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SCMP Sport

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
The excitement of the first day is passed, the anticipation of the finals on Sunday awaits, but first the teams have to get there.
New Zealand’s men and women made strong statements of intent on Friday, starting their title defences with dominant wins, and it would be a brave person that bet against.
Australia and Fiji though looked dangerous, and Argentina aren’t top of the standings for nothing. Further down, the battle to avoid the end of season relegation play-off will only intensify.
Hong Kong’s teams are back in action too, with the men facing arch-rivals Japan, and the women taking on Thailand in a rematch of the Asian Games bronze medal encounter.
Strap in for another non-stop day of action from the home of sevens rugby.
Reporting by Josh Ball, Tom Bell, Paul McNamara, Lars Hamer and Mike Chan


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Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand and Australia set up blockbuster semi-finals, Hong Kong’s men must wait - day 2, as it happened

Australia’s Teagan Levi runs in a try, pursued by Japan’s Emir Tanaka on day two of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens

New Zealand’s women lose to France in pool stage, putting them on other side of the draw and on collision course with Australia
Hong Kong’s men lose to Japan, while the women trounce Thailand in Melrose Claymore competitions


New Zealand’s women lose to France in pool stage, putting them on other side of the draw and on collision course with Australia.


Hong Kong Sevens: As it happened

Fiji

Live

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of day two of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Another long day awaits, with another round of group matches before we even get to the knock-out stages of the tournament.
If you missed yesterday’s action, you can read Paul McNamara’s recap here, while Tom Bell has put down some thoughts on New Zealand’s performances.


That time again

If you need a quick idea of what happened on Friday, and what is still ahead, here’s our handy guide to the results so far.






Fixtures and results

This piece does exactly what it says on the tin. A quick guide to everything you need to know about what’s going on today, and how you can keep up to date with it all.
So, check out Tom Bell’s breakdown of the day ahead.


All you need to know

Japan’s women had the dubious honour of starting us off yesterday, and they’re first back out again this morning, this time against Spain.
The two sides are rooted to the bottom of the standings, so there is plenty at stake.


Here we go

Wakaba Hara scored as time expired to give Japan their first win of the tournament.
The pacey wing outstripped the Spain defence, finally settling a contest that had gone back and forth from the start.
Yukino Tsujisaki gave Japan an early lead, but Spain were relentless thereafter, and put the ball through multiple phases before Maria Calvo powered through two tackles and went in under the posts on the stroke of half-time.
Marta Cantabrana Gil added a second moments after the restart, getting clear down the right, and Spain looked to be in control at 12-5 up.
But Chiharu Nakamura, so often the dominant force in Japan’s defence, won a turnover and the ball eventually found its way to Yume Hirano, who ran clear to pull her side level.


FT: Japan 19 Spain 12

We were only thinking on the way in today, what a refreshingly different vibe this big Hong Kong occasion has from a notorious recent visit by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Then we see this ahead of us. Oh no. Please, just no.

We approach these guys at the traffic lights, half-minded to tell them to get out of Hong Kong, only to be won over by their story.
Meet Scott and Kirk, who have travelled from Toronto and Shanghai respectively for a reunion of former teammates of an expat rugby club in mainland China. There are 15 of them here from all over the world, all dressed as Lionel Messi.
Unlike the last fella with “Messi” on his back, they’re happy to say a few words for Hong Kong and make up for the fact that they won’t be playing today. Good stuff.



Messi back in Hong Kong

They don’t actually, but they could.
For the past 25 years, Sean Moore has been one of the main forces behind the scenes ensuring the Hong Kong Sevens goes off without a hitch.
We had a chat about lost wheelchairs, watching the Haka in the rain, and trying to get Fiji to leave the field after a win.



They call him Mr 7s

Wakaba Hara is “so happy” after scoring Japan’s winning try against Spain.
“Sorry my English is not so good,” she says. “I feel so good to score, when she passed to me I was so happy. Go Japan!”


Go Japan

Klaxon: this is a public service announcement.
If you had designs on spending your day in the South Stand, get your costumes on and get to Hong Kong Stadium sharpish.
The most full-on stand is rapidly filling up and already awash with colour. No doubt in part because overseas visitors are back in force and will want to get full value from their trip.
Remember, they stop people entering when it’s at capacity. You’ve got to come early and get your towels down.



