Rugby World Cup Sevens: England avoid double disaster but Australia dumped out by jubilant France

After watching the women crash out in their opening match against Ireland, the Men’s team were able to see off qualifiers 19-15

England's men scraped through after the women were humbled in their opener (AP)

England avoided a double disaster on the first day of the Rugby World Cup Sevens as the men’s side scraped past Samoa in a controversial last-16 clash, following a disappointing day for England Women.

After watching the women crash out in their opening match against Ireland, the Men’s team were able to see off qualifiers 19-15 in a match that saw the Pacific Islanders reduced to six men when Belgium Tuatagaloa was sent-off with a third of the game left to play for a second yellow card.

England initially fell behind through an early try from Neria Fomai, but leadin Sevens try-scorer Dan Norton levelled the scores soon after and Phil Burgess put Simon Amor’s side in front before the break. Samoa fought back though as Tuatagaloa finished powerfully from close range, but his joy was soon transformed to despair.

After being shown a yellow card for killing the ball when England attacked down the left, referee Damon Murphy also reviewed an earlier slap-down from the same player, deciding that both offences were worthy of a yellow and sending him off permanently all in the same incident.

A man short for the remaining four minutes, Samoa were unable to withstand the pressure and Richard de Carpentier broke away down the right to finish and put England into the Championship quarter-finals on Saturday were they will face the United States after they emphatically thrashed Wales 35-0.

Martin Iosefo got the party started for the World Cup hosts as a rocking stadium rounded out the night, before Perry Baker demonstrated his renowned lethal finishing with a second try from inside his own half. The 31-year-old record US try-scorer went one better as when he added a second from more than 80 minutes in. Danny Barrett and Carlin Isles rounded out the rout, sending the fans off into the San Francisco night chanting “USA! USA! USA!”.

There was a major shock in the match before England’s as France knocked out Australia as Tavite Veredamu scored a late try to put Les Bleus into the last-eight, where they will face old rivals and defending world champions New Zealand as they powered past Russia 29-5.

France beat Jamaica and Australia to reach the Championship quarter-finals (Getty)

Fiji meanwhile survived a first-half scare against a Japan side featuring a heavy influence of Pacific Island-born players that surged to a 10-7 half-time lead through Josefa Lilidamu and Jose Coyickal Seru. Semi Kuritani responded for Fiji, who turned on the talent in the second half as captain Jerry Tuwai led the fightback as the fan favourites put four more unanswered tries past Japan, with both Josua Tuisova and Semi Radradra continuing their fantastic run in form this season by both crossing the whitewash.

Justin Gedard sported a unique-looking hairstyle to the delight of the fans (Getty)

Fiji may be the people’s favourites to win the world championship on Sunday, but South Africa proved why they are the bookmakers’ select choice as the lit up the San Francisco night sky with a 45-7 demolition of Ireland, with the colourful dreadlocks of Justin Geduld prominent as he scored twice in a seven-try rout.

Having clinched a second consecutive World Series title in Paris last month, it’s already going to take a monumental effort from one of the remaining seven sides to stop them from Sevens domination.

Swiss watchmaker TUDOR is the Official Time Keeper of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in partnership with World Rugby. For further information visit www.tudorwatch.com