Fiji (19 points), 3. South Africa (17 points), 4. Argentina (15 points), 5. Samoa (13 points), 6. New Zealand (12 points), 7. Australia / France (10 points)
Current 2015-16 HSBC World Series standings (Top 6 - after eight rounds): 1. Fiji (147 World Series points), 2. South Africa (140 points), 3. New Zealand (135 points), 4. Australia (115 points), 5. USA (95 points), 6. Argentina (92 points)
Australian Rugby Union
