Another interesting team to watch is Uruguay as they've been featured on the circuit before; I can remember them competing at USA 7s in years past. Russia had a strong showing as hosts of the World University games and has competed in the men's Elite bracket of the LVI each of the last 3 years. Hosts Hong Kong also look strong, as do Zimbabwe who remain undefeated, and the quarterfinals should yield some thrilling match ups. Now if I only I could find a stream for these games as well!
Following the updates on the iRB website shows that Uruguay and Japan win their final pool play mayches Day 2. Japan just beat the Cook Islands 26-7 and Uruguay was victorious 28-5 over Trinidad & Tobago. Italy is playing Hong Kong at the moment - should be the best match up of the remaining pool play tests! Undefeated Russia takes on similarly 2-0 Zimbabwe soon as well!
Highlights from Day 1 of action are here.
More on the tournament from the iRB:
Five unbeaten in World Series qualifier
(IRB.COM) Friday 28 March 2014
Andy Vilk's Italy won both of their opening matches in the World Series qualifier in Hong Kong
Japan,
hosts Hong Kong, Italy, Russia and Zimbabwe all went unbeaten on day
one of the World Series qualifier at the Hong Kong Sevens.
One
of the 12 teams competing in the qualifier will join the core sides on
next season's HSBC Sevens World Series, and several teams put their
hands up as favourite on day one at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Lote
Tuqiri scored two tries in each of Japan's wins as last week's hosts
scored 65 unanswered points against Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago
while the hosts beat Tunisia and American Samoa.
Yiu
Kam Shing scored twice in their 19-7 defeat of Tunisia before Rowan
Varty added a brace in their 38-7 win against Hong Kong debutants
American Samoa.
Stephan
Hunduza scored a hat-trick and Lenience Tambwera scored 19 points as
Zimbabwe beat Barbados 49-5 before they narrowly beat Chile 19-14,
Handuza adding two more tries.
Andy Vilk's
Italy beat American Samoa 31-12 and Tunisia 17-12 with Kaine Roberton
scoring the winner in the latter while Evgeny Nepeyvoda was the hero for
Russia on day one, scoring twice in their 40-10 win against Barbados
and the winner as they snatched a dramatic 17-12 win in their opening
match against Chile.
Liam Middleton,
Zimbabwe coach: “It (what it will take to win the competition) is
winning games like this. We were strong in the first game and this was
an even contest. To win the competition you need to win these tight
contests so I am chuffed we have won this one.”
REACTION
Liam Middleton, Zimbabwe coach: “It
(what it will take to win the competition) is winning games like this.
We were strong in the first game and this was an even contest. To win
the competition you need to win these tight contests so I am chuffed we
have won this one.”
Match-winner Kane Robertson on Italy's 100% winning start: "Tomorrow will be very tough against Hong Kong but we'll do our best to get a good result."
Gabriel Puig, Uruguay captain: “It
was important for us to change the result of the first match. We
thought we could win this match (against the Cook Islands), now we have
to think about the match tomorrow. Happy to be back, this is the best
championship”
Jamie Hood, Hong Kong captain: “Much
happier with that one. Tunisia were a tough team to start with this
morning. We’ve won both of our two matches here but the second day gets a
lot more serious and hopefully we can continue on.”
Lomano Lemeki, Japan: “Good
start for us to get the win. Uruguay are a strong team. We played well
but we’re trying to get used to the humidity and the heat, so we just
need to make sure we’re ready for our remaining pool matches."
Andy Vilk, Italy coach: “Not
sure I like that tag (one of the favourites) but I am happy with how we
started but disappointed with those two tries at the end. Happy with 31
points and a performance to build on.”
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