Australia’s defence of their men’s Hong Kong Sevens title ended in the pool stage on Saturday.
The Australians were beaten to the quarter-finals by the United States and unheralded Spain. All three had 2-1 records in their pool, but Australia missed out on points difference just five months after winning the delayed 2022 Hong Kong Sevens for the first time in 34 years.
Perry Baker of the US breaks away from Australia’s Hayden Sargeant to score.Credit:AP
Australia came from behind to beat Spain 12-7, but was then routed by the US 24-5 despite scoring in the first minute and being tied 5-5 at halftime.
The quarter-finals on Sunday feature Fiji against South Africa, who have never won in Hong Kong, while series leaders New Zealand play Argentina in a showdown, the US take on Britain, and Spain play France.
John Manenti’s Australian men were disappointed that their defence of the crown should end so tamely at the group stages with such a heavy defeat to the US.
Speedster Baker scored twice as the Americans answered Dietrich Roache’s early try for Australia with four of their own.
Though the Aussies had earlier squeezed past Spain with tries from Henry Paterson and Nathan Lawson, it was not enough to prevent the Spanish pipping them to the second qualifying spot from their group courtesy of a superior points difference.
“That was very disappointing, not the sort of performance you want to put out,” Australia skipper Nick Malouf said. “It’s not what we came here to do, [we are] so devastated.
“But we weren’t just good enough. We’ll have to go and watch the game back and make sure we’re better next time.”
Caslick stars for Australia’s women
Four teams are left in contention for the first Hong Kong women’s title. Heavyweights New Zealand and Australia face first-time semi-finalists this season, Fiji and Britain respectively.
Charlotte Caslick in action for Australia against Fiji.Credit:AP
New Zealand and Australia comfortably handled Canada and Ireland, while Fiji downed the United States 19-14 after a last-minute try by Reapi Ulunisau.
Charlotte Caslick has made rugby history in Hong Kong by becoming the first Australian woman to score 150 tries in World Series sevens tournaments.
The world sevens player of the year was in irresistible form on Saturday as she piloted the World Cup winners into the semi-finals of the inaugural women’s event at the sport’s marquee tournament at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Caslick, who’d scored three tries in Friday’s opening two matches, carried on where she left off, scooting over for a double in the 35-5 hammering of Fiji in Australia’s final group match.
The first of the two tries was her 150th, as she became the first Australian, and only the fifth woman in World Series history, to reach the landmark.
Caslick, who had become Australia’s all-time leading women’s scorer with her 142nd try during the Sydney Sevens, took her current tally to 153 after another masterful double in the 24-5 defeat of Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Australia had struggled to defeat the game Irish side in their group match on Friday, but were dominant in their last-eight clash, as Caslick’s brilliant link-up play and decisive finishing allied to another try from Faith Nathan put the Series champions 19-0 up at halftime.
Another try from Madison Ashby after the break sealed the win, setting up a semi-final clash on Sunday against Great Britain, with the dominant New Zealand outfit favourites in the other last-four tie with Fiji.
Britain beat France only 5-0 after a try with nine seconds left by Rhona Lloyd, who sprinted 60 meters thanks to an overlap pass from Shona Campbell.
The Hong Kong Sevens is the leading event on the World Rugby Sevens Series calendar.
