# 2019 South Africa Sevens

The 2019 South Africa Sevens was the second tournament within the 2019–20 World Rugby Sevens Series and the 21st South Africa Sevens tournament. It was held on 13–15 December 2019 at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.
Fiji, the United States and South Africa – three of the top four teams from the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series – were all drawn into Pool A.

## Format

The 16 teams were drawn into four pools of four. Each team plays every other team in their pool once. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Cup playoffs and compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. The other teams from each pool go to the classification playoffs for 9th to 16th placings.

## Teams

Fifteen core teams participated in the tournament along with one invited team, Japan.
* Argentina
* Australia
* Canada
* England
* Fiji
* France
* Ireland
* Japan
* Kenya
* New Zealand
* Samoa
* Scotland
* South Africa
* Spain
* United States
* Wales

## Pool stage

All times in South African Standard Time (UTC+2:00)
Key to colours in group tables :
* Teams that advanced to the Cup quarter-final

### Pool A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 29 | +67 | 9 |
| Fiji | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 96 | 47 | +49 | 7 |
| United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 49 | +22 | 5 |
| Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 145 | −138 | 3 |
* 13 December 2019 19:35
| United States | 14–28 | Fiji |
| Try: Tomasin 9' c Baker 15' c Con: Hughes (2/2) 9', 15' | Report | Try: Tuimaba (2) 5' c, 6' c Botitu 11' c Naduva 12' c Con: Bolaca (2/2) 5', 7' Nacuqu (2/2) 11', 13' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
* 13 December 2019 20:03
| South Africa | 49–0 | Japan |
| Try: Senatla (2) 1' c, 10' c Arendse (2) 4' c, 7' c Pretorius 8' c S. Davids 12' c Nel 14' c Con: Geduld (4/4) 2', 4', 7', 8' Specman (3/3) 10', 12', 15' | Report | |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Nehuén Jauri-Rivero (Argentina)
* 14 December 2019 13:29
| United States | 42–0 | Japan |
| Try: Isles 6' c Barrett 7' c Hughes (2) 8' c, 14' c Tomasin 11' c Williams 15' Con: Hughes (5/5) 6', 8', 9', 14', 16' Tomasin (1/1) 11' | Report | |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
* 14 December 2019 13:51
| South Africa | 26–14 | Fiji |
| Try: Specman 6' c Senatla 8' m Nel 10' c Geduld 12' c Con: Geduld (3/4) 7', 11', 13' | Report | Try: Tuwai 3' c Botitu 5' c Con: Bolaca (2/2) 3', 5' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
* 14 December 2019 19:35
| Fiji | 54–7 | Japan |
| Try: Tuwai 3' c Nacuqu (3) 4' c, 7' c, 10' c Naduva 6' c Dranisinukula 10' c Vakurunabili 8' m Tuimaba 11' c Con: Nacuqu (4/4) 3', 5', 6', 7' Bolaca (1/2) 11' Botitu (2/2) 10', 11' | Report | Try: Hayashi 14' c Con: Nakazawa (1/1) 14' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)
* 14 December 2019 20:03
| South Africa | 21–15 | United States |
| Try: Sage 3' c Specman 5' c S. Davids 11' c Con: Geduld (3/3) 3', 6', 12' | Report | Try: Isles 7' m Leuta 13' m Baker 14' m Con: Hughes (0/2) Tomasin (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton (England)

