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PHOTOS & VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: USA SEVENS 2014, ACTION IN LAS VEGAS — DAY 2

On a breathless day's action at the Sam Boyd Stadium, Canada performed heroics to reach only their second-ever Cup semi-final in IRB Sevens rugby, joining defending USA Sevens champions South Africa, New Zealand and Samoa in the final four.

 

The South Africans, the most recent winners on the HSBC Sevens World Series, have conceded just seven points in their four matches so far at the Sam Boyd Stadium and beat Argentina 36-0 in their quarter-final with tries by Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez, Seabelo Senatla, Chris Dry (2) and Werner Kok. They next face Samoa in an enthralling match-up between the only two sides to have won a Cup in Las Vegas.

 

The 2010 and 2012 champions, Samoa, came from 10-0 behind to beat Australia 12-10 with tries from Sani Niue and Lio Lolo.

 

In another enthralling quarter-final Canada came from 14-0 behind to reach their first Cup semi final since the Tokyo Sevens back in 2000, defeating France 17-14 with Connor Braid scoring two tries before Nanyak Dala snatched the win.

 

The Cannucks will face Series leaders New Zealand after the All Blacks Sevens proved too strong for England in the last of the quarter-finals, winning 24-7 spear-headed by a hat-trick from Waisake Naholo.

 

Gordon Tietjens' side will be without George Tilsley for one more match, however, and Sam Dickson for eight more matches after both players received disciplinary sanctions following their match with Fiji.

 

Special thanks to STP/Tri Marine for their sponsorship of Barry Markowitz's sports photos.

 

Click to see Day 1 photos