England showed their true potential soon in the second half with a great piece of patient play from a line out which led to a second try for Shabbo.    With the scores level England struggled to get possession back off South Africa but then Mokuena was sin binned for obstruction.  England were unable to capitalise on the advantage and South Africa scored again (a second for Bobo). 

As soon as the Springboks were back up to seven men, another got sin binned (Mbiyozo).  But by then time was running out for England and despite a last chance for Charlie Amesbury he slipped and that was it for England.

Captain Simon Amor said, “The boys are obviously disappointed with the result, but feel they have learned a great deal from the experience.  Unfortunately this is the nature of international sevens and we all have to handle the losses as well as the wins.  Now our focus must switch to Hong Kong and retaining our title there.”

Dominic Shabbo (London Irish) said, “We are gutted at the moment with the loss but we are only half way through the series and still have four tournaments to put it right.  I still enjoyed playing with the boys, but didn’t enjoy the result.”

England next play in the IRB Sevens in Hong Kong on 31^st March.

England –

Tries: Shabbo (2)

Conversions: Amor (2)

South Africa –

Tries: Bobo (2), Stick

Conversions: Stick (3)

England: Simon Amor, captain (London Wasps), Danny Gray (Bristol Rugby), Nils Mordt (London Irish), Anthony Roques (Exeter Chiefs), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins) Dominic Shabbo (London Irish)

Not used: Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Rob Thirlby (Redruth / Gloucester), John Brake (Northampton Saints), Mark Foster (Gloucester), David Smith (Northampton Saints).

South Africa: From – Gcobani Bobo, Howard Noble, Mpho Mbiyozo, Jandre Blom, Renfred Dazel, Schalk van der Merwe, Jonathan Mokuena, Antonius Verhoeven, Ryno Benjamin, Mzwandile Stick, Marius Schoeman, Grant Rees

Referee: P Smith (CAN)

Ends.

Earlier....

Sunday 11^th February 2007

England 7

New Zealand 19

It was a case of history repeating itself two weeks running today as New Zealand overcame England and knocked them out of the Cup tournament in the USA Sevens.  England now face an extremely tough route to a valuable eight points with South Africa in the Plate Semi Final.

England had good early possession but a couple of errors gave New Zealand the opportunity they needed.  A great tackle by Redruth and Gloucester winger Rob Thirlby as the kiwis almost scored early in the game illustrated England’s strong defence, but a subsequent tackle on Thirlby led to an injury which forced him from the field.   It was a heated match with tension on both sides and with four minutes gone there was still no score.

Tomasi Cama managed to break free of England’s defence and score but they were unable to convert meaning they led by just five points at the break.

Dominic Shabbo (London Irish) replaced Michael Hills at half time but Steve Yates soon widened the gap for the kiwis.  England retaliated with their first try set up thanks to a thrilling run from Shabbo and finished off by 20 year old Charlie Amesbury from NEC Harlequins. 

It looked as if England would claw back the victory but as the clock ticked down Cama scored his second of the match meaning the gap was just too wide for the time remaining.

Speaking after the match England Sevens Coach Ben Ryan admitted his team were gutted, “We are all bitterly disappointed as we thought we had enough left in our tank to beat them today.  We were only five nil down at half time but we just didn’t manage it. We are playing really well in parts but haven’t yet managed to string together a full 14 minutes of good enough play.  You could name a number of external excuses but we are not going to dwell on those.  We just didn’t perform as well as we know we can.”

Winning the Plate will provide England with a valuable eight points in the IRB Series table, but they must first overcome South Africa who have already beaten them twice this season.  Ryan said, “South Africa will be desperate for those points as well having lost last week.  Their game against Fiji in the quarter finals earlier was tough and they will be hurting.  Whereas our route to the Plate final was fairly straightforward last week this will be a much tougher ask.  The boys must pick themselves up and get on with this next job.”

England face South Africa in the Plate Semi Final at 14.24 (22.34 GMT).

England –

Tries: Amesbury

Conversions: Amor

New Zealand –

Tries: Cama (2), Yates

Conversions: Raikabula, Hunt

England: Simon Amor, captain (London Wasps), Danny Gray (Bristol Rugby), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Nils Mordt (London Irish), Anthony Roques (Exeter Chiefs), Rob Thirlby (Redruth / Gloucester), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks)

Reps: Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins) Dominic Shabbo (London Irish)

Not used:John Brake (Northampton Saints), Mark Foster (Gloucester), David Smith (Northampton Saints).

New Zealand: From – Edwin Cocker, Steven Yates, Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama, Tafai Ioasa, Alfred Pelenise, Zar Lawrence, Soloman King, Scott Waldrom, Nick Thomson, Nigel Hunt, Charles Baxter

Referee: G Lloyd Jones (SA)

Ends.