### Pool B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 26 | +69 | 9 |
| Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 92 | 40 | +52 | 7 |
| Canada | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 80 | −37 | 5 |
| Wales | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 105 | −84 | 3 |
* 13 December 2019 18:35
| Argentina | 33–21 | Canada |
| Try: Sábato (2) 1' c, 8' c Schulz 5' m Luna 10' c Ulloa 12' c Con: Mare (3/4) 2', 9', 10' Ulloa (1/1) 13' | Report | Try: Braid 3' c Sauder (2/2) 14' c, 15' c Con: Hirayama (1/1) 3' c Coats (2/2) 14', 16' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton (England)
* 13 December 2019 19:05
| New Zealand | 43–7 | Wales |
| Try: Knewstubb 3' c Ware 6' m Webber 8' c Mikkelson 9' m Rokolisoa (2) 11' c, 13' c McGarvey-Black 12' m Con: Knewstubb (3/6) 3', 8', 11' Dickson (1/1) 14' | Report | Try: Gasson 4' c Con: Treharne (1/1) 5' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)
* 14 December 2019 12:45
| Argentina | 45–0 | Wales |
| Try: Schulz (2) 3' c, 5' c Etchart 4' c Ulloa 7' c Prisciantelli 9' c González 12' m Del Mestre 15' Con: Mare (4/4) 4', 5', 6', 7' Ulloa (1/3) 10' | Report | |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
* 14 December 2019 13:07
| New Zealand | 33–5 | Canada |
| Try: Collier 2' c Curry 8' c Mikkelson 11' m Ware 14' c Dickson 15' c Con: Baker (2/2) 2', 8' McGarvey-Black (2/2) 14', 16' Rokolisoa (0/1) | Report | Try: Fuailefau 9' m Con: Hirayama (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)
* 14 December 2019 18:35
| Canada | 17–14 | Wales |
| Try: Sauder (2) 4' m, 9' c Mullins 7' m Con: Hirayama (1/3) 9' | Report | Try: Lewis 12' c Jones 14' c Con: Treharne (2/2) 12', 14' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
* 14 December 2019 19:05
| New Zealand | 19–14 | Argentina |
| Try: Webber (2) 4', 9' c Knewstubb 10' m Con: Knewstubb (2/2) 5', 9' McGarvey-Black (0/1) | Report | Try: Osadczuk 6' c Revol 15' Con: Mare (1/1) 7' Ulloa 16' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

### Pool C

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 38 | +59 | 9 |
| Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 7 |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 66 | +3 | 5 |
| Spain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 95 | −62 | 3 |
* 13 December 2019 17:21
| France | 40–7 | Spain |
| Try: Veredamu 1' c Barraque 4' c Parez 8' c Lakafia 11' m Siega (2) 14' c, 16' c Con: Barraque (3/4) 2', 5', 9' Mazzoleni (2/2) 14', 16' | Report | Try: Rodriguez-Guerra 8' c Con: Hernández (1/1) 8' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)
* 13 December 2019 17:43
| England | 24–26 | Scotland |
| Try: Norton 8' m Emery 9' m Lindsay-Hague 10' c Glover 14' c Con: Bibby (2/4) 10', 14' | Report | Try: Fergusson 4' c McCann 11' c Pecqueur 12' c Sofolarin 15' m Con: Lowe (2/3) 4', 13' Fergusson (1/1) 11' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
* 14 December 2019 12:01
| France | 24–19 | Scotland |
| Try: Barraque 7' m Parez 8' m Penalty try 10' Veredamu 11' c Con: Barraque (1/3) 12' | Report | Try: Pecqueur 4' c Brown 5' c Sofolarin 12' m Con: Lowe (2/3) 5', 6' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton (England)
* 14 December 2019 12:23
| England | 33–7 | Spain |
| Try: Bowen 1' c Norton 4' m Edwards 6' Lindsay-Hague 10' c Glover 14' c Con: Edwards (4/5) 1', 6', 10', 14' | Report | Try: Ramos 8' c Con: Hernández (1/1) 8' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)
* 14 December 2019 17:51
| Spain | 19–22 | Scotland |
| Try: Losada (2) 5' c, 15' Fontes 10' c Con: Hernández (2/2) 5', 10' | Report | Try: Brown 2' m McFarland 7' c Pecqueur (2) 10' m, 12' m Con: Lowe (1/4) 8' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
* 14 December 2019 18:13
| England | 12–33 | France |
| Try: Burgess 2' c Lindsay-Hague 14' m Con: Edwards (1/2) 3' | Report | Try: Barraque (3) 4' c, 11' c, 15' c Lakafia 9' m Siega 13' c Con: Barraque (4/5) 5', 12', 13', 15' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Nehuén Jauri-Rivero (Argentina)