South Stand filling up

Not much separates them in the standings, and there wasn’t much between Canada and the USA on the field either.
Olivia Apps gave Canada an early lead, with Chloe Daniels kicking the conversion and that’s how it stayed until the second half when Kaylen Thomas finally got free and crossed to make it 7-5.
Thomas saved her side soon after, chasing down Piper Logan within sight of the posts.
Canada though would not be denied and Fancy Bermudez scored in the dying seconds.


FT: USA 5 Canada 12

There are dark clouds hanging threateningly over Hong Kong Stadium at the moment.
Not much rain around yet, but a thunderstorm warning has just been issued.
On the field, South Africa and Samoa are battling it out in typically physical fashion.
Shilton van Wyk’s clever chip and chase put the Springboks ahead, Dewald Human added the extras, and Ryan Oosthuizen was sin-binned for a high tackle in a hectic first five minutes.
Quewin Nortje and Impi Visser added two more scores to put South Africa 19-0 up at the break


Calm before the storm

Canada women’s win over the USA has them sitting top of Pool C, and try scorer Fancy Bermudez says that’s a rare occurrence.
Bermudez’s try at the death gave her side a 12-5 win a game that could have gone either way.
“It didn’t feel like my try, it felt like a team try,” Bermudez says. “We haven’t topped the pool in like two or three years, so it’s a good accomplishment for us.”


Fancy that

After a flurry of tries in the first half, the sides swap yellow cards in the second.
Uaina Tui Stone finally gets the Pacific Islanders on the board with a fine solo effort, dancing around and leaving defenders in his wake.
But Shaun Williams grabs a fourth try for South Africa to wrap up a win that was never really in doubt.


FT: Samoa 7 South Africa 26

A storm appears to be approaching from the Pearl River estuary, our observatory app helpfully checks in to inform us, and there’s a cloud over Spain and Samoa in men’s pool C, too.
Ireland have just beaten the Spanish 12-5 as they chase the coattails of leaders South Africa, while the Samoans, three times champions in Hong Kong, are at rock bottom.
Was that... a peel of thunder I just heard in the distance? It’s hard to hear over the din emanating from the South Stand.


Stormy clouds

Are Swifties really what you expect to find at the Hong Kong Sevens, well Hulk Hogan is here so I expect anything is possible.
In fact there is an army of Taylors and Travises in the stands today.
Londoner Nick Tempest first came to the city in 2001 and he is returning to the final event at the Hong Kong Stadium with around 70 friends all dressed up as Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
Tempest says the craziest outfit he ever wore was coming as a giant Tetris piece in 2009, the same year he met his wife.



A Swift return

“Sweaty and tough” is how Ireland’s Gavin Mullin describes the first two days at the sevens.
But the 26-year-old still rates his sides chances of chasing down leaders Argentina after they made it through to the quarter-finals.
“Argentina are really strong this year and have kind of set the standard for everyone. We’ve had a couple of tough battles with them and actually beat them in LA now so we know what it takes to beat them.”
On the field, Ireland’s women do their best to slow the Fijian juggernaut, but go down 21-5.


Tough 2 days

Before the elite of the game take the field, the city’s best young players have been showcasing their skills in Hong Kong Stadium.
It’s the place where the likes of sevens stars James Christie, who scored against China on Friday, and Hugo Stiles got their starts.



Stars of the future

The range and ingenuity of costumes on show at Hong Kong Stadium is dazzling us today. One of our reporters had spotted at least 15 people in fancy dress by 7am just while walking the dog: four Marilyn Monroes, a handful of Roman soldiers and one Diego Maradona.
Some of those still assembling themselves might want to consider being Marilyn with a bonnet, or a rank of Roman soldier whose gear includes a water-resistant helmet.
Yes, we’ve just felt a few spots of rain.


Stormy clouds (reprise)

Australia’s women go marching on, sweeping past South Africa in clinical fashion.
Madison Levi continues to cut a swathe through the game, scoring twice, as does Faith Nathan in a largely untroubled victory.
The chances of Australia not making the final seem slim, which means we’re on course for a repeat of last year’s clash between them and New Zealand.


