2018 South Africa Sevens

The 2018 South Africa Sevens was the second tournament within the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series and the twentieth edition of the South Africa Sevens. It was held on 8–9 December 2018 at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.^[1][2][3]

2018 South Africa Sevens
Sevens World Series XX
Host nation	South Africa
Date	8–9 December 2018
Cup
Champion	Fiji
Runner-up	United States
Third	South Africa
Challenge Trophy
Winner	Argentina
Tournament details
Matches played	45
Tries scored	293 (average 6.51 per match)
Most points	Francisco Hernández (45)
Most tries	Franco Sábato (7)
← 2017 2019 →

Format

The teams were drawn into four pools of four teams each. Each team played every other team in their pool once. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the Cup brackets where teams competed for the Gold, Silver, and bronze medals. The bottom two teams from each group went to the playoffs in the Challenge Trophy brackets.

Teams

Fifteen core teams are participating in the tournament along with one invited team, 2018 Africa Men's Sevens winners Zimbabwe:

•  Argentina
•  Australia
•  Canada
•  England
•  Fiji
•  France
•  Japan
•  Kenya
•  New Zealand
•  Samoa
•  Scotland
•  South Africa
•  Spain
•  United States
•  Wales
•  Zimbabwe

Pool stage

All times in South African Standard Time (UTC+2:00)

Key to colours in group tables
	Teams that advanced to the Cup Quarterfinal

Pool A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	2	0	1	86	38	+48	7
New Zealand	3	2	0	1	78	42	+36	7
Samoa	3	2	0	1	66	51	+15	7
Zimbabwe	3	0	0	3	12	111	−99	3

8 December 2018 12:27

South Africa	22–12	Samoa
Try: Brown 6' Snyman 8' Geduld 9' Visser 12' Con: Geduld 13'		Try: Afamasaga 2' Vaili 15' Con: Tupou 2'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman

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8 December 2018 12:49

New Zealand	35–0	Zimbabwe
Try: Knewstubb 4' Gregory 8', 12' Masirewa 11', 14' Con: Knewstubb 4', 9' Koroi 11', 12' McGarvey Black 14'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damian Schneider

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8 December 2018 15:48

South Africa	43–0	Zimbabwe
Try: Soyizwapi  1',  6',  14' Specman  5' Brown  8' Geduld  8' Visser  12' Con: Geduld  1', 5', 9' Du Preez  8'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jeremy Rozier

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8 December 2018 16:10

New Zealand	17–21	Samoa
Try: Molia 4',  13' Ng Shiu  7' Con: Knewstubb  4'		Try: Motuga  2' Afamasaga  10' Mealoi  15' Con: Tupou  2' Tusitala  10' Mealoi 15'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

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8 December 2018 19:34

Samoa	33–12	Zimbabwe
Try: Afamasaga  1', 11' Alofipo  4' Tusitala  5' Motuga  15' Con: Tupou  2', 5' Alosio  11' R Ene  15'		Try: Hunduza  7' Chitokwindo  9' Con: Hunduza  7'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Paulo Duarte

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8 December 2018 19:56

New Zealand	26–21	South Africa
Try: Knewstubb  7' Molia  10', 14' Koroi  17' Con: Knewstubb  7', 15' Koroi  11'		Try: Specman  5' Kok  10' Du Preez  13' Con: Geduld  6', 10', 13'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy

Pool B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
United States	3	3	0	0	123	31	92	9
Spain	3	2	0	1	104	50	54	7
Argentina	3	1	0	2	61	73	−12	5
Japan	3	0	0	3	7	141	−134	3

8 December 2018 11:43

Argentina	12–35	Spain
Try: Carreras 4' Sabato 8' Con: Mare 4'		Try: Carrion 6', 14' Fontes 9', 11' Pla 13' Con: Hernandez 6', 9', 11', 13', 15'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jeremy Rozler

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8 December 2018 12:05

United States	54–0	Japan
Try: Iosefo 1' Baker 2' Hughes Tomasin 6', 10' Thompson 9' Leuta 11' Isles 15' Con: Tomasin 2', 5', 7', 10', 10', 12' Hughes 4'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden

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8 December 2018 15:04

Argentina	35–7	Japan
Try: Carreras  2' Bazan Velez  5' F Sabato  7' M Moroni  8' L Gonzalez  9' Con: Bazan Velez  3' Revol  5', 8', 8', 10'		Try: Noguchi  12' Con: Sakai  12'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Paulo Duarte

