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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:01:12:17:41 by Kath..

England Sevens switch pays off for Sam Edgerley
Issued by Simon Mills

England's Sam Edgerley

Sam Edgerley’s persistence and switch of positions have paid off as he prepares to make a long-awaited England debut in the next leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Tokyo.

The 20 year-old from Chobham in Surrey was a prolific try scorer at junior level, winning caps for England’s Under 18, 19 and 20 teams.

But his role is now to create as well as score as a half back in sevens and a scrum half in the 15-a-side game with new club Rosslyn Park, where he works on his passing skills with hundreds of repetitions off either hand.

He comes into the England squad for his first World Series tournament to replace Isoa Damudamu with first day matches against hosts Japan, France and Hong Kong champions Fiji on the horizon this Saturday.

Edgerley said: "I’m really excited - I’ve spent a long time training with England Sevens since last February.

“I had a big pre-season since August and been training all the way through with the boys, I’ve seen a lot of selections and not been picked a lot of times so it felt great to be picked.”

A Classics student at University College London, he played for London Irish and Esher, winning the player of the tournament accolade at last year’s Middlesex Sevens and appearing for England in the FIRA AER European GP Sevens in Bucharest.

“I played wing for my whole schoolboy career and signed a contract with London Irish straight after school as a wing and then came to the sevens and realised sevens was what I really wanted to do,” he said.

“I had some chats with Ben [Ryan, the England Head Coach] and he saw me more as a half back. I was with Esher at the start of this season as a wing and half-way through the season I’ve moved to Rosslyn Park as a scrum half and I’m really enjoying it down there.

“I get on well with the coach Jan Bonney and he’s been helping me out a lot with scrum half skills along with Ben.

“As a scrum half or half back in sevens as opposed to running in the tries I have to use my feet and then use a long pass to the speedsters like [Dan] Norton, so I’ve worked on my pass a lot.

“I’ve been in to Rosslyn Park every day to do 200 passes off each hand, and the thing that Ben talks about a lot is the tempo of the game, knowing when to raise the tempo, lower the tempo and control the game.”

TV cameras go behind scenes with England Sevens

Issued by Simon Mills
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England Sevens Head Coach Ben Ryan directs operations at Hong Kong Stadium

England Sevens fans will get an unprecedented behind-the-scenes view of the team in this week’s edition of Total Rugby, the IRB's official magazine show that airs in 168 countries worldwide.

The cameras were with the team throughout the build-up and in competition at last week’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

The half-hour programme is broadcast for the first time on SkySports2 at 5.30pm today, Wednesday, March 28, and will be available to view on RFU.com from Friday, March 30.

“Total Rugby were thrilled to be given complete behind-the-scenes access to the England Sevens team by Head Coach Ben Ryan and the Rugby Football Union,” said Series Producer Martin Cross from Engage Sports Media.

“It’s a brave decision for any sport to make but we hope that it gives real insight into the lives of these elite athletes and the pressures they face playing in the HSBC Sevens World Series.”

England Sevens are now in Tokyo for this weekend’s seventh leg of the World Series after being beaten by eventual champions Fiji at the semi final stage in Hong Kong.

“We couldn’t quite give the show the ending we wanted but working with Total Rugby was a positive experience for us all,” said Head Coach Ryan.

“We’re privileged to have thousands of supporters who get behind us all around the world and we hope that this will give them a unique view of what we do and how we aspire to be the best.”

Tickets are now available for the Marriott London Sevens weekend on May 12 and 13 2012, with weekend passes starting from £30, single day tickets from £18 and kids tickets at £5 each day. Throughout the month of March all category 2 weekend tickets are available for just £20. (Tickets are subject to availability and booking fees apply).

England weather storm in Tokyo Sevens opener
Saturday March 31, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

England survived a storm to get their Tokyo Sevens campaign up and running with a 15-5 win over hosts Japan.

Mat Turner, Tom Powell and Rob Vickerman scored the tries in a howling wind that made anything other than short-range passing a lottery at the Prince Chichibu Stadium.

