Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union England were runners-up at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow in 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens Venue: AT&T Park San Francisco, USA Date: 20-22 July Coverage: Match reports on the BBC Sport Website and app. England's men will play New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Sevens final after they beat South Africa 29-7. England went behind early, but tries from Harry Glover, Tom Mitchell, Ruaridh McConnochie, Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Dan Norton sealed the win. Simon Amor's side will meet defending champions New Zealand in San Francisco after the All Blacks beat favourites Fiji 22-17 in the second semi-final. The final is scheduled for 17:53 local time on Sunday (01:53 BST Monday). Analysis Former England men's sevens captain Rob Vickerman This cup knockout format promoted the chances of some shocks, but getting seeds one to four through to the semis suggested the top two seeds of South Africa and Fiji contesting the final. England absolutely ripped up the form sheet as they were meticulous, playing against a team they have beaten in Olympic, Commonwealth and now World Cup latter stages. New Zealand matched Fiji's physicality and created opportunity to capitalise on rare errors from the Olympic gold medallists. It will be a retained double men's and women's World Cup if New Zealand win, or England could end a 25-year wait.<doc-sep>The All Blacks Sevens will defend their World Cup title against England, after overcoming Fiji in a dramatic semi-final in San Francisco. The Kiwis secured a come-from-behind 22-17 win over Fiji on Monday morning (NZ time). New Zealand started strongly, with Joe Ravouvou opening the scoring with less than three minutes gone, but Fiji hit back through former NRL star Semi Radradra to take the lead. New Zealand replied before the break, when Dylan Collier scored his first try of the tournament. The Fijians went ahead 12-10, after match officials ruled Amenoni Nasilasila's foot was not in touch, after a desperation tackle by Collier, despite replays suggesting otherwise. New Zealand scored the first try of the second half through Regan Ware, then Ravouvou scored his second to put the result beyond doubt with less than two minutes remaining. The Fijians added a late consolation try. The All Blacks will now play England in the final at AT&T Park at 12:53pm (NZ time), after they beat South Africa 29-7 in their semi-final. Fiji will play South Africa in the third place play-off at 12:24pm. Newshub.<doc-sep>England tasted bitter disappointment for the third time as New Zealand sealed a double-double with victory in the men’s Rugby World Cup Sevens final, backing up the women’s success here in San Francisco. The All Blacks never looked like losing the final as a Sione Molia double gave them an early lead that they would not relinquish. England’s brief fightback came through Mike Ellery and Ruaridh McConnochie, but Joe Ravouvou, Akuila Rokolisoa and Trael Joass secured a 33-12 victory that saw them successfully defend the title they won in Russia four years ago. For England captain Tom Mitchell, it was the familiar feeling of close but not close enough, having been part of the sides that lost the finals of the World Cup in 2014 and the Great Britain side that claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. “Right now I am pretty sore, and pretty gutted,” he said. “We came here expecting to be amongst it and really wanting to be World Champions – that is the stuff you dream about. We were there in the final after a lot of ups and downs this season. “I am super proud to get to that point to be honest, but it means it hurts more as we worked so hard to get there. I am so proud of the boys it is an amazing group to be part of, not just the guys here but the squad at home, management staff. We have had challenges this year, things we have had to work through together – the closeness we have shown, to be that tight, to fight through to that point is amazing. I am so proud to be part of this group. “We have played some great rugby this weekend, hopefully people have enjoyed watching it. Already a few of people who have not seen the game before have said they really enjoyed what we have been doing. We can leave a legacy in that respect.” Despite reaching the final, neither Mitchell nor head coach Simon Amor were convinced by the knockout format that was adopted for this World Cup and is under consideration with World Rugby for the regular World Series, while New Zealand coach Clark Laidlaw went one further by expressing his belief that the cut-throat nature of it is unfair. “I haven't changed my mind, I don't enjoy the format,” Scotsman Laidlaw said. “Ultimately once you're through the first day, every tournament is straight knockout anyway. So it's not actually any different from a rugby perspective. As a spectacle I'm sure everyone enjoyed it. But when you've got coaches and players livelihoods at stake, and the format isn't quite what we're paid to do. It's an interesting question." Trael Joass completed the victory with New Zealand's fifth try (Getty) England earlier upset the odds by knocking Sevens Series winners South Africa out in the semi-finals, with a dominant display securing a five-try victory over the Blitzboks. However, the series champions did manage to save face by securing third place with a 24-19 victory over Fiji, who appeared to ran out of gas after lighting up Saturday’s play with their eye-catching style and raucous supporters. Ireland meanwhile capped off what has been a hugely impressive six weeks back in the Sevens fold by defeating Australia in the Challenge Trophy final, securing them ninth place in what is only their third tournament since returning to the top of the Sevens circuit. Billy Dardis, James O’Brien, Terry Kennedy and Gregory O’Shea all scored for the Irish as they secured a 24-12 victory over the side that finished this season’s series in fourth place. Scotland went two better as they beat France 29-24 to finish in seventh, having been knocked out of the main draw by South Africa before suffering a heavy defeat to the USA. However, Jamie Farndale’s last-play try ensured that the Scots signed off their campaign in style. Wales also ended their campaign with an impressive win as they beat Canada 35-12, although the day was tarnished by an alleged assault on one of their players by a Samoan opponent, which is being investigated by police. 