• You are here:
• Home /
• /
• Australia surprise Samoa in second pool match

Australia has continued their winning form at the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide today by defeating Samoa 26-19 in their second pool match.

“Once again we have beaten a quality side and I am just delighted for the boys,” Michael O’Connor, the Australian Coach said. “They [Australia] have shown they can finish off and close out a game. I’m particularly happy because we didn’t have the ball for the first four or five minutes.”

Samoa dominated the first half with two quick tries and a conversions but Australia hit back before the break with a try and conversion to Richard Kingi.

“Samoa is so professional and spot on and precise with their restarts. They played perfect football; perfect Sevens in that first half,” O’Connor said.

Early in the second half Samoa scored another try and conversion but the Australian captain Damon Murphy retaliated and scored his first try for the game and Kingi converted it.

Just after the six minute mark Murphy snuck through the Samoa defence again and touched down for another try and Kingi scored his third conversion for the match to take the score to 21-19 to Australia.

Shortly after Australia taking the lead, Kingi crossed the line again and scored another try to take the final score to 26-19.

“We came into this tournament wanting to do well because it is our home tournament; we’re treating every game as a final. Our match against England last night was a final, that was a final and if we can’t beat Portugal in our next game – all that good work was for nothing basically because it could be a three way tie and go to for and against and we could miss out on the [Cup] quarters,” O’Connor said.

Australia will play Portugal for their final pool match this afternoon at 3.48pm Adelaide time.

“We don’t even have two hours to get ready for this next game and get them up again. This is where it is good for these kids because it is great experience and character building,” O’Connor, a former Wallaby said.

Australia 26 defeated (Richard Kingi (2), Damon Murphy (2) tries; Richard Kingi (3) conversions) Samoa 19 ( Afa Aiono (2), Simaika Mikaele tries; Lolo Lui (2) conversions).

International Rugby Sevens Adelaide 2009 Pools and Tournament Results

Australian Sevens proudly supported by the Australian Institute of Sport