Takayuki Yamauchi's try had levelled things at half-time for Japan, who have not beaten England in the 13 meetings between the sides in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

England face France and Fiji later today with quarter final places - potentially against South Africa or Samoa - at stake.

Chris Brightwell - a replacement for injured forward Chris Cracknell - started the opening game of the tournament and his physical presence helped England get to grips with the conditions.

A couple of early penalties allowed half back John Brake to put Turner away for the opener, although Yamauchi responded by going over in the corner shortly before the break.

England tightened up and put pressure on in the second half, driving up the short side for Powell to score in the corner.

But in the treacherous conditions they needed a third try to be sure and it came late on when substitute Charlie Walker got away up the left with Vickerman following up to score.

Wales held on to beat Russia 10-7 in their opening game – Harry Robinson and Adam Thomas scoring the tries – and Scotland had chances but couldn’t take them in their 14-0 defeat to series leaders New Zealand.

England slide into Tokyo Sevens quarter finals
Saturday March 31, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

England beat Japan and France to book a place in the quarter finals on a stormy opening day of the Tokyo Sevens.

Mat Turner, Tom Powell and Rob Vickerman scored the tries to see off the hosts 15-5, before Turner, Tom Mitchell and Chris Brightwell touched down in a 19-7 win against France.

The first was achieved in a howling gale and the second – when the wind had dropped - in pouring rain, which encouraged teams to hustle their opponents into errors and kick for position.

England face Hong Kong champions Fiji in the final group match at 11:32 BST today with South Africa or Samoa the potential semi final opponents tomorrow.

Head Coach Ben Ryan had called up former Sale Sharks flanker Brightwell as a replacement for injured forward Chris Cracknell in the week and his physical presence helped England get to grips with the conditions in both games.

Against Japan, a couple of early penalties allowed half back John Brake to put Turner away for the opener, Takayuki Yamauchi replying to make it 5-5 at the break.

England tightened up in the second half, driving up the short side for Powell to score in the corner, then adding an important third try when substitute Charlie Walker got away up the left with Vickerman following up to score.

France were then comprehensively outplayed in the wet as Brightwell set the tone by holding off Jonathan Laugel repeatedly before touching down in the left-hand corner.

The HSBC Sevens World Series’s leading try-scorer Dan Norton didn’t add to his tally in the opening two matches, but he supplied a cunning cross-kick for Mitchell to slide over, convert and give England a 12-0 lead at the break.

They then harried France into giving up the ball with Mitchell putting Turner over for a third try, then used replacements like debutant Sam Edgerley to defend a 19-0 lead before Renaud Delmas’s late consolation score.

Wales are also through to the quarter finals after beating Russia 10-7 in their opening game – Harry Robinson and Adam Thomas scoring the tries – before an impressive 22-0 victory over Kenya.

Robinson, Richie Pugh, Lee Williams and Richard Smith supplied the tries.

Scotland had chances to reach the quarter finals but were beaten 14-0 by South Africa and 14-7 by Samoa.

England's clean sweep on day one of Tokyo Sevens
Saturday March 31, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

England reeled off impressive victories over Fiji, France and Japan to complete an unbeaten first day at the Tokyo Sevens.

Ben Ryan’s men made light of treacherous conditions, high winds and heavy rain to finish the day with a 14-7 victory over Hong Kong champions Fiji after seeing off France 19-7 and hosts Japan 15-5.

The clean sweep sets up a quarter final against South Africa and a chance of instant retribution against the side that beat England 28-0 in last weekend’s third place play-off.

Head coach Ryan said: “We got stuck in with three very typical English performances and our tackle completion rate was unbelievable – we maybe missed one in 100.

“It is Day One and we’re not getting carried away but we couldn’t have asked for the first day to go any better and momentum is important.

“We’ve now got a very tough quarter final against a side who frankly embarrassed us [in Hong Kong]. We’re a better side than that and we’d like to show them what we can do.”

