Samoa were in an uncompromising mood on the opening day of HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai, conceding just four tries in three matches en route to a perfect pool phase performance.
But, while the Pacific Island nation marched comfortably into the last four, things weren’t so straightforward for Pool B table-toppers Canada, who lost to Belgium and had to survive a final match scare against an impressive Madagascar to ensure their place in the last four.
Samoa will face Belgium in Sunday’s semi-finals, while Canada will meet Hong Kong China in the other last-four match.
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Pool A Samoa in cruise control
Colombia made Samoa work hard for every point in the two sides' opening match, but late and well-worked Warren Solomona try handed the Pacific Islanders a 26-7 victory.
Samoa then made it two wins from two, beating Hong Kong China 31-17 to steal a march on the Pool and the all-important cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Earlier, a double in three second-half minutes for Seb Brien helped Hong Kong China pull away from a determined Tonga, to open their HSBC SVNS 3 challenge with a 33-14 win.
Hong Kong China needed to beat Colombia — a side making many friends and impressing more — convincingly in their third and final match of day one to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. They did their part, winning 38-10, Max Denmark scoring a hat-trick.
That result meant Tonga had to rack up a big score in victory over Samoa in the day’s closing match to overhaul Hong Kong China’s points difference and claim a second semi-final slot. Pool leaders Samoa, however, had other ideas, scoring six tries to Tonga’s two to win 34-12.
The South American side had earlier given Tonga a serious fright. In the end, however, Arley Urrutia’s late try wasn’t quite enough, as Tonga held on to win a heart-stopping encounter 19-12.
Pool B: Canada survive late Madagascar scare
Five different try-scorers had guided Canada to a 33-7 opening-match win over Italy.
But they came a cropper in their second game, as Miguel Fachada’s after-the-hooter long-distance touchdown at the end of an enthralling encounter with Canada threw Pool B wide open as it handed Belgium a 19-15 victory.
Gaspard Lalli had earlier marked his 50th tournament with a double as the European side eased to a 24-0 win over Madagascar in the opening match of the men’s competition.
Already qualified Belgium were dealt a reality check in their final outing of the day, as Giacomo Ndoumbe Lobe scored late to give Italy their first win in Dubai — the game ended 22-14.
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And Madagascar beat Italy 31-19 in an eight-try highlight-reel thriller in which the lead changed hands six times before second-half tries from Sendraniaina Mickael Rakotomalala and Jean Yves Randriamalala settled matters to set-up a winner takes all final match against Canada.
Two tries from the talismanic Thomas Isherwood in two minutes either side of half-time sent Canada on the way to victory in the final pool match after they had been given a major scare by a thrilling Madagascar side. The 24-17 final score sent Canada through to the semi-finals.
Tickets for Sunday's HSBC SVNS 3 finals day are free at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai each day. Meanwhile, fans around the world can watch every match live on RugbyPass TV, bringing the excitement of HSBC SVNS 3 directly to global audiences.