It was a great final, with no time left and the score at 24 Fiji, England 19. But, the game is not over until the fat lady sings, and the Poms sure know about this. Ben Gollings, easily the player of the tournament and the person with the most number of points in the history of the HK Sevens scored after a breathtaking 30 seconds of the ball changing hands seven times to score under the posts. Scores Fiji 24, England 24. The conversion was a mere footnote for Ben Gollings and England is champs again. South Africa played England in one Semi, whilst the Blacks played Fiji in the 2 nd semi.
Sri Lanka fared admirably well, and came in to the Bowl Semi Finals by beating the USA, only to loose to Chinese Taipei in the semi finals. However, something we could learn from the Kenyans is the stout art of defending. We do tend to feel our opponents, rather than tackle them. I also think that we do lack the explosive speed and a proper weight training schedule at a younger age could mean we could have those kinds of players in a few years.
Fast Facts: Nations with the most wins at the HK Sevens; Fiji 11, New Zealand 8, Australia 5, England 4 (all consecutive). The most devastating player to make a difference in the history of this tournament – Waisale Serevi, the Fijian Magician.
Whilst reading the airline magazine “Discovery” on Cathay, I came across an article called the “Lost Weekend” written by David Price, who was attending his 27 th HK Sevens. The article was on “Memories & Surviving the HK Sevens” and there was one anecdote that brought a smile to my lips. To quote “In contrast, there are some memories (fortunately, only a few), I still struggle to forget. On the opening day of the 1989 Sevens, I became embroiled in a difference of opinion with a chap sporting throwback 1970s sideburns. I suggested to him pointedly that he knew nothing about the game of rugby. He conceded that he didn’t know everything about Sevens rugby. “That’s obvious,” I said boorishly. Early next morning, a friend noted that J.P.R. Williams, the Welsh and British Lions rugby legend of the 70s, had obviously decided to sit somewhere else today. Suddenly, I felt an even bigger idiot than the guy in the shark skin suit who was trying to sit down in front me” – unquote. That’s what rugby was all about – fabulous comradeships, team work, a good battle on the field, a few good pints afterwards, and wonderful memories that cannot be replaced. I am sad to say that I am not too sure whether the game of rugby means the same to the current day player all over the world. |
