IRB World Sevens reaches climax

Can New Zealand be pipped at the post?

The protagonists of the 2003/04 IRB World Sevens series act out their final scene at Twickenham this weekend. Reigning champions New Zealand look set to romp off with the loot - but there are plenty of teams ready to rip up the script.

The 'Men in Black' now stand 10 points ahead of second-placed England in the table, and if they make it to the Cup semi-finals in London they are assured of retaining their crown.

But don't write off the home side. England will be seething over their lacklustre loss to the tournament leaders in the Final of last week's Bordeaux leg of the series, and will also be wanting to retain the cup that they collected for winning the Twickenham tournament last year.

Strangely enough, England will get a helping hand from an unusual source this weekend: Australia.

The Australians have been drawn in the same pool as the New Zealanders and will be desperate to make amends for Bordeaux, where a monumental Aussie error let the Kiwis off the hook and through to the semi-finals.

New Zealand were trailing by 12-10 with the last move of the game in full flow, but a sliced touch-finder by Australia's Tim Walsh allowed the blacks to hit back with a try that sent the yellows reeling out of the contest in agony.

Should Australia win their group on Saturday, New Zealand will find it very hard to secure the series, leaving England - and possible South Africa - with a clearer shot at the silverware.

South Africa current lie third in the table with 98 points and are still within sight of the title. But the Boks face a 32-point deduction for fielding the ineligible Zimbabwean-born winger Tonderai Chavhanga earlier in the series.

The result of their appeal will be known before the players take to the stage on Saturday.

IRB SEVENS LONDON - JUNE 5/6:

POOL A:
New Zealand
Australia
Georgia
Portugal

POOL B:
England
France
Scotland
Italy

POOL C:
South Africa
Samoa
Kenya
Russia

POOL D:
Argentina
Fiji
Canada
Spain

PLAYING SCHEDULE - DAY 1:
(All times local: GMT plus 1)

Match 1: 10.30: Argentina v Canada
Match 2: 10.52: Fiji v Spain
Match 3: 11.14: South Africa v Kenya
Match 4: 11.36: Samoa v Russia
Match 5: 11.58: New Zealand v Georgia
Match 6: 12.20: Australia v Portugal
Match 7: 12.42: England v Scotland
Match 8: 13.04: France v Italy
 
Match 9: 13.34: Argentina v Spain
Match 10: 13.56: Fiji v Canada
Match 11: 14.18: South Africa v Russia
Match 12: 14.40: Samoa v Kenya
Match 13: 15.02: New Zealand v Portugal
Match 14: 15.24: Australia v Georgia

Match 15: 16.02: England v Italy
Match 16: 16.24: France v Scotland
Match 17: 16.46: Canada v Spain
Match 18: 17.08: Kenya v Russia
Match 19: 17.30: Georgia v Portugal
Match 20: 17.52: Scotland v Italy
Match 21: 18.14: Argentina v Fiji
Match 22: 18.36: South Africa v Samoa
Match 23: 18.58: New Zealand v Australia
Match 24: 19.20: England v France

PLAYING SCHEDULE - DAY 2:

11.30: Match 25: Bowl QF - 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B
11.52: Match 26: Bowl QF - 3rd Pool D v 4th Pool C
12.14: Match 27: Bowl QF - 3rd Pool C v 4th Pool D
12.36: Match 28: Bowl QF - 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A
12.58: Match 29: Cup QF - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B
13.20: Match 30: Cup QF - 1st Pool D v 2nd Pool C
13.42: Match 31: Cup QF - 1st Pool C v 2nd Pool D
14.04: Match 32: Cup QF - 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A

14.34: Match 33: Shield SF -  Loser Match 25 v Loser Match 26
14.56: Match 34: Shield SF - Loser Match 27 v Loser Match 28
15.18: Match 35: SF Bowl - Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 26
15.40: Match 36: SF Bowl - Winner Match 27 v Winner Match 28
16.02: Match 37: SF Plate - Loser Match 29 v Loser Match 30
16.24: Match 38: SF Plate - Loser Match 31 v Loser Match 32

17.02: Match 39: SF Cup - Winner Match 29 v Winner Match 30
17.24: Match 40: SF Cup - Winner Match 31  v Winner Match 32
17.46: Match 41: Shield Final - Winner Match 33 v Winner Match 34
18.14: Match 42: Bowl Final - Winner Match 35 v Winner Match 36
18.42: Match 43: Plate Final - Winner Match 37 v Winner Match 38
19.10: Match 44: Cup Final - Winner Match 39 v Winner Match 40

CURRENT STANDINGS:

1: New Zealand - 112
2: England - 102
3: South Africa - 98*
4: Argentina - 86
5: Fiji - 72
6: Samoa - 56
7: France - 35
8: Australia - 30
9: Canada - 22
10: Tonga - 8
11: Kenya - 8
12: Scotland - 6
13: Korea - 2

* Pending an appeal on 32-point deduction. 

POINTS ALLOCATION:

Cup winner: 20 points
Cup runner-up: 16
Cup semi-finalists: 12

Plate winner: 8
Plate runner-up: 6
Plate semi-finalists: 4

Bowl winner: 2