FT: Australia 28 South Africa 0

Ireland icon Brian O’Driscoll says the “prestige” of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens elevated the tournament above its counterparts on the world series circuit.
Speaking to the Post on Saturday, the former Irish captain says the city’s tournament is still the best in the world.
“The Olympics supersedes it this year, but in the other three years, Hong Kong is the one where teams want to really deliver,” he says.


O’Driscoll: Hong Kong top of tree

Here’s a meeting of two of the form teams of yesterday. New Zealand, the defending men’s champs, against USA, who handed series leaders Argentina a losing start.
It’s first blood to the Kiwis as Tone Ng Shiu opens the scoring. The huge, mulleted figure of Joe Schroeder then lopes away to the posts to level things up things near the end and leave the contest on a knife edge.
But the trouble is, all you achieve by scoring against the Kiwis is you stir the beast. It provokes a moment of quality from Xavier Tito-Harris, whose score wins it 12-7.


NZ men 3 from 3

Australia sisters Madison and Teagan Levi weren’t that impressed with their side’s 28-0 win over South Africa.
Three wins out of three means Australia are almost certain to make the quarter-finals.
“Yeah, I guess quarter-finals is the ultimate achievement. But we still haven’t been paying our best. So we just got to come out and execute and to win games when we’re not playing our best,” Madison Levi says.
Sister Teagan agrees and says the team needs to “go back to the basics, keep it simple”.



‘Not playing our best’

The warnings regarding thunderstorms and sweeping rain don’t seem to apply to this corner of Hong Kong.
A brief shower has turned into some persistent drizzle - nothing that will frighten away fans.
While the rain comes down Great Britain and Argentina play out the first extra-time game of the week, after Tom Emery’s conversion from left touchline sails between the posts to tie the game at 14-14.
Great Britain have yet to win this week, and they still haven’t. Tobias Wade kicks a penalty to settle matters in Argentina’s favour after Will Homer is penalised at a ruck.


Rain came and went

Back to the Future vibes anyone, or am I showing my age?
The move to Kai Tak Sports Park isn’t universally popular, even if Hong Kong Stadium is creaking at the seams. One of the biggest fears is that the atmosphere in the South Stand will be lost in the new sterilised surroundings.
Sean Horgan, the leader of the KlownLoons, has some strong feelings on the subject.
“I think they are stupid for moving it,” he says. “I just hope when they have the new stadium in Kai Tak, they allow people with the unrestricted seating like now in the South Stand.
“Let people meet with their friends, sit down with their friends, have fun. That gives the atmosphere for Hong Kong. If you make people sit in designated seats, you will destroy it.”



Save the South Stand

Neither side is going to trouble the scorers when it comes to the business end of this tournament, but there is still plenty at stake for Great Britain and Brazil’s women.
The two sides are fighting for that all-important eighth spot in the standings, which would mean avoiding a relegation play-off at the end of the season.
Two tries from Jade Shekells and a strike from Ellie Boatman give Great Britain a 17-7 lead, before Brazil’s Yasmin Soares sets up a nervy finish with a score in the last 30 seconds.


Battle at the bottom

Spotted sneaking into the stadium by the trades entrance? A bona fide rugby great.
It’s quite the outfit from Australia legend Matt Giteau. We catch him fixing his nappy.
Along with his close pal and ex-Wallabies teammate Drew Mitchell, he’s actually going to brave the South Stand. No hiding in a corporate box for baby Gits.
Dan Carter, Brian O’Driscoll, Bryan Habana and all other ex-players in the stadium: if you’re not dressed like this, and we know you’re not, are you really at the Sevens? Mitchell, we later see, got the longer straw but is resplendent too in pink pigtails. Huge respect.



Have you seen this baby?

Well, that is extraordinary.
New Zealand’s women were being run close by France when they spilled a ball in front of their own try-line with seconds left. From the scrum, Seraphine Okemba wrestles her way over the line. The conversion makes it 26-21 France at full-time.
Let’s say that again. The near-invincible Kiwis have lost.


Stunning upset as NZ women lose

The team who eat cheese together, win together? Most of us in the stadium would probably like to think so.
New Zealand’s consul laid on a terrific spread for its eve-of-Sevens bash. The Post sports desk sent its investigations team, who returned with news of a world-class cheeseboard. The NZ players were there, just about restraining themselves.
The goodie bag, too, was elite: chocolates, honey, handwash, protein bar, biscuits, a holder for your biscuits, complexion-enhancing serum, and an organic mixed-berry, coconut and chia prebiotics drink.
And the Kiwis haven’t forgotten their best export of all: world-class rugby players, regardless of that loss for their women, which probably won’t do their next opponents any favours.