### Pool D

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 59 | +19 | 8 |
| Kenya | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 8 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 5 |
| Samoa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 76 | −29 | 3 |
* 13 December 2019 16:37
| Australia | 21–26 | Ireland |
| Try: Pincus (2) 1' c, 14' c Hutchison 9' c Con: Coward (3/3) 2', 9', 14' | Report | Try: O'Sullivan 6' c O'Donnell 11' c Dardis 13' c Kennedy 16' Con: Dardis (3/3) 7', 12', 13' Roche (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
* 13 December 2019 16:59
| Samoa | 19–24 | Kenya |
| Try: Perez (2) 7' c, 15' m Tuatagaloa 13' c Con: Alosio (1/1) 7' Tuatagaloa (1/1) 14' Vaili (0/1) | Report | Try: Sikuta 3' m Otieno 5' m Taabu 10' c Odhiambo 11' c Con: Taabu (2/4) 11', 11' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
* 14 December 2019 10:57
| Australia | 7–12 | Kenya |
| Try: Pincus 7' c Con: Holland (1/1) 8' | Report | Try: Onyala 4' c Otieno 11' m Con: Taabu (1/2) 4' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Nehuén Jauri-Rivero (Argentina)
* 14 December 2019 11:19
| Samoa | 14–28 | Ireland |
| Try: Tuatagaloa 5' c Motuga 14' c Con: Alosio (1/1) 5', 15' | Report | Try: Conroy 8' c McNulty 8' c O'Donnell 10' c Kennedy 11' c Con: Dardis (4/4) 8', 9', 9', 11' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
* 14 December 2019 16:47
| Ireland | 24–24 | Kenya |
| Try: Lennox 2' c O'Sullivan 5' m Conroy (2) 9' c, 16' m Con: Dardis (2/3) 3', 9' Roche (0/1) | Report | Try: Amonde 4' c Onyala 7' c Olindi 10' m Otieno 11' m Con: Taabu (2/3) 4', 7' Olindi (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)
* 14 December 2019 17:05
| Samoa | 14–24 | Australia |
| Try: Tuitama (2) 8' c, 15' c Con: Alosio (2/2) 8', 15' | Report | Try: Turner (2) 3' m, 8' c McMahon 5' m Kennewell 6' c Con: Holland (2/4) 7', 9' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

## Placement matches
### Fifteenth place

* 15 December 2019 15:48
| Wales | 15–19 | Japan |
| Try: Dyer 1' m Treharne 10' m Wood 15' m Con: Treharne (0/3) | Report | Try: Kano (2) 5' c, 11' Tuiaki 13' c Con: Fujita (1/1) 5' Kano (1/2) 14' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

### Thirteenth place

* 15 December 2019 16:10
| Samoa | 38–7 | Spain |
| Try: Solia 6' c Tuatagaloa 7' c Tuitama 8' m Alosio 9' c Scanlan 13' c Masoe 14' m Con: Alosio (3/4) 6', 8', 10', 13' Vaili (0/1) | Report | Try: Ramos 12' c Con: Hernández (1/1) 12' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Haughton (England)

### Eleventh place

* 15 December 2019 16:32
| Australia | 5–22 | Canada |
| Try: Skelton 5' m Con: Holland (0/1) | Report | Try: Kay 3' c Berna 7' m Richard 9' m Morra 12' m Con: Kay (1/2) 4' Braid (0/2) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Nehuén Jauri-Rivero (Argentina)

### Ninth place

* 15 December 2019 16:54
| United States | 17−12 | England |
| Try: Unufe 3' m Barrett 6' m Isles 8' c Con: Hughes (1/3) 9' | Report | Try: Lindsay-Hague 2' c Norton 13' m Con: Edwards (1/2) 3' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)

## Knockout stage
### Cup

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Cup Final | Cup Final |
| 15 December – 11:28 – Cape Town | 15 December – 11:28 – Cape Town | | | |
| South Africa | 17 | | | |
| South Africa | 17 | 15 December – 14:44 – Cape Town | 15 December – 14:44 – Cape Town | | |
| Kenya | 5 | 15 December – 14:44 – Cape Town | 15 December – 14:44 – Cape Town | |
| Kenya | 5 | South Africa | 21 | |
| 15 December – 11:50 – Cape Town | 15 December – 11:50 – Cape Town | | South Africa | 21 | |
| 15 December – 11:50 – Cape Town | 15 December – 11:50 – Cape Town | France | 14 | |
| France | 19 | France | 14 | |
| France | 19 | | | | 15 December – 18:56 – Cape Town | 15 December – 18:56 – Cape Town |
| Argentina | 10 | | | | 15 December – 18:56 – Cape Town | 15 December – 18:56 – Cape Town |
| Argentina | 10 | | | | South Africa | 5 |
| 15 December – 12:12 – Cape Town | 15 December – 12:12 – Cape Town | | | | | South Africa | 5 |
| 15 December – 12:12 – Cape Town | 15 December – 12:12 – Cape Town | | | | New Zealand | 7 |
| Ireland | 12 | | | | New Zealand | 7 |
| Ireland | 12 | 15 December – 15:06 – Cape Town | 15 December – 15:06 – Cape Town | | | |
| Fiji | 31 | 15 December – 15:06 – Cape Town | 15 December – 15:06 – Cape Town | | | |
| Fiji | 31 | Fiji | 7 | | | |
| 15 December – 12:34 – Cape Town | 15 December – 12:34 – Cape Town | | Fiji | 7 | | | |
| 15 December – 12:34 – Cape Town | 15 December – 12:34 – Cape Town | New Zealand | 24 | | Third place | Third place |
| New Zealand | 35 | New Zealand | 24 | | Third place | Third place |
| New Zealand | 35 | | | | 15 December – 17:59 – Cape Town | 15 December – 17:59 – Cape Town |
| Scotland | 19 | | | | 15 December – 17:59 – Cape Town | 15 December – 17:59 – Cape Town |
| Scotland | 19 | | | | France | 29 (a.e.t) |
| | | | | | Fiji | 24 |

