MELROSE CUP FINAL
WALES 19-12 ARGENTINA
Coach Paul John (WAL):
On being the first Wales coach to win a World Cup:
"It's brilliant, obviously. It is great for Wales but these boys have dug in deep this week and to win those games the way they have won, it has been fantastic and we are chuffed to bits for them."
On the team's tactics in the final:
"We played them yesterday. We talked about how to beat them tactically (but) we didn't play the way we wanted to. But we played some good Sevens out there. We kept the ball from them, we kept it from contact and we scored some tries, and that is what we didn't do against them in the first one."
Captain Lee Beach (WAL)
On captaining Wales to a World Cup victory:
"It's amazing. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. We have always said about going for a Cup final and it came at the right time - it's a World Cup final. I guess it will take a while to sink in. I just don't know what to say. We are over the moon."
On the Welsh game plan:
"When we played them in the pool game we went away from our game plan and so we said, look, we have got to go into this game with our game plan and luckily we went well and it is a big win for us."
On the support the team received:
"It's unbelievable. There are so many England supporters cheering for us. It is just amazing. I can't describe it."
Aled Thomas (WAL)
On the effort the team put in:
"It's unbelievable, it's really hard to explain. A massive effort. The contact area was awesome. We had a massive day and I guess I was just lucky to be on the end of something awesome there."
On the huge support in the stands for Wales:
"I have to say it is absolutely amazing. It's like you say, a home from home. It probably helped that England got knocked out and (their fans) jumped on our bandwagon but we'll take that. We are champions."
On the self-belief in the team:
"We came into the tournament off the back of a good tournament down in Wellington and we knew down there that we could upset a few teams. We just came down here full blooded. We just want to hurt people and then (show) cool heads on the ball."
Richie Pugh (WAL)
On how it feels to be a world champion:
“If feels unbelievable. Who would have thought a week ago that we could win it. Who would have ever thought we would be saying that. It was such a huge effort by the boys defensively. We put everything physically into the tackle today.”
On the plan to beat Argentina:
“We knew that they would throw everything in at the contact area and we felt that if we concentrated on that and retained the ball, then the intensity would be hard for them to cope with. That’s what we did against New Zealand and Samoa. We just got the ball at such a pace and they couldn’t keep up and now we are world champions.
"We knew that if we played at a pace they couldn't cope with we would force the mistakes and we backed ourselves to retain the ball, and, well, we won the World Cup."
On whether this win would raise the profile of Sevens in Wales:
“It definitely will raise the profile. Half the nation wouldn’t know that we are in the World Cup but they will know now because we are world champions.
“Get (Sevens) in the Olympics. It’s an awesome sport. It’s been brilliant here in Dubai.”
Santiago Gomez Cora (ARG)
On losing the Melrose Cup final:
“At the moment I’m gutted. We couldn’t get the momentum in the final. But fair play to Wales, they took their chances and deserved to win.”
On the support for Argentina in Dubai:
“The support we have had during this tournament has been fantastic. I’m sorry we couldn’t win it for our fans, but we gave it everything we had.”
Pablo Gomez Cora (ARG)
On where Argentina lost the final:
“I think we struggled with our legs in the final. But we have to give credit to Wales. They played a great game. Their defence was strong and they deserved to win. They were perhaps a little fresher than we were and they took the initiative.”
On the positives from the tournament:
“This was the same team that won the tournament in San Diego two weeks ago. We’re made up of students, lawyers, doctors, amateurs who represent their clubs. It’s a good reflection on Argentinean rugby that a group like us can make it to the final of a World Cup.
“We’re proud to be the first Argentina team to make it to a World Cup final."
CUP SEMI FINALS
ARGENTINA 12-0 KENYA
Martin Bustos Moyano (ARG)
On the importance of defence against Kenya:
“We knew that if we kept our shape and really pressurised them we would have a good chance of keeping them scoreless.”
On whether the Melrose Cup final will be the biggest game of his life:
“Yes it is. I’ve never played in a World Cup and it’s a very difficult emotion to explain at the moment.”
On having already played Wales in the tournament:
“I think it gives us a better idea of the way Wales will play. They’re going to be very tough, they’re not in the final by luck so it’s going to be hard but we’re looking forward to it.”
Coach Benjamin Ayimba (KEN)
On his side’s Cup semi final exit at the hands of Argentina:
“I am a bit disappointed with how we played. We didn’t take our chances and of course Argentina were rushing us so we didn’t have much time on the ball at the breakdown. We didn’t get much clear ball and that was tough and it made it hard for us to express ourselves in attack.
“We still have to deal with the limited opportunities that these guys get with having to work or go to school and this is something we will have to review and try and change. It is a shame that rugby in Kenya is not professional because that would make things easier.”
On the Kenyan supporters in the crowd:
“They have been great. Most of them have travelled a long distance from the Americas and from back home so we appreciate their support because it has helped us very much.”
On the message the tournament gives for the Olympic campaign:
“The atmosphere here is definitely proof that Sevens can become an Olympic sport. It is also a sign of the fact that anyone can win this competition as was seen in the Cup quarter finals today. That is something that helps the campaign to make Sevens an Olympic sport and it is a sign of the growing strength of the lesser nations.”
