PLATE FINAL
AUSTRALIA 17-21 SCOTLAND
Coach Stephen Gemmell (SCO)
On his team's victory in the Plate final:
“After Thursday night and Friday we spoke about the disappointment of not making the quarter finals and we agreed that we couldn’t deal with anything that has happened in the past and had to concentrate on what is ahead of us.
"They have done that incredibly well. We set a benchmark against South Africa and we have kept that up for the last three games. It’s not going to make up for the disappointment of not making the quarters but the highest we could finish was ninth and we have done that. We looked at today and thought that we were in a new group of eight teams and we want to finish first in that and again we did.”
On what he said to the players after their defeat by Canada in their first pool match:
“I didn’t do a massive amount because the hard work had been done and I am the motivator, so I maybe did a bit of that. Against Canada some of the players waited for others to lead but hopefully now we have repaid some of the faith that has been shown in us. We played three quality sides today and we have stood up well against them all.
"The players have put an incredible amount of effort in and the credit goes to them. Me and my staff are simply here to help create the right atmosphere."
On the atmosphere at 'The Sevens':
“It’s unbelievable out there. To play in one of the last finals here at a World Cup will live with me forever. It would have been hugely disappointing not to win it but we have done it and the place was jumping. What a day of shocks we have seen today and I’m sure the final will be great.”
On the possible inclusion of Sevens at the Olympics:
“Anybody who says Sevens shouldn’t be an Olympic sport just needs to look at the atmosphere out there and look at all of the games that have gone on today. All the finals and semis have been great. Rugby deserves a place at the top table of the Olympics and I’m hopeful that everybody who was here watching tonight will have seen that and will make the right decision. It’s a sport that captivates the worldwide audience and that means it should be in.”
Captain Damon Murphy (AUS)
On how they are feeling:
"Not too bad. They played a good game, they held on to the ball, controlled it well and that is how you win Sevens games. So full credit to them."
On how the team can develop:
"A lot of the guys were at at their fifth tournament so we are getting better and better. To make a Plate final is a good effort from the boys. We have just got to get used to playing Sevens like all the other top teams. They all play in the top games because they all stick together for a couple of years. If we can get that going, it will help us out a bit."
On the atmosphere at 'The Sevens':
"It's pretty good. Every time you come to Dubai they always produce a good crowd. It's a nice place, it's a good torunament, it's well done."
PLATE SEMI FINALS
SCOTLAND 29-7 PORTUGAL
Coach Tomaz Morais (POR)
On his team's defeat by Scotland:
"We played very, very badly. It was a good rugby lesson. We had no reactive players on the field, probably because we played 15-a-side during February and our legs are not in Sevens mode. (But) that is OK. Coming here was a good experience and we'll be back in the future."
TONGA 19-22 AUSTRALIA
Coach Michael O'Connor (AUS)
On the Plate final being a consolation for missing out on the Cup and Bowl draws:
"We've got a young side. It's only their fifth tournament together so they're still learning. We've lost a few games on the bell so it's good to win one finally."
On whether he thought his team had lost the match when they were still behind after the siren:
"I did actually. I must admit I thought we'd lost it. We were in a lot of trouble down there (defending their own try line) but they showed a lot of ticker and I'm really proud of them."
PLATE QUARTER FINALS
PORTUGAL 12-5 CANADA
David Mateus (POR)
On scoring the winning try against Canada:
"I felt great. I didn't play much in the game, I just scored the last try. I just feel great for the team because we did better than the last World Cup."
On preparations for their Plate semi final against Scotland:
"We are going to rest, lay down in the locker room, legs up - just rest and then take our protein and analyse Scotland's game. Then when we see their weakest points, their stongest points, we will talk to each other, try to feel confident and try to win the game."
FRANCE 19-21 SCOTLAND
Captain Colin Gregor (SCO)
On the victory:
"It's obviously excellent to win. We are delighted that we got the win. (It was) similar (to the match) against France in San Diego and they scored with the last win of the game, so I think there was a wee bit of revenge there to keep them out. Obviously it was important that we did that because we don't want to be going home yet, with the crowd just building. We want to be playing in front of them."
On the team's sturdy defence:
"We have got to really put emphasis on that because it has let us down recently."
On shifting focus to the Plate semi final:
"It's about getting mentally switched on so we are ready at the start of the game. We don't wait to see what the opposition has, we are ready we go out and impose our game on them."
Captain Laurent Ferreres (FRA)
On the nail-biting defeat:
"We're very disappointed about the match because the Word Cup is finished now."
USA 14-24 AUSTRALIA
Luke Morahan (AUS)
On beating USA in the Plate quarter finals:
"It was a pretty tough game. It's pretty hot out here but I think it's a good sign - it's the best game we have played all tournament."
On scoring twice in the match:
"It's always good to get a couple of tries under your belt but I am just gald we won."
On the team's growing injury list:
"We have got a few shoulders, a knee, so not looking too good but we should be all right."
Coach Al Caravelli (USA)
On the defeat:
"We were really disappointed. Our team really didn't play up to their expectations in that game and we really didn't want to be playing for the Plate either, so to go out in the quarter finals of the Plate is disappointing. It's sad because some of the guys aren't going to be playing with the side any more."
On the positives to take away from their RWC Sevens 2009 experience:
"On a positive note for the development of American rugby, I can't remember a time the team had the chance to go into the Cup quarter final, so that shows the advancement of the programme."
On what cost them the match against Australia:
"With ball in hand we lost our patience and started throwing the ball away instead of controlling it."
TONGA 24-7 TUNISIA
Viliami Ma'afu (TGA)
On the victory:
"It felt good in the first half, I think we did well. In the second half we did not score any points so it was disappointing."
On their Plate semi final match with Australia:
"We just need to do the same things that we did in the first half of this game, so if we do that for the whole game then we should be all right."
On injuries in the squad:
"We believe in all the players that we have, we have depth. It's just disappointing that they get injured, but we have players that can step up."
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