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8 December 2018 15:26

United States	38–17	Spain
Try: Williams 2' Tomasin 6', 12' Barrett  11' Isles  14' Brown  16' Con: Tomasin  2', 7' Hughes  11', 15'		Try: Rodriguez-Guerra  3' Losada  4' Poggi  9' Con: Hernandez 4'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damian Schneider

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8 December 2018 18:50

Spain	52–0	Japan
Try: Pla  1',  6' Hernandez  4', 9' Losada  5' Poggi  8' Sainz-Trapaga Devoto  11' Alonso  13' Con: Hernandez  1', 4', 7', 8', 9', 12'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton

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8 December 2018 19:12

United States	31–14	Argentina
Try: Williams  3' Hughes  8' Iosefo  10' Leuta  11' Baker  14' Con: Hughes 3', 10', 15'		Try: Saboato 5' Cinti Luna 7' Con: Revol 6'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman

Pool C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Fiji	3	3	0	0	109	26	83	9
England	3	2	0	1	74	45	29	7
France	3	1	0	2	31	88	−57	5
Kenya	3	0	0	3	31	86	−55	3

8 December 2018 10:59

Fiji	50–0	France
Try: Nacuqu 4' Tuimaba 5', 9' Botitu 8' Nasoko 10' Naduva 11' Tuwai 13', 16' Con: Nacuqu 4', 12', 16' Ravouvou 6', 9'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

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8 December 2018 11:21

England	29–12	Kenya
Try: Waddleton 1' Norton 7', 9', 13' Burgess 14' Con: Mitchell 2', 14'		Try: Kuto 4' Mugaisi 8' Con: Agero 4'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy

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8 December 2018 14:20

Fiji	38–7	Kenya
Try: Derenalagi 1', 10' Naduva 3', 7' Nasoko 5'Mocenacagi 8' Con: Ravouvou 1', 5' Nacuqu 9' Botitu 10'		Try: Onyala 12' Con: Agero 12'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton

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8 December 2018 14:42

England	26–12	France
Try: Mitchell 5' Norton 10' Muir 12' Olowofela 14' Con: Mitchell 10', 12', 14'		Try: Huyard 3', 7' Con: Riva 8'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman

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8 December 2018 17:41

France	19–12	Kenya
Try: Mazzoleni  4' Bouhraoua  7' Riva  13' Con: Riva  8' Barraque  14'		Try: Otiero 2', 9' Con: Agero 9'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden

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8 December 2018 18:03

England	19–21	Fiji
Try: Muir 8', 14' Davis 14' Con: Bibby 8' Mitchell 14'		Try: Derenalagi  2' Tuimaba  4' Tuwai  12' Con: Botitu 3' Ravouvou  4' Nacuqu  13'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jeremy Rozier

Pool D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Australia	3	3	0	0	76	43	33	9
Scotland	3	2	0	1	63	47	16	7
Canada	3	1	0	2	57	57	0	5
Wales	3	0	0	3	28	77	−49	3

8 December 2018 10:15

Scotland	21–14	Canada
Try: Fergusson 2' Bryce 8' McFarland 15' Con: Lowe 2', *' Fergusson 14'		Try: Braid 4' Kay 9' Con: Hirayama 4', 10'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton

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8 December 2018 10:37

Australia	21–14	Wales
Try: Hutchison 5' Anderson 11' Longbottom 15' Con: Porch 6', 12', 16'		Try: Jones 3' Blacker 13' Con: Jones 3' Treherne 14'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Paulo Duarte

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8 December 2018 13:36

Scotland	28–7	Wales
Try: McFarland 5' Lowe 7' Riddell 9' Nayacavou 12' Con: Lowe 6', 7', 9' Fergusson 13'		Try: Jones 16' Con: Treherne 16'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy

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8 December 2018 13:58

Australia	29–15	Canada
Try: Porch 1', 7', 10' Malouf 3', 5' Con: Porch 4', 5'		Try: Douglas 8', 11' Hirayama 14'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden

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8 December 2018 16:57

Canada	28–7	Wales
Try: Douglas 2', 13' Braid 5' Mullins 8' Con: Hirayama 3', 5', 9', 13'		Try: Bagshaw 8' Con: Treherne 8'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damian Schneider

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8 December 2018 17:19

Australia	26–14	Scotland
Try: Longbottom 1' Parahi 3' Porch 10' Con: Porch 2', 4', 10'		Try: Fergusson 8' Elms 12' Con: Lowe 9', 12'

Cape Town Stadium Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Knockout stage

