New Zealand Suffers Shock Defeat On Opening Day Of Hong Kong Sevens
New Zealand Suffers Shock Defeat On Opening Day Of Hong Kong Sevens
The All Blacks Sevens have suffered a sizeable defeat in their opening match of the Hong Kong Sevens, throwing their tournament into disarray.
The All Blacks Sevens have suffered a sizeable defeat in their opening match of the Hong Kong Sevens, throwing their tournament into disarray.
Playing against Samoa in the penultimate game of the day, NZ flattered to deceive on the pitch, succumbing to a significant 24-0 defeat.
While tries were hard to come by in the early exchanges, with scores locked up at nil-all until the final moments of first half, Melani Matavao touched down immediately before the break to give Samoa a 5-0 lead going into halftime.
Samoa scored three further tries through Vaa Apelu Maliko, Paul Scanlan and Steve Onosai in the second half to leave New Zealand with a tough task Sunday.
A pulsating day one is in the books 💪
— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) November 4, 2022
You don't want to miss any of the action as sevens returned to Hong Kong!#DHLHighlights | #HK7s | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/oSDdTN7xiu
The All Blacks Sevens will take on pool mates Australia and Hong Kong in Sunday's fixtures and will need to bank two victories in order to give themselves any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals.
After securing first place in the final leg of the 2021-2022 series, missing out on the quarterfinals of the opening tournament of the season would mark a less-than-ideal start to their new campaign.
New Zealand's loss was the only upset of the day, although Spain came ever-so-close to tipping over the United States, with a Malacchi Esdale try in the final play of the game saving the USA's blushes and securing them a 15-14 victory.
Hello Highlight Reel 😁 pic.twitter.com/SFlxkvo14I
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) November 4, 2022
France also surprised with the dominant display against Great Britain, smashing the composite side 34-0. Aaron Grandidier dazzled with a hattrick of tries for Les Bleus.
The two top seeds in each pool are due to face off Sunday, with France squaring off with South Africa, Fiji taking on USA, Argentina tackling Ireland and NZ and Australia going to battle in the final match of the day.
Hong Kong Sevens Day 1 Results:
Ireland 28, Kenya 12
Argentina 36, Canada 0
USA 15, Spain 14
Fiji 59, Japan 12
France 34, Great Britain 0
South Africa 21, Uruguay 0
Samoa 24, New Zealand 0
Australia 43, Hong Kong 0