Hong Kong Sevens 2019 results: Fiji beat France to win historic fifth title in a row
- Fiji dedicate win to victims of Christchurch shootings after 21-7 victory over France in Sunday’s final
- USA Eagles beat Samoa to finish third; Argentina edge New Zealand for Hong Kong Plate
Fiji rose to the occasion as usual to claim a historic fifth straight title at the Hong Kong Sevens, beating France 21-7 in Sunday’s final.
The perennial Hong Kong Stadium favourites ran in three tries to become the first team to win five tournaments here on the bounce despite a gallant effort from the French, who had flown under the radar all week.
“Allez Les Bleus” chanted the sizeable section of French fans in their usual home high up in the East Stand, after an emotional rendition of Le Marseillaise that few would have expected to be hearing at Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday night. The French were unexpected finalists for the second straight tournament, but as in Vancouver against South Africa, they did not have enough left in the tank to cause an upset.
Pre-tournament favourites the US had to settle for bronze, beating Samoa 22-10 final in the third place play off – and the Eagles can at least console themselves knowing they are still top of the World Series standings going into Singapore. New Zealand’s miserable tournament was capped off by a 21-14 defeat by Argentina in the fifth place play off for the Hong Kong Plate. Earlier, Scotland edged Japan 26-24 to win the Challenge Trophy final.
“It’s a fantastic feeling, I’m sure it will sink in over the next two or three days,” Fiji coach Gareth Baber said. “But obviously all of this has been with a backdrop of what’s happened in Christchurch.”
Fiji’s players had presented the All Blacks Sevens with a special gift before their crunch pool C clash on Friday to pay their respects for those affected by last month’s Christchurch mosque shootings.
“Obviously our hearts go out to all those families, and this is in dedication to them,” Baber added.
The first try of the final went to Fiji, Vilimoni Botitu crossing in the right corner after some excellent last ditch defending from France proved in vain.
Aminiasi Tuimaba then made an excellent break down the left after some good pressure from France, Livai Koroigasagasa adding the extras again for a 14-0 half-time lead.
Some incredible defence on the line looked to have prevented France from scoring early in the second half, but the referee awarded a penalty try after assessing the video replay.
But the momentum swung back Fiji’s way when France’s Tavite Veredamu was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle, and Tuimaba took advantage to cross under the posts.
In the third place play-off, Maceo Brown got the US off the mark against Samoa and then leading scorer Carlin Isles rode a few tackles to force his way over in the right-hand corner and touch down for his ninth try of the tournament.
A defensive mix-up, with the US looking to the referee, let John Vaili in to score for Samoa when he simply picked the ball up off the ground and ran in uncontested, making it 10-5 at the break.
Tries to Joe Schroeder and Marcus Tupuloa stretched the Eagles’ lead to 22-5 in the second half but Melani Matavao added a consolation score for Samoa.
Argentina went ahead in the fifth place play off with Franco Sabato striking off a clean-set move from the line-out, but New Zealand hit back to tie it up at 7-7 through Kurt Baker’s try.
However, the South Americans crossed again through Agustin Segura and Santiago Mare’s kick was good, giving them a 14-7 lead at the break. The All Blacks Sevens hit back again though, this time with Tone Ng Shiu scoring and Akuila Rokolisoa adding the extras.
Extra time was looming but, two minutes after the hooter, Argentina’s Matias Osadczuk burst through a gap up the middle and ran in under the posts, throwing the ball up in the air in front of the South Stand amid jubilant celebrations.
Earlier, Spain had beaten Wales 19-14 in the 13th place play off to kick off the final round of World Series matches.