Here’s to New Zealand produce

After trudging down the tunnel disconsolately last night in the wake of defeat by France, union convert Michael Hooper has a happier time today of his ongoing switch to sevens as Australia blast past Canada 31-0.
The Aussies look sharp again, if not quite as sharp as countryman Matt Giteau in his baby outfit (see this blog, 1.15pm).
Wonder if they had him in the sheds pre-match for a bit of inspo, a reminder of what courage looks like.


Hooper back on the horse

That is mightily close to peril for Fiji’s men.
They are locked at 7-7 with France, who threaten to add another score and leave the Fijians – who have a record 19 titles in Hong Kong – fighting for their lives.
In the nick of time, Napolioni Bolaca touches down to see them home 14-7.


Fiji squeak home

We’ve just seen the big guns, and it’s warmed the stadium up nicely for what’s next: Hong Kong women against Thailand in the Melrose Claymore.
Look lively, everyone.


Hong Kong incoming

It’s an inopportune time to announce in the stadium that the South Stand is full, ie. closed, because the shriek of horror distracts everyone from Thailand opening the scoring through Laksina Nawakaew in the left corner.
The crowd regroup and go berserk when Hong Kong’s Chong Ka-yan breaks from halfway and kicks ahead for Micayla Baltazar to collect and score. They erupt again when Chong goes in herself from close range for 14-5 at half-time.
Narathip Maneesai gets another try back for Thailand but Hong Kong are not unduly troubled and Baltazar, with her second, and Natasha Olson-Thorne give the hosts a 28-10 victory.


South Stand full, HK win

Once Hong Kong’s men and women have finished their matches, it’s back to the world series, and the draws for the last eight have thrown up some interesting contests.
None more so than on the men’s side, where New Zealand will have to beat Fiji to make it to the semi-finals. A game worthy of Sunday evening should be quite a contest.
Australia, meanwhile, will take on South Africa, with USA taking on Ireland, and France going up against Spain.
In the women’s competition, New Zealand and Australia have relatively easy matches, against Canada and Japan, respectively, while Fiji will face the USA, and France clash with Ireland.


Quarter-final draw

What better way to celebrate your 50th birthday than at Hong Kong Stadium during the Sevens, dressed as Big Bird from the Muppets?
Annemarie Munk has attended the Sevens for decades, going from a box with her parents, to 20-odd years in the South Stand (imagine that), to a year in North while pregnant, and now the West with her kids.
Here’s a fun fact about Munk: between Sevens stints she found time to be an Olympic swimmer, representing Hong Kong at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Big Bird herself is keener to tell us she and her mates started the “South Stand culture” by dressing up in the ’90s. Huge if true. When you see it in as fine voice as it is this afternoon, you can see why that might be top of your CV.



Muppets at 50

It’s time to pause the action and watch the traditional parade.
Here come the tiniest but most enthusiastic participants of the weekend: the girls and boys who played in the mini rugby matches.
This has always been a fixture of the Sevens. The only pity is that it no longer features the adult players, who used to have some fun with it.




Parade time

Don’t get too unfocused during the break, because Hong Kong’s men play next.
Then we’re into the women’s and men’s quarter-finals.


Here come Hong Kong

We’ve been chatting to Hong Kong women’s star Nam Ka-man about the electrifying atmosphere during her side’s win just before the parade.
“It was phenomenal, I am so proud of our girls,” she says. “I can feel my heart pumping, I cannot even hear myself, you cannot imagine how loud the crowd feels.”
They’re now into the final of their Melrose Claymore competition.
“We need to replicate the same energy. I think we need to just grab the chance and also enjoy the whole environment because it is the last tournament we’re playing in the stadium, so just give it our all.”


