Sunday 9th April 2006
The England Sevens squad have successful progressed through to the final of the Singapore Sevens where they face old rivals Fiji for the third time in five weeks.  England hold the upper hand with four wins from the last four meetings, but as coach Mike Friday says, the warm and humid conditions will favour the islanders this time.

England 26 Australia 14 (quarter final)

England beat Australia in Singapore this morning 26-14.  Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers) scored a scorcher in the opening minute to put England in an early lead. Ben Gollings, captain Simon Amor (Gloucester) and Dave Seymour (Saracens) all joined Varndell on the score sheet.  Friday was impressed by his squad's performance, "We began well and took control of the match early on.  We still had a few lapses in concentration and there is still alot of work to do if we are going to win this tournament."

England 33 South Africa 14 (semi final)
England then went onto beat a determined South African side 33-14 to secure their place in the final against Fiji for a third successive IRB Sevens tournament.  Tries came from Ben Gollings (2), Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints), Simon Amor and Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons).  Henry Paul (Gloucester) successfully converted on and Gollings slotted three over to take England to a comfortable win.

Speaking after the semi, Friday said, "We made hard work of the win in places but it was still a satisfying victory.  Now we are preparing for the final which we know will be a massive ask of the boys. We know Fiji inside out and they know us inside out. They have been playing incredibly well and it is already a great achievement for the boys to have reached the final in these playing conditions.  Despite that, the squad are very fired up for this final and want to finish the five week journey they have been on with a win."

England face Fiji at 20.00 (1.00pm GMT) today.

England – Ben Gollings, Ben Russell (Saracens), Dan Luger, David Seymour (Saracens), Simon Amor, Captain (Gloucester), David Strettle (Rotherham), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers), Henry Paul (Gloucester), Nils Mordt, Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints).

Ends.