Defending champions Fiji were given a fright by Georgia in their bid to defend the Rugby World Cup Sevens title on Thursday, before eventually running out 26-10 winners.
Main title contenders New Zealand, South Africa and England also notched up wins.
When Fijians Neumi Nanuku and Napolioni Nalaga both scored after just two minutes of play, it looked as if the floodgates might open at Dubai’s Sevens Stadium.
PHOTO: AFP
But it was not to be as Georgia fought back and gave the South Sea Islanders a taste of their own medicine, the outstanding Merab Kvirikashvili bagging a double, the second a wonderful dinking run rounded off by touching down his own chip over the defense.
Fiji, boasting five players from the squad that claimed the title four years ago in Hong Kong, eventually wrapped up the match with two second-half tries from 31-year-old Montauban flyer Vilimoni Delasau and Peni Rokodiva.
New Zealand, reigning champions of the IRB’s World Series Sevens circuit, which is separate from this World Cup, demolished a flatfooted Italy 42-0, with captain D.J. Forbes to the fore and Viliame Waqaseduadua scoring a double.
Tonga beat the tournament hosts, the Arabian Gulf, 19-0 in Pool A’s other game.
England overcame a sluggish start against Hong Kong to run away 42-5 winners, Ben Gollings, the leading points scorer in IRB Sevens history, contributing 22 points, while full international Tom Varndell also bagged a brace of tries.
Kenya beat Tunisia 29-7 in Pool E’s other, all-African match.
South Africa, joint leaders of the IRB World Series along with England, survived a sin-binning to beat a hard-working Japan 26-5. Canada notched up a 33-14 win over Scotland in Pool C’s other game.
Three second-half tries, including one from France international winger Julien Malzieu, were enough for the French team to overcome a 10-7 halftime score to register a 26-17 win over a strong US team and keep the pressure up on Fiji in Pool B.
Malzieu, who started for France’s full national team against Ireland and Wales in this season’s Six Nations, set up a try for Rida Jahouer in the second minute with his first touch.
But the US team hit back with tries from Kevin Swiryn and Chris Wyles. France then scored two quick-fire tries though Laurent Ferreres and Malzieu.
Todd Clever, currently playing for the South African Lions Super 14 franchise, was then sin-binned and France wrapped up the game with a further try from Vincent Deniau.
“I’d forgotten how hard sevens is,” Malzieu said. “We were lucky, but we also have no pressure and no expectations on us.”
Wales overcame a jumpy start to beat Zimbabwe 31-5, but coach Paul John was left less than impressed when Japanese referee Taizo Hirabayashi blew up before the hooter had sounded and with the Welsh side in the ascendency.
In a Pool that also includes Argentina and Uruguay, John said: “The points difference in a pool could be very important in this competition. But we’re still happy to have notched up a win.”
Argentina, winners of the last IRB World Series tournament in San Diego last month, won a hard-fought match against Uruguay 19-7.
In Pool D action, Australia overcame a spirited Portugal side 24-12, while Samoa looked impressive while racking up a comprehensive 35-5 win over Ireland, Rupena Levasa scoring a hat-trick.
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