‘Grab the chance’ says HK’s Nam

This HK v Japan tussle is a fixture that can and does go either way.
It was Japan who broke Hong Kong hearts in the Olympic qualifiers, but Hong Kong who won Asian Games gold, beating Japan en route.
The host city’s men’s team are looking good when they score early, but in almost the blink of an eye they slip 19-7 behind.
Liam Herbert gives them hope, diving under the posts in front of the South Stand with 2½ minutes left to turn it around. That, though, is Japan’s time too, and they grab two late scores for a flattering 33-14 win.



Hard luck Hong Kong

Are China’s men’s and women’s team being forced to do extra homework after losing to Hong Kong yesterday? It looks like it.
Both of China’s teams arrived today and made their way to the stands under the press box to watch the action. Talk about students of the game.
Right now we have USA teaching their Fijian counterparts a rugby lesson as their 33-7 win starts the women’s quarter-finals. Think we’re all taking note of the Americans, who are going places in the men’s comp too.


USA school Fiji

Before there was Lionel Messi there was Diego Maradona, and while a large section of supporters are dressed as the Inter Miami star, others are paying homage to the true GOAT (there will be no discussion on this).
James Wright, who was born in New Zealand but grew up in Hong Kong, is attending his 10th Sevens, and is repping the Argentina star in the South Stand.
“It’s the spiritual and cultural home of sevens and rugby in Hong Kong,” the 22-year-old said. “This is what the Sevens is, people coming to the South Stand having a few beers and enjoying themselves watching the rugby.”



The real GOAT

The women’s quarter-finals continue with France beating Ireland 31-7 and New Zealand brushing aside Canada 26-5.
Finally come the Australians, who are made to graft a bit for a 12-0 defeat of Japan.



Pieces of 8

If there were prizes for the best post match interview, New Zealand’s Shiray Kaka would win.
Not only did we learn she used to live in Japan and has two dogs and a cat, but she complimented our pitch side reporter on his shirt and sent love to Hong Kong.
“You can’t really hear much on the pitch because it’s so loud,” the Olympic gold medalist says.“It’s very unique and I think because it’s the last one [in Hong Kong Stadium] more people have shown up.”


Queen Kaka

Rodney McIntosh, who played for and coached Hong Kong at the Sevens in the 1990s, seems to have secured a prime seat.
Here he is in the stadium today, amid a bevy of bevvies, or as the photographer put it, surrounded by champagne. A winning squad, we reckon.



Champagne rugby

Ireland aren’t second in the standings for nothing. They knock off the USA in a breathtaking quarter-final that goes to extra time.
Locked at 19-all at full time, Terry Kennedy wins a foot race to a chip behind the defence, scoring the winning try and completing a hat-trick in the process.
“It is unreal in front of a huge crowd here . To get the winner in front of the South Stand was class,” Kennedy says. “It was such a tough match, back and forth, a pretty entertaining one to watch for the neutral, maybe not for our fans, but I absolutely loved it.”



Irish into last 4

Who needs Antoine Dupont anyway.
It’s easy to forget that France won the last sevens series event in Los Angeles, but the team is far more than the world’s best scrum-half.
Trailing 10-7 to Spain, because this is France after all, they fire back with 14 unanswered the points, highlighted by Aaron Grandidier’s swallow dive under the posts to put them beyond reach.


Allez les Bleus

Can anyone stop the All Blacks defending their title? Fiji, possibly, Australia, maybe.
The men from Down Under have looked the strongest contenders so far this tournament, and against a Blitzboks side shorn of the injured Ronald Brown, and suspended Selvyn Davids and Justin Geduld ran out 15-0 winners.
Nathan Lawson crossed first in the second minute, Maurice Longbottom added a second which he converted soon after the break, and slotted over a penalty to put his side more than two scores ahead.


Advance Australia fair

France try scorer Aaron Grandidier says his side had “a real battle” in their 24-10 quarter-final win over Spain, but adds his side had been prepared for it in the pool stage.
“I think it [tough pool games] against Australia and Fiji conditioned us for these high pressure moments,” he says. “I am very glad and very proud of the boys for being able to respond to that pressure with some clinical finishing to see out the games.”
Out on the pitch now it’s New Zealand against Fiji, and the defending champions are already seven points to the good.


Tough upbringing

Australia captain Nick Malouf is pleased with the way his side battled past South Africa in their semi-final, especially when things didn’t go according to plan.
“We’re lucky that we had a couple of scores on the board to be able to make the right decision and take the three [points] at the end to put it more than two scores.
“So, a good game , a hard fought game and one I am really proud of.”



