DUBAI // Mike Friday, the United States coach, said his side had ticked the final item off their rugby bucket list by beating New Zealand after the buzzer on Friday night.
Perry Baker, a converted American football player with searing pace, went over for two tries in the 14-12 win, which clinched a quarter-final place against South Africa.
The second was touched down near the left touchline, and in the final play of the game. Having lost their previous pool match against France, the USA required a win to advance to the knockout stages.
Therefore the conversion needed to be made. As Madison Hughes lined up the kick, Friday frantically strode off up the other touchline, muttering to himself.
“I was saying to myself, ‘We need a win. A draw’s not enough, we need a win,’ and Madison’s conversion percentage has been down at 60 per cent,” Friday said.
“The odds were against us, but he has worked so hard and his conversion rate today was up at 90 per cent. He has got the rewards.
“Beating New Zealand was the last one on the bucket list. It is the first time they have ever beaten New Zealand.”
Read more Dubai Rugby Sevens news:
‘We have to win’: Waisale Serevi and J9 Legends doing it for Joost at Dubai Sevens
Paul Radley on the remarkable return of Scotland’s Thom Evans at Dubai Sevens
Michael Johnson, the Olympic sprint star, had talked to the US team the evening before the tournament started, imploring the players not to accept failure.
They might want to ask him a few more practical tips ahead of their meeting with South Africa, the defending Dubai champions.
The extraordinary speed of Seabelo Senatla, the leading try-scorer last season, was again the major feature of the Blitzboks’ flawless first day.
“South Africa are a formidable team, hugely physical, but I think we have the power to cope with them, and we certainly have the pace to cope with Senatla,” Friday said.
Ben Ryan, the Fiji coach, said his world champion side have yet get close to top gear, despite dominating their pool.
“We are three games away from winning Dubai Sevens, and if we play to our potential we will win it,” said Ryan, whose side face Australia in the last eight.
New Zealand play their quarter final against Samoa, while England will meet Argentina after three wins in a pool including Wales, Australia and Kenya.
“Sevens is brilliant now and every pool is a group of death,” Simon Amor, the England coach, said. “It is what you do on Day 2 that counts.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
