What’s that coming over the hill? It’s a monster, a monster…No, it’s a rugby player.
Seven players a side, seven minutes a half and a full sized rugby pitch. That means lots of space, lots of running and lots of tries. No wonder the Olympic sport of sevens rugby is becoming more popular.
The HBSC Sevens World Series came to Twickenham this weekend for a two day competition of top quality international rugby. Teams from all the major rugby countries, as well as Japan, Portugal and many more played in the two day extravaganza. Saturday saw the group stages where England topped their group by beating Wales, Argentina and New Zealand, whilst the real knockout action began with the quarter finals on Sunday morning. It was a grey, cold day which didn’t lower the enthusiasm of the crowd, many of whom had taken the Monsters fancy dress theme very seriously. Even the stadium had got into the mood with monstery fonts announcing tries on the big screen.
A few of the monsters who attended the rugby. And a French Telly Tubby.
England started with their quarterfinal against France at 10.30am. On the result depended the day’s happiness for most of the monsters, although the format allows knocked out teams to continue in shield, plate and bowl categories in order that everyone gets a decent number of games.
France started well, scoring in the corner in the first minute. But they missed the drop kick conversion, which they would come to rue. Still leading into the last minute, England were looking like going out and ruining the fans’ day right at the start. Yet with only thirty-two seconds left Phil Burgess made it past the defence and scored under the posts.
Tom Mitchell considers his conversion attempt
The scores level were level and Tom Mitchell had a conversion attempt to win the game. He slotted it over and England won the match by just two points and headed to a semifinal with either Australia or Kenya. It wasn’t hard to work out which they’d prefer. It was to be Australia though, who beat Kenya comfortably, being already 12-0 up at half time. The other two berths in the semis were taken by New Zealand and Fiji.
Kick off in England’s semifinal was at 14.18. England had only sneaked past France and Australia were looking good, even if their score against Kenya wasn’t truly indicative of their form. From the start the bright-yellow Australians were on top, with most of the play in the England half. It wasn’t long before a good run by Foley put them ahead. The crowd booed, but quickly switched to cheering when the conversion was missed. England were two more unconverted tries down at half time. Though they got two back in the second half, sevens matches rush by and Australia took it 15-12.
That wasn’t the end of the England action however, as they went into the third place play off against Fiji, a team that had become a crowd favourite in their losing semi with New Zealand.
Before then match the non-rugby entertainment continued. Someone dressed as a Telly Tubby had 15 seconds to score goals in a tickets competition. Laura Wright sang, a plane crossed, cheer leaders dressed as monsters performed YMCA in the centre of the pitch.
Visiting clergy join in with YMCA
Then England returned for the third place play off at 1637 – everything runs to a very precise schedule in Sevens. The match started with some bruising tackles and Fiji scored first, Mulevoro crossing in the corner. A missed conversion pleased the crowd, who struck up a chorus of Swing Low, to try and raise the players. Fiji returned almost to the England line then England retaliated and Mitchell made the conversion. 7-5. If Lewis-Pratt was better at juggling they might have had another try. As it was they managed one more before half-time and were leading 14-5 at the break.
Halftime saw the Marriott Kiss Cam turned on. It’s not an integral part of a rugby tournament, but the members of the crowd picked out enjoyed their moments of amorous fame.
In the second half Mitchell demonstrated a slick side-step and scored quickly. Ravouvou briefly threatened for Fiji and they managed to score after a scrum under the posts. With 8 seconds left Powell broke through and England took the game and third place 26-19.
Then, in a surreal sight that summed up the fancy-dress day, the England captain Tom Mitchell was interviewed by a man dressed as a monk.
With games lasting only a quarter of an hour and losers continuing to play on in different competitions Sevens is a great way to see a lot of international rugby in one day. The speed is thrilling and the openness of the play and skill of the players amazing to watch, whilst the between-game entertainment makes for a fun day out even for children too young to have started to dream of playing for England.
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