Dramatic wins for Fiji and New Zealand at Hong Kong Sevens
Friday 8 April 2016 17:15, UK
Fiji and New Zealand came back in dramatic style to win their opening pool matches at the Hong Kong Sevens on Friday.
Fiji rallied from 17-5 down with two minutes to go to pip Canada 19-17 while New Zealand overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat France 19-17.
South Africa's bid to win Hong Kong for the first time suffered a setback when they lost to four-time champions England 21-14 in the last match of the day, with the field worryingly cut up with still two days to go.
Australia railroaded Argentina 28-0 while Kenya ran over Samoa 24-0.
Fiji, the Sevens World Series leaders, scored first against Canada through Savenaca Rawaca but after Masivesi Dakuwaqa was yellow-carded for an illegal push, Canada immediately hit back with tries for John Moonlight and Sean White.
Moonlight's second pushed Canada 12 points ahead and they looked like holding on until Justin Douglas and Harry Jones were yellow-carded in the last two minutes.
With seconds to go, Semi Kunatani exposed the outmanned defence to score between the posts, giving Osea Kolinisau the comfortable match-winning conversion.
France crossed three times through Julien Candelon, Six Nations star Viri Vakatawa and Jonathan Laugel before New Zealand woke up and hit back with a relieving try to Tim Mikkelson on half-time, with Kurt Baker and match-winner Mikkelson crossing in the second period.
England hadn't impressed in their last three legs but answered its large expatriate support in Hong Kong with a rousing win over South Africa.
Dan Norton caught a lucky bounce from the restart for his first try and then caught his own up-and-under before being held back on the line and earning a penalty try for 21-7.
South Africa could puncture the England defence only once more, and fluffed a late chance when a lineout went awry.
"The boys were pumped for tonight, there is no place like Hong Kong for us," said England's James Rodwell.
The United States, Wales, and Scotland were also first-day winners.
Live HSBC Sevens World Series
Watch day two of the Hong Kong Sevens live on Sky Sports, starting at 4.15am on Sky Sports 3 HD
