Sydney Sevens Day One: As it happened

Fri, Jan 27, 2023, 9:05 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Sydney Sevens Tournament Breakdown

The wait is finally over as the Sevens circuit returns to Sydney after three long years.

The Australians started with a 28-12 win over Brazil, finishing day one with a clash against Spain

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As for the Men, they showed their toughness to come away with the 12-7 win over Great Britain.

8:04 - Australia 46-0 Spain

Australia has cruised to a 46-0 win over Spain.

Maddison Levi finished with four and Faith Nathan crossed for a double as the World Series champions defied the wet conditions for the win.

Read more about the performance here

7:55 - Ireland 26-12 Brazil

Ireland have delivered a comprehensive 26-12 win over Brazil.

Tries to Lucy Mulhall and Eve Higgins gave the Irish a 14-0 lead at the break.

Whilst Thaila Costa hit back for Brazil with a double, a late burst from Natasja Behan sealed the victory for Ireland.

7:25 - New Zealand 29-14 France

New Zealand have gone to the top of Pool A with a 29-14 win over France

Stacey Fluhler continues her dream 12 months with a double as the Kiwis came through the stern challenge with flying colours.

Young gun Jorja Miller sealed the win with a length-of-the-field effort for New Zealand

7:00 - Japan 55-0 Papua New Guinea

Japan have recorded a thumping 55-0 victory over PNG.

Hana Nagata scored 20 points as the Japanese cruised away with the game in the first.

PNG were reduced to six after an ugly high tackle, allowing Japan to bring up the half-century and significantly improve their for and against.

6:20 - Fiji 17-14 USA

Fiji claims the biggest upset of the day so far, holding on for a 17-14 win over USA.

Ana Maria Naimasi stunned the Hamilton finalists with a double as they took a commanding lead.

As the Americans got back into the contest, the Fijians, bolstered by a passionate pocket of fans, found a way to get the game-winning turnover to seal the win.

5:55 - Great Britain 19-5 Canada

Great Britain continue their strong start to Sydney with a 19-5 victory over Canada.

Tries to Jade Shekells and Heather Cowell set the tempo early as they took a 14-0 lead into the break.

Grace Crompton's ninth try of the 2022-23 World Series sealed the win as they go to the top of Pool B

5:30 - A reminder of the fixtures left for today
Friday Women's Schedule 2
5:20 - Argentina 24 - 19 Canada

Argentina have scored three late tries to escape with the 24-19 win over Canada.

Canada looked to have claimed an incredible upset when they took the 19-5 lead with minutes remaining.

However, a quick-fired Rodrigo Isgro double levelled it up as Marcos Moneta dived over for the winner.

4:55 - Australia 12 - 7 Great Britain

Australia has hung on for a 12-7 win over Great Britain.

Henry Paterson scored the winner as an inspired defensive performance saw the hosts hang on.

Read more about the performance here

4:30 - France 19-17 Japan

France have produced an incredible comeback to avoid a stunning upset to Japan, coming away with the 19-17 victory.

The Japanese raced out to a 17-0 lead at the break thanks to a Taiga Ishida double.

Rayan Rebbadj proved the hero, scoring twice before William Iraguha scored the winner with two minutes to go

4:10 - Fiji 52-7 Tonga

Fiji produces a statement win, thumping Tonga 52-7 to send a message to the rest of the competition.

Manueli Maisamoa was electric, crossing for a double and setting up another with a freak offload.

Not even a red card to Jeremaia Matana could slow them down as a Pilipo Bukayaro double powered them to victory

3:45 - New Zealand 45-7 Uruguay

The All Black Sevens have rebounded from their Hamilton Final defeat with a 45-7 win over Uruguay.

18-year-old Payton Spencer, son of legendary All Black Carlos impressed on his debut, crossing for a double.

The Kiwis controlled the contest and were never really in danger, scoring at will to get their tournament off to a positive start.

3:25 - South Africa 31-5 Kenya

The Blitzboks cruised to a 31-5 victory over Kenya.

Young gun Shilton van Wyk continues his fast start to the tournament, scoring a first-half double as they took a 21-0 lead into the break.

From here, they couldn't be caught as a late diving effort from Siviwe Soyizwapi sealed the win.

Read more about the performance here

3:05 - USA 33-14 Spain

A double to Malacchi Esdale has powered the USA to a 33-14 win over Spain.

Esdale opened the scoring in the first minute before his second gave the Americans a 14-7 lead at the break.

Three tries in four minutes put the result out of question for the USA.

2:43 - Samoa 17 - Ireland 12

A last-minute try to Motu Opetai has given Samoa a 17-12 win over Ireland.

After missing the knockouts in Hamilton, the tough run for the Samoans looked to continue when Jordan Conroy crossed for a quick double.