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<doc-sep>NEW ZEALAND 33-12 ENGLAND 1:30pm: Thanks for tuning in. For a wrap article, click here. 1:21pm: Tim Mikkelson spoke after the game: "We were tested against France, almost knocked out, did well to beat awesome England team, the form team since the Commonwealth Games. "The Black Ferns put pressure on us by winning theirs'." FULLTIME: The All Blacks Sevens go back-to-back, and they have defended their title. That is the double-double as the women's team have done the same. What a way to cap off the weekend for the Kiwis. 14+2mins: TRY NEW ZEALAND: They get that one last try to put the icing on the cake. Trael Joass goes on a mammoth run to score New Zealand's fifth and final try. 14+1mins: The siren has gone, but New Zealand want to play on. 14mins: TRY NEW ZEALAND: Akulia Rokolisoa goes over for New Zealand's fourth, and they will defend their title. Rokolisoa finds some space and he goes over under the posts. 13mins: Some bizarre scenes as New Zealand turn the ball over, but they somehow get it back and they re on the attack. 12mins: Scott Curry steals the line-out, and New Zealand get the ball back. 11mins: Joe Ravouvou goes on a run, but Dan Norton is there to tackle the big Fijian into touch. They have an attacking throw. 10mins: TRY ENGLAND: The English hit right back through Ruaridh McConnochie. He goes on a barnstorming run and powers his way over the line. The conversion is wide and it is a seven-point game. 9mins: TRY NEW ZEALAND: Joe Ravouvousprints down the wing, and he is tackled over the line. That is New Zealand's third of the game. The conversion bounces off the upright. 8mins: England have the ball, and some of their passes go to ground, but they are making meters. They are eventually tackled, and New Zealand win the turnover. They kick to touch and have a throw-in, just inside England's half. 7mins: Kurt Baker gets the second-half started at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Can New Zealand hold on? or will England come-from-behind to win? HALFTIME: New Zealand lead 14-7 at the break. They are seven minutes away from defending their title. 7mins: TRY ENGLAND: Mike Ellery scores for England. He gets the ball on an overlap and runs it in under the posts, just before the halftime siren. 6mins: Dan Norton makes a break down the wing for England, and finally they have some attacking ball inside New Zealand's 22. 5mins: TRY NEW ZEALAND: Sione Molia scores his second. Tim Mikkelson is tackled short of the line, and Molia picks it up and puts it on the chalk. He won't score any easier than that. The Kiwis lead 14-0. 4mins: Kurt Baker tries a run down the wing, but he is shut down and tackled into touch. England line-out inside their 22. But New Zealand turn the ball over and they are hot on the attack. 3mins: England get the ball from the restart and Mike Ellery, throws a forward pass. New Zealand scrum 10 meters out from the line. 2mins: TRY NEW ZEALAND: Sione Molia breaks through the tackle of Tom Mitchell and runs over the line to score under the posts. New Zealand lead early. 1min: Early penalty to the Kiwis as the England players didn't release in the tackle. KICK-OFF: We are underway in San Francisco. England get the match started with a short kick-off. 12:57pm: Based off the crow reactions, i'd say they want the Kiwis to win. 12:56pm: This is quite a special moment. You feel quite proud watching the players standing looking proud with the anthem blasting in the background. 12:53pm: It is time for the national anthems. 12:51pm: Both teams are running out onto the field. They walk past the trophy and the crowd cheers. 12:48pm: South Africa win the bronze medal. They beat Fiji 24-19 in an entertaining encoutner. 12:45pm: We are 10 minutes away from the final between England and New Zealand. 12:42pm: New Zealand are looking for the double as they are the defending champions. Also, the Black Ferns Sevens won the women's event yesterday also. 12:36pm: South Africa lead Fiji 17-7. New Zealand will be out on the field shortly.<doc-sep>
New Zealand lift the Melrose Cup after beating England in the Rugby Sevens World Cup final. NEW ZEALAND are on top of the world after smashing England 33-12 to win the Rugby Sevens World Cup final and lift the Melrose Cup at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The 21-point victory meant the All Blacks retained the Melrose Cup after taking out the tournament five years earlier in Moscow. It didn’t take long for the celebrations to start, and things got weird quickly with star playmaker Kurt Baker posing naked in a team photo while sitting on the shoulders of teammate, Trael Joass. Baker has form, too. The 29-year-old from Palmerston North on New Zealand’s North Island regularly posts photos of himself naked with silverware on Instagram. The All Blacks raced to a 14-0 lead after Sione Molia scored a first half brace, before Mike Ellery hit back for England on the stroke of half time. But a blistering sprint down the left-hand touchline by Joe Ravouvou — named player of the World Cup — took the lead out to 19-7. Ruaridh McConnochie hit back soon after with a superb individual try of his own, as he showed strength and pace to score out wide for England. But tries to replacements Akuila Rokolisoa and Joass sealed a comprehensive victory. “We knew coming into this it was going to be tough. We were tested against France, we almost got knocked out, and we really rose against Fiji. We did well to beat an awesome England team, which we thought were the form team since the Commonwealth Games,” All Blacks captain Tim Mikkelson said. Their win over England meant the New Zealand men matched the women’s efforts after they beat France on day two. “It’s huge (for both the men and women to win),” Mikkelson said. “Both teams train at the same place, and they put pressure on us again by winning their final and we had to step up and win ours.” New Zealand’s Both nations progressed to the final after upset semi-final wins. England crushed South Africa 29-7 while New Zealand edged out World Series and Olympic champions Fiji 22-17. South Africa took out the bronze medal after beating Fiji 24-19. Earlier, Australia lost their Challenge Cup Final against Ireland, losing 24-14, to finish in 10th place. Tim Walsh’s Australian side lost their opening match of the tournament against France 22-17 to be knocked out of the finals competition. Meanwhile, Australia’s women took out the bronze medal after earlier being surprised by France in their semi-final. Re-live all the action in our blog below.