Rugby Football Union - Sevens - England miss out to Fiji in final of Singapore Sevens

England miss out to Fiji in final of Singapore Sevens


	Mathew Tait in Sevens Action photo by Getty Images

Sunday 9th April 2006
England 21 Fiji 40
It was the end of a long and physically and emotionally demanding five weeks for the England Sevens squad, who were unable to beat Fiji in the final of the Singapore Sevens today. England may have taken the spoils at the last four meetings, but today, in high humidity and intense heat, it was Fiji's turn to take the victory, and the trophy. The win extends Fiji's lead to ten points in the IRB Sevens - but England still have a strong chance of winning their first ever IRB Sevens when the series finishes in Europe next month.

Speaking after the final, England Sevens Coach Mike Friday said, "For us that was simply a game too far. The conditions here are not an excuse but they are incredibly tough. I am so proud of the whole squad for the effort they put in, not just this weekend but over the past five weeks. It has been an amazing journey for them all and its just a real shame we couldn't have finished on a high. However, it makes the IRB Sevens series exciting as with just ten points between us and Fiji we know it will come right down to the wire at Twickenham in June. One of us will become the only team other than New Zealand to lift the IRB Sevens."

England try scorers in the final were Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints) and Ben Gollings. Gollings successfully converted two to give England 19 points.

Friday explains, "We struggled to get possession in the final and they deserved to win over the 20 minutes. We played well when we could get the ball but just didn't get enough ball in hand."

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).

The last two IRB Sevens tournaments are Paris (27th & 28th May) and London (3rd & 4th June).

Tickets to the Emirates Airline London Sevens are available from Ticketmaster on 0870 902 0000.

Earlier today...

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."

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