Proud Aussie captain

Perennial finalists they maybe, but Fiji haven’t exactly been setting the sevens world alight recently, although to be fair neither have New Zealand.
Both teams came into this week with their own problems, but the All Blacks are defending champions and Fiji have a new coach.
Still, these are two of the most exciting sevens teams around, so of course we were going to get an enthralling contest to end the quarter-final stage.
Tied at 12-12 with 30 seconds left, Tone Ng Shiu goes in behind the posts and back-to-back Hong Kong Sevens victories is still on.


Wow, that was close

Not so much sneaking out as leaving in droves.
We’re into the 9th place semi-final stage, games that have you scratching your head and asking, “dear God, what’s the point?”
Spain and Brazil’s women go deep into time added on in the first half of their game before Thalia Costa scores, largely reinforcing that point.


We can see you sneaking out

You can tell the interest has gone right out of the stadium.
For the record, tries from Thalia Costa and Gabriela Lima help Brazil’s women to a 12-5 win over Spain. That will keep the pressure on Great Britain in the battle to stay in the top eight.
Their relegation rivals are up next against South Africa.



Brazil move on

The classic Europe hit blasts out over the speakers at half-time, sadly though there are still two men’s games to come after this.
After going behind early to Ayanda Malinga’s converted try, Great Britain hit back with three of their own from Ellie Boatman, Heather Cowell and Isla Norman-Bell to go 15-7 up at half-time.
Nadine Roos crosses soon after the restart and slots over the conversion, and all of a sudden it’s a one-point game.
Neither side can muster much after that, until the hooter goes and Great Britain lose two players to cards. South Africa can’t make the advantage count though, and their opponents hold on.


The final countdown

New Zealand’s Dylan Collier has been talking about his side’s change in fortunes since they got to Hong Kong.
“It’s been a while since we qualified top of our pool, and then we were just happy to meet the Fijian boys in their quarter-final,” he says.
“But it was a tough game, they always bring it when they play us, so it was good to finally get that win. That South Stand is pretty unreal, and it was an awesome crowd.
“Semis and final tomorrow, and, hopefully, we get all the way to the big dance.”


The big dance

In many ways a day at the sevens is like a marathon, you get to a point where you hit a wall mentally and physically.
Great Britain’s men are trying to run through theirs, with Samoa’s players not small obstacles to overcome.
An Alex Davis try, which Tom Emery converts, is all the separates the two teams at half-time. It’s a the same story in the second half, except this time it’s Samoa’s Daniel Patelesio who goes in under the posts as the clock winds down.
Having been behind for almost the entire game, Samoa snatch the win at the death with Faafoi Falaniko diving over in the corner.


Hitting the wall

In the final game of the day, Argentina, who have not been good during the tournament, just about muster enough to get past Canada.
Matteo Graziano scores the only try of the first half, with Tobias Wade’s conversion giving the South American’s a 7-0 lead.
Not that anybody really notices, even the South Stand has had enough, probably aware that tomorrow will bring its own challenges.
A smattering of applause greets Alfonso Latorre’s try soon after the restart as Argentina double their lead, and the crowd thins out again long before Luciano Gonzalez adds a third with 30 seconds left.


And that’s that

It’s been a long day and anyone who was left in the stadium is now heading for the exits.
Tomorrow promises to be a humdinger, worthy of the final day of sevens at the sport’s spiritual home in Hong Kong.
Seemingly destined to meet in the women’s final, New Zealand and Australia will now battle it out in the semi-finals, and it is the same in the men’s side of things.
Hong Kong’s men meanwhile must wait for the early game between China and Japan to see if they will make it through to the final of their own tournament.
We will be here bright and early to bring you all the action live, in the meantime you get reports and reaction here.


Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand and Australia set up blockbuster semi-finals, Hong Kong’s men must wait - day 2, as it happened

New Zealand’s women lose to France in pool stage, putting them on other side of the draw and on collision course with Australia Hong Kong’s men lose to Japan, while the women trounce Thailand in Melrose Claymore competitions

New Zealand’s women lose to France in pool stage, putting them on other side of the draw and on collision course with Australia

Hong Kong’s men lose to Japan, while the women trounce Thailand in Melrose Claymore competitions