Mat Turner, Tom Powell and Rob Vickerman scored the tries to see off the hosts before Turner, Tom Mitchell and Chris Brightwell touched down against France.

Mitchell’s acceleration through the middle stunned Fiji in the final game of the day as he put England in front mid-way through the first half.

Dan Norton, the HSBC Sevens World Series’s leading try scorer, then added a second by bursting off the back of a midfield ruck to beat three tacklers and go under the posts early in the second.

Metuisela Talebula responded to get Fiji back in the game but England clung on for the closing couple of minutes to complete their first unbeaten first day since their Dubai title victory in December.

“It’s been a hard day today because of the weather – you wouldn’t have thought it was spring in Tokyo, it’s more like winter in Wales,” said Norton, who took his tally to 30 for the season.

“But we played the conditions really well, made our tackles and did the basics right. That tackling was really the key.”

Brightwell hadn’t featured in the Series since the opening leg in the Gold Coast last November until he was summoned as a replacement for the injured Chris Cracknell earlier this week.

But the former Sale Sharks flanker delivered a series of powerful performances – including handing off France’s Jonathan Laugel on the way to the line, then denting the Fiji defence with two big carries before the Mitchell and Norton tries.

Ryan said: “Chris has been brilliant today. It started with getting his hands on the ball early, taking people on, and he gave us a bit of go-forward.

“He’s taken his chance so well and I’m really pleased for him. He’s been on the touchline so long.”

Turner sends England into Tokyo semi final
Sunday April 1, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

Mathew Turner’s stunning last-gasp try sent England surging into the semi finals of the Tokyo Sevens today.

The centre raced 70 metres down the right to score from the final play of the game and complete a 21-17 win against South Africa.

England now face Australia, 21-14 winners against Wales, in the semi finals of the seventh leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Tom Powell and Dan Norton also scored with Tom Mitchell adding three conversions to erase the memories of their 28-0 drubbing by the Blitzbokke in Hong Kong last weekend.

Kyle Brown, Stephan Dippenaar and William Small-Smith scored tries for South Africa who led 17-7 early in the second half before the comeback was launched.

England simply couldn’t get their hands on the ball in the first half as Brown and Dippenaar scored early tries with Branco du Preez adding a conversion.

They got one try back on the stroke of half time when Mitchell powered down the right and flipped the ball inside five metres from the line with Norton batting it on for Powell to strike.

Small-Smith’s try and some unforced errors left England struggling at 17-7 down but Norton weaved and twisted past half-a-dozen defenders to go under the posts for his 31st try of the season.

England were pinned back on their own line, though, but maintained their composure after the hooter had sounded, won a penalty inside their own 22 and then fashioned the room for Turner to gallop down the right to snatch victory.

Wales impressed against Australia but couldn’t snatch the late score they needed to send their quarter final into extra time.

Sean McMahon, Daniel Yakobo and Shannon Walker’s first half tries for the Wallabies proved decisive with Cardiff duo Harry Robinson and Richard Smith touching down in reply.

Scotland went down 22-19 in the Bowl quarter final against France when Jean Baptiste Mazouet’s late try denied them. Sean Kennedy scored two tries and Mark Robertson one for the Scots, who now face Russia in the Shield semi final.
Simon Mills

England face New Zealand in play-off after semi final exit
Sunday April 1, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

England will face HSBC Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand in the third-place play off at the Tokyo Sevens after being beaten by Australia at the semi final stage.

They began the day with an outstanding 21-17 win against South Africa secured with Mat Turner’s try from the final play of the match after Tom Powell and Dan Norton had also touched down.

But they couldn’t hang onto the ball against Australia who ran in five tries in their 33-12 victory. Norton and James Rodwell scoring England’s consolation tries.

They now tackle champions New Zealand today (08:07 BST), who were stunned by Samoa 17-12 in the other semi.

England won the Ashes battle in the quarter finals of last weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens, when Norton’s length-of-the-field strike secured a 19-14 victory.

