Wales show courage as All Blacks take sevens title

Mar 31 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

WORLD sevens masters New Zealand put paid to Welsh dreams at the IRB Series in Hong Kong – but not before Johnathan Edwards’ side had gained respect for a battling effort.

Despite losing 15-0 to Fiji and 26-7 to New Zealand, Wales reached the top eight at the world’s leading tournament and will move onto the next leg of the series in Adelaide in buoyant mood.

Wales beat Zimbabwe 34-0 and Korea 34-5 before going down to Fiji in their last pool game.

“We made the All Blacks work very hard and again showed we are capable of matching the intensity of the top teams,” said skipper Edwards before the Kiwis took a first Hong Kong Sevens title since 2001 with a 26-12 final win over South Africa.

“I was proud of the effort we made. We now need to consolidate and become even more competitive.

“The youngsters are growing with every training session and game. It is only by facing the best teams in the world that you will eventually get better.”

It won’t get any easier in the sixth of the eight rounds of the IRB Series where Wales’ pool includes Samoa, Tonga and Japan.

But that’s just how this young squad like it, according to coach Gareth Baber.

“They’ve worked really hard together and there is no doubt we are making great progress,” he said.

“We pressurised the All Blacks and their coach must have been a bit worried when Richie Pugh scored his try to make it 12-7.

“There were one or two more openings we created, but I’m happy with the way we competed against the top two sevens nations.”

Wily half-back Tomasi Cama undid Wales in the quarter-final, scoring a try in each half and converting three of his side’s four tries.

Cama’s first try was followed by a second score from Steve Yates to make it 12-0 at half-time.

Then came Wales’ best moment when they forced Cama into an error and Pugh pounced to score. Lee Williams added the conversion and with three minutes to go there was one score in it.

But Cama’s second try gave the Kiwis breathing space and Yates rounded off the game with a corner try.

England lost 17-12 to Samoa in the quarters, and Scotland lost 7-5 to Argentina in the Plate quarters.