Thirteenth place

	Semi-finals				Thirteenth place
	9 December – 13:57 – Cape Town
	Wales	28
					9 December – 17:43 – Cape Town
	Japan	7
					Wales	26
	9 December – 14:19 – Cape Town
					Kenya	33
	Zimbabwe	19
	Kenya	31

Matches
Semi-finals 9 December 2018 13:57 Wales  28–7  Japan Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 14:19 Zimbabwe  19–31  Kenya Cape Town Stadium Thirteenth place 9 December 2018 17:43 Wales  26–33  Kenya Cape Town Stadium

Challenge Trophy

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	9 December – 10:36 – Cape Town
	Samoa	31
					9 December – 14:41 – Cape Town
	Wales	26
					Samoa	31
	9 December – 10:58 – Cape Town
					France	7
	France	31
									9 December – 18:05 – Cape Town
	Japan	0
									Samoa	14
	9 December – 11:20 – Cape Town
									Argentina	38
	Canada	28
					9 December – 15:03 – Cape Town
	Zimbabwe	24
					Canada	14
	9 December – 11:42 – Cape Town
					Argentina	24
	Argentina	34
	Kenya	31

Matches

Quarter-finals 9 December 2018 10:36 Samoa  31–26  Wales Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 10:58 France  31–0  Japan Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 11:20 Canada  28–24  Zimbabwe Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 11:42 Argentina  34–31  Kenya Cape Town Stadium Semi-finals 9 December 2018 14:41 Samoa  31–7  France Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 15:03 Canada  14–24  Argentina Cape Town Stadium Challenge Trophy Final 9 December 2018 18:05 Samoa  14–38  Argentina Cape Town Stadium

Fifth place

	Semi-finals				Fifth place
	9 December – 15:50 – Cape Town
	Scotland	7
					9 December – 18:36 – Cape Town
	Spain	12
					Spain	7
	9 December – 16:12 – Cape Town
					England	14
	Australia	21
	England	24

Matches
Semi-finals 9 December 2018 15:50 Scotland  7–12  Spain Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 16:12 Australia  21–24  England Cape Town Stadium Fifth place 9 December 2018 18:36 Spain  7–14  England Cape Town Stadium

Cup

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Cup Final
	9 December – 12:04 – Cape Town
	South Africa	21
					9 December – 16:34 – Cape Town
	Scotland	12
					South Africa	12
	9 December – 12:26 – Cape Town
					Fiji	17
	Fiji	46
									9 December – 19:44 – Cape Town
	Spain	7
									Fiji	29
	9 December – 12:48 – Cape Town
									United States	15
	Australia	17
					9 December – 16:56 – Cape Town
	New Zealand	26
					New Zealand	12
	9 December – 13:10 – Cape Town
					United States	31			Third place
	United States	19
									9 December – 19:18 – Cape Town
	England	12
									South Africa	10
									New Zealand	5

Matches

Quarter-finals 9 December 2018 12:04 South Africa  21–12  Scotland Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 12:26 Fiji  46–7  Spain Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 12:48 Australia  17–26  New Zealand Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 13:10 United States  19–12  England Cape Town Stadium Semi-finals 9 December 2018 16:34 South Africa  12–17  Fiji Cape Town Stadium 9 December 2018 16:56 New Zealand  12–31  United States Cape Town Stadium 3rd place 9 December 2018 19:18 South Africa  10–5  New Zealand Cape Town Stadium Cup Final 9 December 2018 19:44 Fiji  29–15  United States Cape Town Stadium

Tournament placings

Place	Team	Points
	Fiji	22
	United States	19
	South Africa	17
4	New Zealand	15
5	England	13
6	Spain	12
7	Australia	10
	Scotland	10

Place	Team	Points
9	Argentina	8
10	Samoa	7
11	Canada	5
	France	5
13	Kenya	3
14	Wales	2
15	Japan	1
	Zimbabwe	1

Source: World Rugby

Players

Scoring leaders

Tries scored

Rank	Player	Tries
1	Franco Sábato	7
2	Alamanda Motuga	6
	Alasio Naduva
	David Afamasaga
	Kalione Nasoko

Points scored

Rank	Player	Points
1	Francisco Hernández	45
2	John Porch	44
3	Stephen Tomasin	43
4	Justin Geduld	37
5	Franco Sábato	35

Source: World Rugby

Dream Team

The following seven players were selected to the tournament Dream Team at the conclusion of the tournament:^[4]

Forwards	Backs
Kalione Nasoko Danny Barrett David Afamasaga	Alasio Naduva Madison Hughes Sione Molia Rosko Specman

See also

• World Rugby Sevens Series
• 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series
• World Rugby