Favourites Japan and Kazakhstan are through the men’s and women’s semi-finals respectively after the first day of play at the Asia regional RWC Sevens qualifiers in Hong Kong.
Japan, the reigning Asian Games champions, cruised past Kazakhstan and Thailand without conceding a point to claim top spot in Pool A and advance to Sunday’s semi-finals where they will meet Pool D winners China.
China struggle into the semi-finals
China, who were favourites to progress from Pool D, opened with a 33-7 victory over Guam, but were given something to think about when unfancied Malaysia posted an impressive 38-5 victory over Guam, setting up the winner-takes-all clash against China. Few would have given the Malaysians a chance before the tournament and even coming into the match, the odds were stacked in favour of the China team.
Yet Malaysia, demonstrating the strides that they have made on the Sevens circuit, took the game to China and produced an impressive attacking performance before finally running out of steam against a more experienced China side to lose 19-12 and finish a creditable second in the pool.
Chinese Taipei in shock win
The other half of the draw was just as competitive. Chinese Taipei caused the upset of the day by advancing to the semi finals with a 21- 7 victory over a heavily favoured Korea in the Pool B decider. Korea had started favourites and opened in impressive style, opening with a 33-7 victory over Singapore, while Chinese Taipei defeated the same opposition 38-5 indicating their form.
The decider was a tough affair, but Korea were eliminated from qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens for the first time in RWC Sevens history since the inaugural gathering of the sevens clans in Edinburgh in 1993 as Chinese Taipei dominated the decisive match.
Hong Kong in cruise control at home
Pool C was dominated by Hong Kong. Having started with a routine 52-0 victory over India, the home side met Sri Lanka in the pool decider and ran out comfortable 31-7 winners to set up a semi-final clash with Chinese Taipei.
Victories for any of the four team’s in tomorrow’s semi-finals will secure their places at the Rugby World Cup Sevens next march in Dubai as the top two finishing teams from this weekend’s Qualifier will join the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, the host union of the Rugby World Cup Sevens, as the three Asian teams competing for the world title next March
Kazakhstan women impressive
In the women’s competition, the favourites Kazakhstan and China advanced to the semi-finals of the nine-team, three pool Women’s competition.
Kazakhstan progressed past pool mates Hong Kong and Singapore, 10 – 5 and 20 – 0, while China breezed through its pool competition beating Arabian Gulf 52 – 7 and Sri Lanka 40 – 0.
In Pool C, Thailand upset the form book by beating top seeds Japan in a thrilling encounter 12 – 10 with Japan’s conversion of a last second try hitting the post.
Kazakhstan will play Japan, who finished as the best second placed team overall in today’s pool play, at 12.34 Hong Kong time tomorrow. The other semi-final sees Thailand play China at 12.56 Hong Kong time.
The top three finishers in the women’s competition will go through as Asia’s representatives to the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens for women’s rugby.
Asia RWC Sevens 2009 Qualifier Results - Day 1
Women
Pool C Japan 27 V Chi Taipei 0
Pool B China 40 V Sri Lanka 0
Pool A Kazahstan 20 V Singapore 0
Men
Pool D China 33 V Guam 7
Pool A Japan 41 V Thailand 0
Pool B Korea 33 V Singapore 7
Pool C Hong Kong 52 V India 0
Women
Pool C Thailand 24 V Chi Taipei 5
Pool B Arabian Gulf 27 V Sri Lanka 17
Pool A Hong Kong 12 V Singapore 5
Men
Pool D Malaysia 38 V Guam 5
Pool A Kazahstan 0 V Thailand 24
Pool B Chinese Taipei 38 V Singapore 5
Pool C Sri Lanka 49 V India 7
Women
Pool C Japan 10 V Thailand 12
Pool B China 52 V Arabian Gulf 7
Pool A Kazahstan 10 V Hong Kong 5
Men
Pool D China 19 V Malaysia 12
Pool A Japan 31 V Kazahstan 0
Pool B Korea 7 V Chi Taipei 21
Pool C Hong Kong 31 V Sri Lanka 7
