New Zealand win the Hong Kong Sevens
New Zealand became kings of Hong Kong on Sunday as they beat England 29-17 in the Cup final at Hong Kong Stadium in the IRB World Series Sevens. This video shows their progress to the final, as well as one or two other nice tries.
The tournament proved to be a success once again as rugby, drinking, music, and dancing were all on the menu, not to mention fancy-dress. Capacity crowds of 40 000 people over the three days enjoyed the best of the international rugby circuit, with a few surprise packages.
In the end it was New Zealand who marched through to the final after some closely contested games, with their semi-final against Fiji particularly tricky. In the final they faced England who had beaten reigning champs Samoa in their semi.
The New Zealand team led by seven points at half time and from then on, they were too good as their speed and fitness showed in some extraordinarily long passages of open field play. The win has them now sitting pretty at the top of the World Series table, five points clear of England.
"Sevens is what is going to open rugby up to the world," said Jonah Lomu.
"It is going to go right through Asia, because it is a more level playing field than playing 15-a-side. Trying to explain to somebody the appeal of the sport, I would say come to the Sevens. You have the fastest players on the planet and the strongest players on the planet."
The series moves to Adelaide next weekend, before moving to England and Scotland in May.
Time: 03:57
Note: With thanks to the IRB
The tournament proved to be a success once again as rugby, drinking, music, and dancing were all on the menu, not to mention fancy-dress. Capacity crowds of 40 000 people over the three days enjoyed the best of the international rugby circuit, with a few surprise packages.
In the end it was New Zealand who marched through to the final after some closely contested games, with their semi-final against Fiji particularly tricky. In the final they faced England who had beaten reigning champs Samoa in their semi.
The New Zealand team led by seven points at half time and from then on, they were too good as their speed and fitness showed in some extraordinarily long passages of open field play. The win has them now sitting pretty at the top of the World Series table, five points clear of England.
"Sevens is what is going to open rugby up to the world," said Jonah Lomu.
"It is going to go right through Asia, because it is a more level playing field than playing 15-a-side. Trying to explain to somebody the appeal of the sport, I would say come to the Sevens. You have the fastest players on the planet and the strongest players on the planet."
The series moves to Adelaide next weekend, before moving to England and Scotland in May.
Time: 03:57
Note: With thanks to the IRB
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21 Comments:
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By Unknown, at March 29, 2011 5:16 pm
great win for the boys.
Also it's always nice to see minnows making their presence felt. Go Russia
By Jeroz, at March 29, 2011 5:21 pm
That Mickelson(? - NZ tall #2) seems pretty uncouth. The way he took the piss out of the Portuguese lad and goading the England player at the end there.
DJ Forbes needs an urgent shave.
By Von, at March 29, 2011 6:00 pm
what is with the Al-Qaeda beards??
By Anonymous, at March 29, 2011 8:02 pm
Did anyone understand a word DJ Forbes said?
By fry, at March 29, 2011 9:51 pm
Yes
By Anonymous, at March 29, 2011 11:31 pm
England once again showing they have a superior running game than Australia and sa. Almost on par with nz
By Jamie156, at March 29, 2011 11:35 pm
England should make a television ad about winning the tournament hey Jamie.
By BZ, at March 29, 2011 11:46 pm
England do not have a running game as good as NZ, that's why they came 2nd.
Like BZ said, maybe your boys should go make a new TV commercial.
You can call it "No.2 is good enough for us"
By Anonymous, at March 30, 2011 1:04 am
remember when the english backs tore australia to shreds last november?
By jamie156, at March 30, 2011 1:51 am
Russia are coming on in leaps and bounds. Good too see. Going to be a real grudge match when they take on the US in the world cup.
Mikkelson did nothing wrong in that portugal try, he just passed it to a player too better the position for the kick. In regards to the english game, him and caprice have been on the circuit for a while now some im sure its gone both ways between the two.
Good win for the kiwis, Halai showed some class. Still not sold on Bryce Heem though.
By Anonymous, at March 30, 2011 7:25 am
Haha couldn't understand a word of what DJ Forbes said too!
And Sevens are looking good, you just have to guess what would it be like if (or when?) some of these guys played 15's, Forbes himself, Tomasi Cama, O'Donnell, Gollings, Afrika, Turnbull, Isaacs, Stick and many, many more...
See ya in Rio 2016!
By Juggernauter, at March 30, 2011 2:04 pm
Look at Cama at 2:08 - never onside.
By Anonymous, at March 30, 2011 2:11 pm
For those who couldn't understand a word, here's what you missed. I'm not sure why I bothered but for what it's worth:
"We'll definitely take a lot of momentum out of this .. what a stage to win on and we really need it cos we've been first equal with England for a while and now we finally get one up on them .. it's pleasing and like I said, we've still got Adelaide and there's still two more after that and like, anything can happen and there's still not too much in it .. but we'll definitely enjoy tonight .. the boys have shown a lot of character to pull through."
cheers.
By the Prof., at March 30, 2011 2:35 pm
@anonymous
There was never a ruck to be off side from, by the time the England support play arrived the ball was already gone. Hence the ref indicating play on.
Think about it first eh
By Tim, at March 30, 2011 5:02 pm
remember when England was a superpower?
By jamie156, at March 30, 2011 11:36 pm
The English team lost because they don't have Al Qaeda beards. Duhhh!
By Anonymous, at March 31, 2011 4:17 am
jamie156 said... remember when the english backs tore australia to shreds last november?
You mean when Aust scored two tries and Eng scored two tries (they called one the try of the century or something and the rest of the world is still laughing). So they tore them to shreds and still only got two tries! Did you see Aust v France a few days later? 7 tries to 1 pen. try – now that's tearing a defence to shreds! No, I'm not Australian.
By Burg, at March 31, 2011 7:40 am
hah you guys take things so seriously i was only joking. just love the thought of you guys over reacting in front of your computers then furiously typing out your rebuttal. we all know the english backs have nothing on the trinations teams. chill.
By jamie156, at March 31, 2011 9:16 am
jamie156 said...
i was only joking.
how subtle and amusing
By burger, at April 01, 2011 9:50 am
whats with the beards
By mat, at April 01, 2011 10:49 am
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