Australia revived their Sydney Sevens title defence with a big win over Tonga, but must still beat South Africa later on Saturday to have any hope of remaining in the fight.
A first-up loss to Argentina dented the Australian men’s hopes of replicating last year’s breakthrough title on home soil.
But they were far more impressive in their six-try romp of Tonga at Spotless Stadium hours later, when Lachie Anderson and Lewis Holland both bagged doubles.
It went a way to dulling the pain of their first-game flop, but South Africa’s defeat of the in-form South Americans has created a play-off of sorts for a spot in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
Even victory isn’t enough to guarantee a quarter-final though, with Argentina able to knock Australia out if they beat Tonga and make up 17 points in a for-and-against deficit against the Australians.
A head knock to powerhouse Ben O’Donnell has ruled him out for the tournament, adding another complication for the hosts.
Earlier Australia were left to rue a comedy of second half errors in their 29-14 loss to Argentina.
Tim Walsh’s men went to the break ahead 7-5 thanks to a late Simon Kennewell try, but unforced errors starved them of possession in the second stanza as the South Americans ran away with it.
First the visitors ran 70-metres almost untouched from the restart to jump ahead, before regathering their own restart to score from the next play against a flat-looking Australia.
Australia finally earnt some possession five minutes into the second half but immediately coughed it up, with several bumbling efforts allowing Rodrigo Etchart to plant a hand on the loose ball in-goal for a 29-7 lead.
Maurice Longbottom’s late try at least reduced the margin in a horror start to the side’s only chance to impress on home soil this year.
Australia’s women’s outfit did their best to inspire the men with a much-improved 21-17 defeat of France in their Saturday quarter-final.
They will meet first-time semi-finalists Ireland on Sunday morning, while a likely date with New Zealand awaits in the decider.
Saturday Schedule:
10.28am v Argentina (men) – lost 29-14
1.56pm v France (women’s quarter-final) – won 21-17
3.56pm v Tonga (men) – won 32-0
8.23pm v South Africa (men)