The best of the Sevens World Cup

We’ve got some of the highlights of three days of scintillating sevens action roaring at you from the Sevens World Cup in Cape Town.

Check out the pictures and footage below and if you have any highlights, let us know on social media or via rugbyworldletters@futurenet.com and share your views.

Related: How to watch the Sevens World Cup

Day One of the Sevens World Cup

Let’s start at the end of the day – with Ireland stunning the hosts, the Blitzboks, to tear past them into the semi-finals of the Championship competition. Harry McNulty was inspired for Ireland.

Check this out!

You can also catch the highlights of the women’s Championship quarters here…

And the men’s here…

Of course that’s not the full story of a jam-packed day of sevens. Because yes, at the end of the final day someone will lift the actual Sevens World Cup, but there are lower tier competitions at stake, and pride on the line. If you want to talk upsets, too, then how about Chile – part of a South American rampage at this tournament, this weekend – who defeated Scotland in extra time?

Look at what it means to Chile men’s players (AFP via Getty Images)

And if you want to see more stirring images, check out this clip of Joanna Grisez of France tearing through to defeat Fijiana, finger wagging all te way, the emotion clear to see.

Not that rugby is always so straightforward. Maths – it’s hard! At least Canada men thought so against Wales…

We’ll tell you who thrilled the crowd, though. Nadine Roos of South Africa went on a one-woman adventure against Colombia in the afternoon. At the time several of the Blitzboks were watching in the press box and they couldn’t help jumping up and shouting when Roos cut loose.

Of course there was plenty more. And Day Three should have some spine-tingling stuff too. We’ve got you covered for how to watch the Sevens World Cup and this page will update with highlights from the day too!

Day One of the Sevens World Cup

There was plenty going on on the first day of the tournament and on a beautiful sunny day, we had tries galore, top sportsmanship… And a few upsets.

For example, Samoa men blew away the USA in the round of 16, winning 40-12.

Uaina Sione of Samoa makes a dash (Getty Images)

But there were lovely moments too. Try this one, for example.

After hearing that Madagascar women had only one kit for the duration of the tournament – for training and playing in – Aussie women donated some kit to their cause, to train in. This, after beating them 48-0. Brilliant.

The Australian women’s side were also seen taking a knee before their game, as a mark of respect following the news of the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And when England women and England men took the field, they showed their respect with a moment of quiet reflection before play began.

A moment of silence for England women (Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Back on the field, Portia Woodman was doing Portia Woodman things, finishing off scores. Just look at her Sevens World Cup tally after this one to open the scoring in a 47-5 win for the Black Ferns against Colombia.

Of course, defence is a vital part of sevens, and below are three examples of sensational stops. The latter – from Julio Blanc – was especially important as Chile held on for a draw at 12-all with Germany and forced extra time (with Golden Point rules). They scored a winning kick through Vicente Tredinik, and got themselves a date with the hosts, the Blitzboks.

At the end of the day, though, South Africa men were far too strong.

Their kicking strategy in attack was once again to the fore. Can they back it up on day two in the quarter-finals?

Either way, the home crowd loved it!

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