# 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.

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

### Challenge Trophy

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

### Fifth place

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

### Cup

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Cup Final | Cup Final |
| 9 December – 12:04 – Cape Town | 9 December – 12:04 – Cape Town | | | |
| South Africa | 21 | | | |
| South Africa | 21 | 9 December – 16:34 – Cape Town | 9 December – 16:34 – Cape Town | | |
| Scotland | 12 | 9 December – 16:34 – Cape Town | 9 December – 16:34 – Cape Town | |
| Scotland | 12 | South Africa | 12 | |
| 9 December – 12:26 – Cape Town | 9 December – 12:26 – Cape Town | | South Africa | 12 | |
| 9 December – 12:26 – Cape Town | 9 December – 12:26 – Cape Town | Fiji | 17 | |
| Fiji | 46 | Fiji | 17 | |
| Fiji | 46 | | | | 9 December – 19:44 – Cape Town | 9 December – 19:44 – Cape Town |
| Spain | 7 | | | | 9 December – 19:44 – Cape Town | 9 December – 19:44 – Cape Town |
| Spain | 7 | | | | Fiji | 29 |
| 9 December – 12:48 – Cape Town | 9 December – 12:48 – Cape Town | | | | | Fiji | 29 |
| 9 December – 12:48 – Cape Town | 9 December – 12:48 – Cape Town | | | | United States | 15 |
| Australia | 17 | | | | United States | 15 |
| Australia | 17 | 9 December – 16:56 – Cape Town | 9 December – 16:56 – Cape Town | | | |
| New Zealand | 26 | 9 December – 16:56 – Cape Town | 9 December – 16:56 – Cape Town | | | |
| New Zealand | 26 | New Zealand | 12 | | | |
| 9 December – 13:10 – Cape Town | 9 December – 13:10 – Cape Town | | New Zealand | 12 | | | |
| 9 December – 13:10 – Cape Town | 9 December – 13:10 – Cape Town | United States | 31 | | Third place | Third place |
| United States | 19 | United States | 31 | | Third place | Third place |
| United States | 19 | | | | 9 December – 19:18 – Cape Town | 9 December – 19:18 – Cape Town |
| England | 12 | | | | 9 December – 19:18 – Cape Town | 9 December – 19:18 – Cape Town |
| England | 12 | | | | South Africa | 10 |
| | | | | | New Zealand | 5 |
Matches :
Quarter-finals
9 December 2018 12:04South Africa 21–12 ScotlandCape Town Stadium
9 December 2018 12:26Fiji 46–7 SpainCape Town Stadium
9 December 2018 12:48Australia 17–26 New ZealandCape Town Stadium
9 December 2018 13:10United States 19–12 EnglandCape Town Stadium
Semi-finals
9 December 2018 16:34South Africa 12–17 FijiCape Town Stadium
9 December 2018 16:56New Zealand 12–31 United StatesCape Town Stadium
3rd place
9 December 2018 19:18South Africa 10–5 New ZealandCape Town Stadium
Cup Final
9 December 2018 19:44Fiji 29–15 United StatesCape 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 |
| 7 | Scotland | 10 |
| Place | Team | Points |
| 9 | Argentina | 8 |
| 10 | Samoa | 7 |
| 11 | Canada | 5 |
| 11 | France | 5 |
| 13 | Kenya | 3 |
| 14 | Wales | 2 |
| 15 | Japan | 1 |
| 15 | Zimbabwe | 1 |
Source: World Rugby

## Players
### Scoring leaders

Source: World Rugby

### Dream Team

The following seven players were selected to the tournament Dream Team at the conclusion of the tournament:
| Forwards | Backs |
| Kalione Nasoko Danny Barrett David Afamasaga | Alasio Naduva Madison Hughes Sione Molia Rosko Specman |