Sakura Sevens Finish Fifth in Cape Town

Following their slow start in Pool B at the Cape Town leg of HSBC SVNS Series, the Sakura Sevens were unable to replicate their podium finish from Dubai a week earlier. While they finished the weekend strongly to come in fifth place overall, their pool match losses to France and Australia ensured they couldn’t repeat the same level of heroics from the opening tournament.

While still early in the competition and with seven more tournaments to play in the new year, the Sakura Sevens currently sit in third place on the overall series standings and go into the Christmas and New Year break full of confidence.

Their weekend started well, with a solid 26-19 win over Canada whom they also defeated in their pool match a week earlier in Dubai. This was followed by their first HSBC SVNS Series meeting with France, who after their fast start, raced away to a 7-22 halftime lead. The Sakura Fifteen managed to stage a second half fightback, but it was too little, too late, with France hanging on to get the win, 19-29.

It was a case of déjà vu once again, when Japan came up against one of the series pace setters in Australia in their final Pool B match. Having come Runners-Up in Dubai and going on to win the Final in Cape Town, the Aussies were once again too fast and too strong for the Sakuras. Their 5-36 win over Japan highlighting that they will be a team well in contention at the pointy end of the series.

Putting their pool disappointment behind them, the Sakura Fifteen then set their sights on the Fifth Place Semi Final where they would come up against a Great Britain side who they already beat soundly in Dubai. It proved to be a similar case in Cape Town with Japan going on to win 25-7 and setting up a second meeting in as many days with Canada in the Fifth Place Play Off.

In what was a close-run, low scoring match, Canada looked to have it clinched with their 7-10 lead when the final siren sounded. However, with the ball still in play and in the hands of the Sakuras, Japan had one last roll of the dice. Maintaining possession and launching raids down both sides of the field, they finally found a gap on the right flank. Getting the last pass away, Yume Hirano used her pace to get around the Canadian defence to dot down in the corner. While Japan missed the conversion, they had done enough to secure a brave 12-10 come-from-behind victory.

Following the tournament, Sakura Sevens Head Coach Yuka Kanematsu said:

“Thank you for all the support from our fans back in Japan and around the world. Competing over two consecutive weeks in a top-eight world tournament was a huge challenge. Throughout it all, our players gave their absolute best with the collective determination of every single player leading to our fifth-place finish. We will apply what we’ve learned from these two tournaments to the future activities of Sakura Sevens as we continue our journey.”

The Sakura Sevens will now take a well-earned break over the New Year before reconvening ahead of the next leg of the series in Singapore. Played over the weekend of January 31 and February 1, the action then moves onto Perth, Western Australia the following weekend.