Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens/article/3004518/hong-kong-sevens-2019-pools-and-teams-world-series-standings
Rugby/ HK Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens 2019 pools and teams: World Series standings, points, tries for all the contenders

  • Take a look at the key stats for every team heading into this weekend at Hong Kong Stadium
  • ‘Group of death’ with Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Kenya should provide thrills
The US and New Zealand will be two of the big favourites this weekend in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

As soon as the pools for the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens were released, all eyes were on the “group of death” that should provide plenty of action on Friday and Saturday.

Fiji and New Zealand, who have shared the last eight titles, have been placed in pool C along with Australia and last season’s finalists, Kenya.

Pool A also looks like it will be fiercely contested, while pool B looks wide open.

Here is a rundown of all the teams battling it out in Hong Kong:

Selvyn Davids has been South Africa’s star man this season. Photo: AFP
Selvyn Davids has been South Africa’s star man this season. Photo: AFP

Pool A

South Africa

2019 World Series position: 4th

Most points this series: Selvyn Davids (140)

Most tries this series: Siviwe Soyizwapi (21)

Record in 2019 series: 23-11

Series champions last season, South Africa have taken a little time to get going but stood tall in Vancouver last month and are one of the form teams coming in to Hong Kong.

Samoa

Series position: 7th

Most points: Alamanda Motuga (95)

Most tries: Alamanda Motuga (19)

Record: 20-15

Surprise finalists in Las Vegas, and capable of upsetting the big boys on their day – but still frustratingly inconsistent.

Max McFarland Scotland blows past Amenoni Nasilasila of Fiji in Dubai. Photo: AFP
Max McFarland Scotland blows past Amenoni Nasilasila of Fiji in Dubai. Photo: AFP

Scotland

Series position: 9th

Most points: Gavin Lowe (109)

Most tries: Robbie Fergusson (16)

Record: 13-18

Began the season reasonably strongly and were fifth in Hamilton, beating Australia and Samoa along the way, but have failed to replicate that form since. Will have strong support in Hong Kong, though, and capable of getting out of the group.

Japan

Series position: 15th

Most points: Katsuyuki Sakai (76)

Most tries: Naoki Motomura (10)

Record: 6-27

Perennial whipping boys have the worst record of all the teams to have played every round this season. The only Asian team in the series, they’ll have some support here no doubt.

France were surprise finalists in Vancouver. Photo: AP
France were surprise finalists in Vancouver. Photo: AP

Pool B

France

Series position: 10th

Most points: Jean Pascal Barraque (113)

Most tries: Stephen Parez (11)

Record: 13-19

Were meandering towards an unremarkable campaign until a stunning run to the final in Vancouver last month. The city’s sizeable French population will be roaring them on to repeat their heroics.

Argentina

Series position: 8th

Most points: Lautaro Bazan Velez (93)

Most tries: Franco Sabato (17)

Record: 18-15

Usually put in a decent showing, and dangerous on their day, but unable to take that next step up to the top level. Fourth in Las Vegas with a couple of other top-eight finishes.

Argentina won the plate final against the US at last year’s Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Argentina won the plate final against the US at last year’s Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Canada

Series position: 12th

Most points: Nathan Hirayama (145)

Most tries: Connor Braid (20)

Record: 13-17

Made it out of their group in Hamilton but little else to celebrate this season. But a chance to make the top-eight here from an inconsistent group.

Portugal

Invited to take part in the Hong Kong extravaganza. Will be making their debut in this season’s series – possibly the kindest pool they could have asked for.

Fiji are perennial Hong Kong favourites. Photo: AFP
Fiji are perennial Hong Kong favourites. Photo: AFP

Pool C

Fiji

Series position: 3rd

Most points: Alasio Sovita Naduva (137)

Most tries: Alasio Sovita Naduva (27)

Record: 28-8

Back-to-back winners in Cape Town and Hamilton, perennial Hong Kong crowd favourites Fiji are four-time defending champions here and have scored the most points overall this season (977). Champions six of the last seven years, winning in Hong Kong is what that most Fiji fans demand.

New Zealand

Series position: 2nd

Most points: Andrew Knewstubb (177)

Most tries: Sione Molia (18)

Record: 28-7

The second-highest overall points scorers (952), the All Blacks Sevens have victories in Dubai and Sydney, and were third in Hamilton and Las Vegas. Thirteen-time winners in Hong Kong, but haven’t lifted the trophy since 2014.

Andrew Knewstubb is New Zealand’s key man. Photo: AFP
Andrew Knewstubb is New Zealand’s key man. Photo: AFP

Australia

Series position: 6th

Most points: John Porch (175)

Most tries: John Porch (17)

Record: 19-14

Showed promise in Dubai with a fourth-placed finish but have crumbled in the big games and tailed off to such an extent that their low seeding means pool C has become a “group of death”.

Kenya

Series position: 14th

Most points: Daniel Taabu

Most tries: Vincent Onyala (16)

Record: 7-25

Unlucky runners-up in Hong Kong last year, Kenya’s standards have slipped remarkably this season – they’ve failed to make it to the Cup quarter-finals in all six rounds.

Folau Niua of the US runs in a try against New Zealand in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP
Folau Niua of the US runs in a try against New Zealand in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP

Pool D

USA

Series position: 1st

Most points: Madison Hughes (198)

Most tries: Carlin Isles (32)

Record: 27-9

Mike Friday’s Eagles come into the tournament as favourites, with a win in Las Vegas and second place in the first three rounds putting them top.

England

Series position: 5th

Most points: Dan Norton (120)

Most tries: Dan Norton (24)

Record: 24-12

England have two third-place finishes this season in Dubai and Sydney, and were fifth last time out in Vancouver, but haven’t won in Hong Kong since 2006.

England train at So Kon Po ahead of the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
England train at So Kon Po ahead of the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Wales

Series position: 13th

Most points: Luke Treharne (119)

Most tries: Luke Treharne (11)

Record: 8-25

Their fifteens may have done the grand slam at the Six Nations, but it’s a different story in sevens for Wales, who have failed to make the Cup quarter-finals in all five events.

Spain

Series position: 11th

Most points: Francisco Hernandez (110)

Most tries: Pol Pla (17)

Record: 14-17

The Spaniards have shown themselves capable of pulling off a few upsets this season, and finished sixth in Cape Town.