Hong Kong Sevens: Australia crash out of men’s competition after USA’s five-star performance

Perry Baker scores twice in 24-5 rout of defending champions in final pool game, before suffering serious shoulder injury

Defeat knocks Australia out of quarter-finals contention and they now face 9th-place play-off against Hong Kong

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Perry Baker breaks clear of Australia’s Hayden Sargeant to score one of his two tries. Photo: AP

Published: 9:05pm, 1 Apr 2023

Australia’s defence of their Hong Kong Sevens title was ended by a tidal wave of American tries on Saturday.

The USA ran in five scores in a 24-5 rout, knocking their opponents down to third in Pool C, behind themselves and Spain on points difference.

Perry Baker scored twice after David Still’s try had cancelled out a first-minute strike from Australia’s Dietrich Roache. Baker later suffered a serious shoulder injury that could also bring his tournament to an end.

Malacchi Esdale had the final word, crossing a minute from the end to put the exclamation point on a thumping win for the US.

Topping the group earned the Americans a quarter-final against Team GB on Sunday, while the Spanish will take on the French.

Australia’s Dietrich Roache is tackled by Steve Tomasin of the United States. Photo: AP

Australia skipper Nick Malouf was understandably upset at the result, which after a 12-7 win over Spain earlier in the day looked unlikely at best.