This time round Australia raised their game scoring through Allan Fa’alava’au, Shannon Walker and Sean McMahon in the space of six minutes.

Norton replied with his 80th career try on the HSBC Sevens World Series after Brightwell and Mitchell broke up the middle, Mitchell converting.

Tries early in the second half from Ed Jenkins and Damon Anderson settled it, although Rodwell got over in the final minute for a second England try.

It took the gloss off England’s impressive Day One performances against Japan, France and Fiji, and their dramatic quarter final win against South Africa.

England trailed 17-7 in that game to tries from Kyle Brown, Stephan Dippenaar and William Small-Smith with Tom Powell replying.

Norton weaved past half-a-dozen defenders to go under the posts for a second try but England were pinned back near their own line in the final seconds.

They maintained their composure after the hooter had sounded, won a penalty inside their own 22 and then fashioned the room for Turner to gallop down the right to snatch victory.

England beaten by New Zealand and finish fourth at Tokyo Sevens
Sunday April 1, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

England finished fourth in the Tokyo Sevens after a 24-17 play-off defeat against HSBC Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand.

They had opened they day with an outstanding 21-17 win over South Africa only to go down 33-12 in the semi finals against eventual Tokyo champions Australia, who beat Samoa 28-26 in the final.

The result leaves England fourth in the overall standings with 104 points, behind New Zealand (128), Fiji (122) and South Africa (105) in the rankings. The series now moves to Glasgow (May 5-6) before its finale at the Marriott London Sevens (May 12-13).

England led New Zealand 17-0 at one stage – with tries from Tom Mitchell, Greg Barden and Dan Norton, who touched down his 33rd of the season – but head coach Ben Ryan reflected on a positive weekend that saw England come out in credit against the leading teams.

“There are tons of positives in as much as we played the top three teams in the world, beat two of them and were 17-0 up against the number one team and should have shut them down,” said Ryan.

“We started really poorly against Australia and paid the price for three minutes when we didn’t touch the ball.

“Our last minute win against South Africa and a clinical win against Fiji last night mean there’s much we can be positive about but we’ve got high standards.

“We’re not a good enough side to stare down at others and dominate every game but we’ve dominated large periods and we’ve got to make that count. We’ve just got to keep plugging away, working hard. Our time will come.”

After beating Japan, France and Fiji on day one, England pulled off a dramatic 21-17 victory against South Africa in the Tokyo quarter final.

Time was up and they trailed 17-14 – Kyle Brown, Stephan Dippenaar and William Small-Smith touching down for the Blitzbokke – but somehow fashioned an opening to put Turner away from 70 metres to add to tries from Tom Powell and Norton. Mitchell converted all three.

England couldn’t get their hands on the ball at all against Australia and were 21-0 down to strikes from Allan Fa’alava’au, Shannon Walker and Sean McMahon in the space of five minutes.

Norton replied after Chris Brightwell and Mitchell broke up the middle, Mitchell converting, but tries early in the second half from Ed Jenkins and Damon Anderson settled it, although Rodwell got over in the final minute for England's second try.

Ryan made changes for the play-off – newcomer Sam Edgerley, skipper Barden, Christian Lewis-Pratt and Rodwell all starting their first games of the weekend.

Mitchell scorched past the cover to gather Lewis-Pratt’s kick for the first try, Norton carved his way up the middle for the second and when Barden ploughed over from close range England were in charge.

Tim Mikkelson pulled one back before the interval, though, and England were on the wrong end of some penalties at the breakdown with two tries from Mark Jackman and one from Waisake Naholo seeing the champions home.

For Rob Vickerman, who led England on the field in five of the weekend’s six games, the focus is now on finishing the series on a high in Glasgow and London

He said: “The guys really stood up to the pressures and we rode a lot of the momentum from yesterday but it’s about those clinical moments and that’s how sport it is - it can be a brutal game.

“That was the opportunity to overtake South Africa [in the series] and that was disappointing but we’re coming into the home nations tournaments now and we want to make sure there’s lots of people behind us and that we make everyone proud.”