Ireland will face New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the season-ending Los Angeles Sevens on Sunday (7:19 p.m. Irish time).
Ireland finished second in Pool C having won two of their three matches on Saturday and are on course for their best fifth-place finish in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
James Topping’s side have reached the quarterfinals in all but one of their nine World Series tournaments this season.
Make an instant impact ?
Mark Roche completes a perfectly executed team try minutes into the second half @DHLRugby | #ImpactMoment | @RugbyIrish pic.twitter.com/wG97Kd5Dja
—World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) August 27, 2022
Chay Mullins’ late try netted a 14-12 win over France in their opener and he also scored the last of their eight tries in a 46-12 demolition of Wales, as ‘Andrew Smith and Aaron O’Sullivan both hit the ground twice.
Ireland were beaten 21-7 by Fiji in their final pool game to secure a date with New Zealand, who were one of four teams to advance to the quarter-finals with records of perfect victories.
The other fixtures in the final eight will see Australia take on Kenya, Fiji take on the United States and Samoa take on Argentina.
Australia will be crowned World Series champions if they reach the final in Los Angeles, and also if they finish third and Argentina do not win gold.
And here’s how the Cup quarter-finals line up ahead of Matchday 2 at HSBC #LA7s
Everything to play with @Aussie7s, @lospumas7arg and @fijirugby on the hunt for men #HSBC7s Series title pic.twitter.com/9fpGdWCioq
—World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) August 28, 2022
South Africa are two points clear of Australia at the top of the table, but face a nervous wait after defeats to New Zealand and the United States in Pool B, which left them missing out on a place in the quarter-finals.
Fiji could also snatch the series if they win gold and Australia do not finish higher than fourth.
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