Fiji's Meli Derenalagi against Argentina [Source: Hong Kong Sevens]
The Fiji Airways 7s side came from behind to beat Argentina 29-24 in the cup quarter-final of the Hong Kong tournament.
The Argentinians took an early lead scoring two tries.
FT: @fijirugby progress into the Cup semi-final after beating @unionargentina 29-24
They will play USA at 15:41hrs (GMT+8)#HK7s pic.twitter.com/A8VRWUFCsu
Article continues after advertisement— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
But in a swift response Fiji made it to the scoreboard as Meli Derenalagi athletically gathered a loose ball and with support from Captain Paula Dranisinukula the first try was made.
However, this didn’t stop Argentina as they scored their third try to take a 17-7 lead.
SWS30- What a nail-biter! Fiji @fijirugby beat @unionargentina 29-24 win and advance to Cup Semi-final pic.twitter.com/KqbKSbUlEs
— Hong Kong Sevens (@OfficialHK7s) April 7, 2019
Derenalagi then set up another score for Dranisinukula in the extra time of first half to narrow the score 12-17 at the breather.
? Interview: “There’s lots more work to do to get better for the semi-final”. @fijirugby’s Meli Derenalagi gives his thoughts after their quarter-final win at the #HK7s pic.twitter.com/3Il8TC42Rd
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
The Gareth Baber-coached side regrouped in the second spell which saw Fijian flyer Aminiasi Tuimaba, Meli Derenalagi and Terio Veilawa scoring a try each to seal the victory.
Derenalagi says Argentina gave them a hard time in the first half.
“Argentina gave us a tough match and we have a lot of work on to do to get back in the semifinal and this place is a nice place it’s like our home ground for us in Fiji.”
Semi-final bound. Fans cheer @fijirugby after their cup quarter-final win over Argentina at the #HK7s pic.twitter.com/KEGAHg8g7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
This is Fiji’s 29th consecutive win in Happy Valley.
In other quarter-finals, USA beat South Africa 21-12, Samoa defeated England 14-12.
Fiji will meet USA in the Cup semifinal at 7.41 tonight.
? Interview: “The message today was WORK!”. @Carlin_Isles speaks to us after @USARugby beat South Africa 21 – 12 in the Cup Quarter-Finals at the #HK7s pic.twitter.com/QoK1oxvsFH
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
From another angle, looks just as sweet ? pic.twitter.com/r0H2Z1gzhX
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
Samoa will face France in the second semifinal at 8:03 tonight.
? Interview: @manusamoa’s Alamanda Motuga spoke to us after his side booked a spot in the cup semi-final at the #HK7s pic.twitter.com/aYXQanshym
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
Celebrations for @manusamoa pic.twitter.com/py7rWqsNIl
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
Having reached the Cup semi-final at the #HK7s, find out how @manusamoa prepare for the big stage pic.twitter.com/lsiPayOWeI
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 7, 2019
SWS31- A tight battle sees @Samoa7s secure the Semi-final position with a narrow 14-12 win over @EnglandRugby #HK7s #wheretheworldcomestoplay pic.twitter.com/935bISOSIA
— Hong Kong Sevens (@OfficialHK7s) April 7, 2019
The final will kick-off at 11pm
You can watch the tournament live on FBC TV.
| MATCH | TIME | TEAM 1 | SCORE | TEAM 2 | POOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 09:42PM | Samoa | 17 - 7 | Scotland | Pool A |
| M2 | 10:06PM | South Africa | 22 - 7 | Japan | Pool A |
| M3 | 10:31PM | England | 29 - 19 | Wales | Pool D |
| M4 | 10:53PM | USA | 36 - 7 | Spain | Pool D |
| M5 | 11:15PM | New Zealand | 40 - 14 | Australia | Pool C |
| M6 | 11:37PM | Fiji | 22 - 5 | Kenya | Pool C |
| M8 | 12:01AM | Argentina | 19 - 14 | Canada | Pool B |
| M8 | 12:26AM | France | 40 - 7 | Portugal | Pool B |
| SAT APR 06, 2019 | |||||
| M9 | 03:16PM | Samoa | 31 - 21 | Japan | Pool A |
| M10 | 03:41PM | South Africa | 26 - 10 | Scotland | Pool A |
| M11 | 04:03PM | England | 54 - 5 | Spain | Pool D |
| M12 | 04:25PM | USA | 19 -21 | Wales | Pool D |
| M13 | 04:51PM | New Zealand | 36 - 0 | Kenya | Pool C |
| M14 | 05:13PM | Fiji | 31 - 12 | Australia | Pool C |
| M15 | 05:35PM | Argentina | 26 - 21 | Portugal | Pool B |
| M16 | 05:59PM | France | 24 - 12 | Canada | Pool B |
| M17 | 07:00PM | Scotland | 19 - 19 | Japan | Pool A |
| M18 | 07:22PM | South Africa | 21 - 7 | Samoa | Pool A |
| M19 | 07:44PM | Wales | 10 - 26 | Spain | Pool D |
| M20 | 08:08PM | USA | 17 - 28 | England | Pool D |
| M21 | 08:33PM | Australia | 28 - 12 | Kenya | Pool C |
| M22 | 08:55PM | Fiji | 24 - 5 | New Zealand | Pool C |
| M23 | 09:17PM | Canada | 19 - 12 | Portugal | Pool B |
| M24 | 09:41PM | France | 26 - 14 | Argentina | Pool B |
| SUN APR 07 | |||||
| M25 | 01:30PM | Scotland | 33 - 14 | Spain | CTQF |
| M26 | 01:52PM | Australia | 26 - 21 | Portugal | CTQF |
| M27 | 02:14PM | Wales | 7 - 38 | Japan | CTQF |
| M28 | 02:36PM | Canada | 0 - 19 | Kenya | CTQF |
| M29 | 02:58PM | South Africa | 12 - 21 | USA | Cup QF1 |
| M30 | 03:20PM | Fiji | 29 - 24 | Argentina | Cup QF2 |
| M31 | 03:42PM | England | 12 - 14 | Samoa | Cup QF3 |
| M32 | 04:07PM | France | 14 - 12 | New Zealand | Cup QF4 |
| M33 | 05:16PM | Spain | 24 - 7 | Portugal | 13th Place SF |
| M34 | 05:43PM | Wales | 29 - 14 | Canada | 13th Place SF |
| M35 | 06:05PM | Scotland | 19 - 17 | Australia | CT SF |
| M36 | 06:30PM | Japan | 21 - 5 | Kenya | CT SF |
| M37 | 06:55PM | South Africa | 17 - 19 | Argentina | 5th Place SF |
| M38 | 07:17PM | England | 10 - 17 | New Zealand | 5th Place SF |
| M39 | 07:41PM | USA | 19 - 28 | Fiji | Cup SF |
| M40 | 08:03PM | Samoa | 12 - 19 | France | Cup SF |
| M41 | 09:00PM | Spain | 19 - 14 | Wales | 13th Place Play-off |
| M42 | 09:30PM | Scotland | 26 - 24 | Japan | CT Final |
| M43 | 10:00PM | Argentina | 21 - 14 | New Zealand | 5th Place Play-off |
| M44 | 10:30PM | USA | 22 - 5 | Samoa | Bronze Final |
| M45 | 11:00PM | Fiji | 21 - 7 | France | Cup Final |