#### Quarter-finals

* 15 December 2019 11:28
| South Africa | 17–5 | Kenya |
| Try: Nel (2) 5' m, 9' c S. Davids 13' m Con: Geduld (1/2) 9' | Report | Try: Otieno 3' m Con: Taabu (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
* 15 December 2019 11:50
| France | 19–10 | Argentina |
| Try: Lakafia 5' c Siega 10' c Riva 14' m Con: Barraque (2/3) 5', 10' | Report | Try: Etchart 2' m Sábato 6' m Con: Mare (0/2) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
* 15 December 2019 12:12
| Ireland | 12–31 | Fiji |
| Try: Conroy 4' c Kennedy 9' m Con: Dardis (1/2) 5' | Report | Try: Bolaca 6' c Tuimaba 8' c Nacuqu (2) 11' m, 13' c Naduva 15' m Con: Bolaca (2/3) 7', 9' Nacuqu (1/2) 14' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
* 15 December 2019 12:34
| New Zealand | 35–19 | Scotland |
| Try: Ng Shiu (2) 3' c, 6' c Knewstubb 5' c Baker (2) 8' c, 10' c Con: Knewstubb (4/4) 4', 6', 7', 9' Baker (1/1) 11' | Report | Try: Fife 9' m Pecqueur 13' c Bickerstaff 13' c Con: Fergusson (1/1) 13' Lowe (1/2) 14' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Francisco González (Uruguay)

#### Semi-finals

* 15 December 2019 14:44
| South Africa | 21–14 | France |
| Try: Nel 9' c Pretorius 9' c Soyizwapi 13' c Con: Geduld (3/3) 9', 10', 13' | Report | Try: O'Connor 6' c Laugel 16' c Con: Barraque (1/1) 7' Riva 16' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
* 15 December 2019 15:06
| Fiji | 7–24 | New Zealand |
| Try: Botitu 8' c Con: Bolaca (1/1) 8' | Report | Try: Penalty try 3' Baker 4' c Ware 7' c Knewstubb 9' Con: Baker (1/1) 5' Knewstubb (0/2) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

#### Third place

* 15 December 2018 17:59
| France | 29–24 (a.e.t.) | Fiji |
| Try: Barraque 3' m Mignot (2) 4' m, 8' c <nt> Zeghdar 6' c Veredamu 16' Con: Barraque (1/3) 6' Mazzoleni (1/1) 8' | Report | Try: Tuwai 7' m Mocenacagi (2) 10' c, 11' c K. Tabu 15' Con: Nacuqu (2/3) 10', 11' Bolaca (0/1) |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

#### Final

* 15 December 2019 18:56
| South Africa | 5–7 | New Zealand |
| Try: Geduld 9' m Con: Geduld (0/1) | Report | Try: McGarvey-Black 12' c Con: Rokolisoa (1/1) 12' |
* Cape Town Stadium Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)

## Tournament placings

| Place | Team | Points |
| | New Zealand | 22 |
| | South Africa | 19 |
| | France | 17 |
| 4 | Fiji | 15 |
| 5 | Argentina | 13 |
| 6 | Ireland | 12 |
| 7 | Kenya | 11 |
| 8 | Scotland | 10 |
| Place | Team | Points |
| 9 | United States | 8 |
| 10 | England | 7 |
| 11 | Canada | 6 |
| 12 | Australia | 5 |
| 13 | Samoa | 4 |
| 14 | Spain | 3 |
| 15 | Japan | 2 |
| 16 | Wales | 1 |

## Dream Team

Runners-up and host team South Africa contributed three players to the tournament Dream Team.
| Forwards | Backs |
| Scott Curry Alvin Otieno JC Pretorius | Jean Pascal Barraque Rosko Specman Ruhan Nel Jordan Conroy |
World Sevens Series XIX :
| Preceded by2019 Dubai Sevens | 2019 South Africa Sevens | Succeeded by2019 New Zealand Sevens |
| South Africa Sevens |||
| Preceded by2018 South Africa Sevens | 2019 South Africa Sevens | Succeeded by2022 South Africa Sevens |