Sunday 12th February 2006

Mike Friday, England Sevens Coach said:
"I am incredibly proud of all of the players, particularly the new caps. David Strettle proved himself to be an incredible finisher and I am sure he will be at a premiership club next year. Young Danny Care of Leeds Tykes has been excellent in everything he has done and this will be the biggest thing he has won, and will prove a great learning curve for him.  And Dave Seymour of Saracens has a fantastic work ethic both with the ball and without it.  He is excellent at the break down and will only get better the more he plays.  Now the players need to learn to have consistency in everything they do so we can win this series. We have closed the gap between us and Fiji, but there is still a long way to go. Next time we play in the IRB Sevens there are double points on offer though in Hong Kong so we will focus on that.  It has been an extremely difficult week and everyone has been affected by it. I would like to thank the back room staff who have been fantastic this week.  It has been an education process for us all and everyone of us has learned from it."
 
Mathew Tait of Newcastle Falcons said,
"This feeling is awesome. The semi final set the tone really and we played well against a strong South Africa team.  We knew where we wanted to be and went out there and got it with a big score. Fiji had a relatively easy route until the semis and our defence played well to keep them out in the final. Luke Narraway was outstanding on the restarts. Henry Paul was a great skipper - different to Simon Amor who is himself an incredible captain and was missed this week. I hope Simon is proud that we won. This win did make up for the loss last week when we let ourselves down.  I am really pleased that we are still in contention for the series."
 
Henry Paul of Gloucester who captained the side said,
"This is the first time I have ever captained a team and I am thrilled for everyone involved that we won. It wasn't really a case of me being captain as every single player led the side out there tonight. Everyone gave everything. I can't really single any one player out as everyone was brilliant, but if I had to praise one player it would be Andy Vilk who would be my man of the match. I am so proud of all the boys. Tonight wasn't about Fiji or South Africa.  It was about us and concentrating on what we can do. We played our game this week and it felt good. The coaching this week has been very focused and quite specialised and has worked. Even if we had lost tonight it would have been a success of kinds as this tournament has proved that this squad is starting to come together and do what we know we can do."
 
Assistant Coach Phil Greening said,
 "I am massively proud of the squad. I was confident that we could win this and confidence is contagious and there was a good feeling going into the final.  We got an immense confidence boost from our win over South Africa in the semi finals, and if you look at our record tonight - we scored 76 points in the last two matches, and only conceded 5.  That shows how good our defence is and defence can win tournaments, as it did tonight.  I thought Dave Seymour had an outstanding tournament, and David Strettle has really shown the world what he can do on the field. Danny was very impressive throughout the two weeks and I am really pleased with how the whole squad have bonded.  It was a special win for me, with it being the anniversary of Nick's death and I hope he was watching us and am pleased that Dan (Luger, who was close friends with Nick) came onto the field.  
Mike (Friday) and I now have the very difficult task of choosing the squad for the Commonwealth Games. It is not a decision I am looking forward to making as so many players have shown what talent they have and that they deserve selection."
 
Nils Mordt of London Irish said,
"I feel ecstatic, this is unreal and the best feeling in the world. The win in Dubai was different to this one as there was a much smaller crowd here today but there was still some good support for England which helped us tonight.  Its the first time England have ever won here so it feels special to be involved. We knew that we could win here, especially after last week. We have a very close knit feeling within the squad and thats what helped us win.  Every player gave 110% on the pitch today."
 
Luke Narraway of Gloucester, who has started every single one of the 23 matches since his first cap in Dubai, said,
"Its an awesome feeling.  Perhaps even bettre than Dubai felt as it comes off the back of the loss last week. I am really pleased for the three new caps who were all brilliant. I am looking forward to having a good night tonight and enjoying the winning feeling.  We know we are still a way off Fiji in the table but this win, and the Plate win last week will help that.  I really hope I have done enough to earn selection for the Commonwealth Games. But everyone has played so well this week that it will be tough and its down to the coaches. I can't do anymore except wait."
 
Dave Seymour of Saracens said
"Its an amazing feeling and I have really enjoyed playing with the England Sevens squad. It was so good to beat Fiji when they are ahead of us in the IRB Sevens table. I can't really ask for more - I won my first cap on this tour and won the Plate last week and the main Cup competition this week. You don't often get to experience winning on a tour so this is something I will remember. I feel very lucky to be here and am so happy that I was involved.  The defence really stuck together tonight and other than a slightly sore head I am fine!  Please tell any Saracen's fans that apart from a headache I am fine - the hair is in tact and I will be back on Tuesday!  It was good to get a win under my belt and I am pleased with my own personal performance but I know there are so many players who are all trying to earn selection for the Commonwealth Games that I can't worry too much about it."
 
Andy Vilk of Northampton Saints, who captain Henry Paul said would have been his man of the match said,
"I am thrilled that we won but am feeling quite reflective now, thinking about what we have achieved. It was a hard week emotionally and physically but we were all geared up for this win and I am so happy we did it. This team was so full of belief and we played to our pattern. I don't think we could have played any better."
 
Ollie Phillips of Newcaste Falcons said,
"Its awesome to have been involved in the win.  Of course I was gutted not to get on in the final but I was massively pleased for the team. We have never won here so its a great achievement. I was particularly proud of my Falcons team mate Mathew Tait who proved once again that he is an incredible player. He is a real big match player and was awesome today.  He scored two blinding tries against South Africa and then it was pretty much the Tait Ryder show in the final and Taity came out easily on top.  I am looking forward to enjoying a few beers with the boys tonight before we fly home to our clubs tomorrow."
 
Danny Care of Leeds Tykes, who at 19 is the youngest in the squad said,
"It feels pretty awesome. This is the biggest thing I have ever won and ever been involved with.  It was hard coming here after the disappointment of last weekend, but we came back stronger and learned from it. To beat Fiji in the final was amazing.  I knew we had the ability to win here and everyone stepped up to the plate. The Fijians just couldn't handle us on the night.  The whole sevens experience for me has been quality. I really hope to be involved again soon."
 
Ends.