However, the Cape Town champions held tough and Opetai's late burst delighted the Samoan fans in the stand as they came away with the win

2:00 - Opening pool matches finished

No real surprises from the opening matches of the women's tournaments, with Ireland and USA surviving significant scares from Spain and Canada respectively.

New Zealand looked dominant after PNG whilst the Australians showed their nerves against a valiant Brazil outfit.

Onto the Men, with Samoa opening against Ireland.

That alongside Fiji v Tonga are the pick of the games as the Men start their tournament

1:50 - Australia 28 - 12 Brazil

Australia has started their tournament with a 28-12 win over Brazil.

A double to Bienne Terita helped seal the result against a gutsy Brazilian outfit.

Read more about the performance here

1:45 - Ireland 14-12 Spain

Ireland have just survived being the first upset of the day, holding on to defeat Spain 14-12.

Tries to Amaia Erbina and María García had the Spanish on the verge of a major upset.

However, a late burst from Emily Lane was just enough for the Irish to find the line and come away with the victory

1:20 - New Zealand 48-0 Papua New Guinea

A dominant display from New Zealand, thumping PNG 48-0.

The invitational team had no answer for the World Series leaders, with Tyla Nathan-Wong crossing for a double.

The Kiwis shared the scoring around with seven different try-scorers in the convincing victory.

1:00 - France 24-5 Japan

France have cruised to victory over Japan 24-5.

Séraphine Okemba scored a quick double as they built an early 12-0 lead at the break.

A late try to Japan made the score-line closer than the contest actually was as the French start Sydney strong.

12:40 - USA 14 - 12 Canada

The USA have survived a major scare, holding on for a 14-12 win over Canada.

Sydney brings the best out of the Canadians and they started strong through Pamphinette Buisa before a pair of USA tries to Kristi Kirshe and Cheta Emba put last week's finalists in front.

A yellow card to Ilona Maher opened the door for Alysha Corrigan, with the Americans hanging on in the final seconds for the victory

12:20: Great Britain 17 - 7 Fiji

The first match of the day is done with Great Britain taking the 17-7 win over Fiji.

The Fijians started strong via Ana Maria Naimasi to take a 5-0 lead into the break.

However, the speed of GB proved too strong as the injection of Jasmine Joyce changed the game.

Joyce set the first one up, stopped by a desperate grab before sprinting away to score the second.

Emma Uren completed the win with a try just before the siren, huge for their finals hopes in a competitive Pool B

11:40 am - Sevens Program

Given it's been years between tournaments in Sydney, why not check out the official Sydney Sevens Program?

It features all the details you need for the event, including a sit down chat with Dietrich Roache about how he went from a fan to a Sevens superstar along with the Levi sisters talking about their journey.

It will also have an updated schedule and results day by day as we head through the tournament.

11:20 am - Schedule for today

Day one is packed full of pool games as we get underway in Sydney.

For Australian fans, 1:50 pm AEDT is the first game for the Women, whilst the Men won't take the field until 4:34 pm.

The Women will kick off the proceedings, with USA v Canada the standout of the earlier games at 12:22 pm.

Check out the full schedule for day one below

Friday Women's Pool Schedule
Friday Men's Schedule 1
Friday Women's Schedule 2
11:00 am - Welcome home

After three long years, the Sevens have finally returned to the Harbour city.

Great Britain's Women's side will kick off the day against Fiji, who will no doubt have plenty of supporters in the crowd

Cloudy conditions greet them at Allianz Stadium, with rain threatening across the day.

Fortunately, won't be as hot as 2020 at CommBank Stadium when on-field temperatures reached in excess of 50 degrees.

Check below for all the details for the Australian teams.

Australian Sevens Squads for Sydney

Women

Charlotte Caslick (Co-captain)

Demi Hayes (Co-captain)

Madison Ashby

Lily Dick

Dominique Du Toit

Tia Hinds

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea

Maddison Levi

Teagan Levi

Faith Nathan

Sariah Paki

Bienne Terita

Sharni Williams

Men's

Henry Hutchison

Stu Dunbar

Dietrich Roache

Tim Clements

Henry Paterson

Josh Turner

Dally Bird

Maurice Longbottom

Nathan Lawson

James Turner

Ben Marr

Simon Kennewell

Darby Lancaster

Australian Sevens Sydney Schedule

*All times AEDT

Women

Friday, January 27

Australia Women v Brazil Women, 1:50 pm

Australia Women v Spain Women, 8:03 pm

Saturday, January 28

Australia Women v Ireland Women, 1:56 pm

Men

Friday, January 27

Australia Men v Great Britain Men, 4:34 pm

Saturday, January 28

Australia Men v Canada Men, 11:12 am

Australia Men v Ireland Men, 5:17 pm

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