WALES 19-12 SAMOA
Tom Isaacs (WAL)
On what it feels like to have made a World Cup final:
"I don't think it has sunk in yet. It's unbelievable. We have worked so hard the last few months and credit to the coaches and all, but we deserve this and are just really happy to be here."
On the achievement of the Welsh team:
"We knew we have a strong squad and each of the 12 boys involved have played a huge part in every game. We have got depth coming in off the bench."
On whether he can score the winning try in the final:
"I hope so, fingers crossed."
Coach Rudi Moors (SAM)
On losing to Wales and his team’s efforts throughout the tournament:
“Well I am obviously disappointed but the boys tried their best out there. We had a lot of opportunities and we didn’t use them and now it’s over.
“We probably left it a little bit too late in the end but we had some really good field positions which we didn’t make the most of. They did their best and I am very pleased that we made it to the Cup semi final.”
CUP QUARTER FINALS
KENYA 26-7 FIJI
Coach Benjamin Ayimba (KEN)
On beating the defending world champions:
"What I said two years back was being laughed at. The second-tier nations are definitely coming up. We're in the semi finals now. It is really encouraging for us."
On their vocal supporters:
"They've done well to travel from all over the world. Most of them have travelled from Kenya. They are quite noisy which is really good for us."
Apolosi Satala (FIJ)
On the shock defeat:
"They put it in and it shows how Kenya want to win. That was the difference between wanting to win and performing. I think we gave it our all but Kenya stretched us to the limit so good luck to them. I hope they go back to Kenya with the World Cup."
SOUTH AFRICA 12-14 ARGENTINA
Dino Tomas Caceres (ARG)
On how Argentina recovered from a half-time deficit to defeat South Africa:
“We’ve been training together since last year. We were 14-0 down at half time but we didn’t panic. We knew we could turn it around and thankfully we managed to do it right at the end of the second half."
On making it to the Melrose Cup semi finals:
“It’s a dream that we have had since Thursday when we began this tournament. We battled through our first match, then our second and now the third. We’re getting better with each game. And now we’re going to try our best to win the semi final.”
ENGLAND 26-31 SAMOA
Coach Rudi Moors (SAM)
On the extra-time win:
"Well done to my boys, they fought back in the last minute. I was shocked but I think the boys believed in themselves. It is all about self-confidence."
On his heart rate after some animated jumps on the sideline:
"It's back to normal."
Coach Ben Ryan (ENG)
On the disappointment of losing in the Cup quarter final:
"I can't put it into words, I don't believe it has happened. It is a pretty bitter pill to swallow and you know I am still pretty young in my coaching career but that is certainly the most disappointing moment to date.
"I am hugely disappointed for the players because this was a World Cup-winning side that we had got together and they showed that last night and they showed it up until extra time when we came roaring back into it, when we just made a couple of the wrong decisions."
On what changed in extra time:
"We didn't hold on to the ball. Extra time is all about holding on to the ball and making sure that we create an opportunity and don't force things - there is no need to.
"Once you have got the ball in extra time, defensive sides are panicking and you have just got to hold on to the ball. That was the message that went on but we kicked the ball away twice and made a couple of other poor decisions and thinking clearly under pressure is what wins you trophies or loses you competitions."
On his understanding of what happened with Ben Gollings when Samoa scored at the end:
"The referee was telling him he was offside there, so he was obviously thinking I can't play the ball, which would have resulted in a penalty in front of the posts, which I am sure they would have converted with a drop goal and he was left with a decision that he didn't really have an opportunity to make or not to make, and whether he was onside or offside, the referee had told him that, so he had no other option."
On how he as a coach can pick his team up:
"It is pretty hard, they are really down. It is harder I think when you have a group of good players who absolutely believe they are going to win this trophy - and we weren't just having a little potshot at this, this was a concerted effort over the last year-and-a-half really and we always felt we were good enough to win.
"All we can do now is make sure we hammer everyone in Hong Kong and go on and win the World Series and get something out of this season."
Chris Cracknell (ENG)
On the defeat by Samoa:
"We just let them come at us in the first half. We should have stood up to them but we let them run and let them win the ball. Then we did well, we kept hold of the ball, but a few silly errors in that last quarter might have just cost us."
NEW ZEALAND 14-15 WALES
Tom Isaacs (WAL)
On how he felt scoring the winning try:
"Unbelieveable. I couldn't believe what happened. We knew we had to keep our composure and try to regain the kick off after we scored. The ball went to them but we defended well and fair play to the boys - we stuck at it for the 14 minutes."
On what coach Paul John said to the team at half time:
"Just to keep things up. We knew we could get stuck into New Zealand - we showed that in Wellington."
Coach Gordon Tietjens (NZL)
On the shock defeat:
"Obviously we're disappointed. We had a couple of errors and didn't take a couple of opportunities, which has really cost us. But you have to credit Wales. They put us under a lot of pressure."
On their approach in the second half:
"We broke back and scored to put us in front but you're never safe in Sevens. Then we looked like we'd clinch it with a try and the ball just bounced free out of the players' hands and if you don't take those opportunies you're going to struggle."
On the level of disappointment in the squad:
"Of course you're despondent because the World Cup only comes around every four years. We've had it pretty hard injury wise, we've been smashed around, but that's to be no excuse. I thought we had a team to be really competitive here."
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