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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.