Brock James 2003

 

The picture is copyright to The Australian newspaper and was taken by Patrick Hamilton, 3rd February 2003, Ballymore

Send-off snuffs out upset hopes

Brian Burke World Rugby Seven
The Australian Monday February 3 2003

Australian fly-half Brock James was a forlorn figure yesterday after his "nightmare" sending off proved to be the turning point in Australia's loss to Fiji in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane leg of the IRB World Sevens at Ballymore.

James was red-carded by New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien for his second match infringement - a professional foul for throwing the ball into the crowd at a stoppage - 4min 34sec into the second half, with Australia leading 7-0 against the highly fancied Fijians. James was later suspended by the Sevens judiciary from the rest of the tournament, missing Australia's Plate final 47-12 win against Samoa.

" After all the hard work we did this week, to let everyone down is really disappointing." A distraught James, 20, said. James also had a yellow card for stomping in the first half and was sidelined for the mandatory two minutes.

That infringement cost Australia a certain try, with Chris Latham called back after thinking he had scored. But James's send-off was the killer for the defending Brisbane champions who "ran out of legs" against the flamboyant Fijians. They scored twice in his absence to post a 12-7 win.

Despite James's dismissal Australia rallied magnificently and had a chance to snatch an unlikely win in the final minute, but rookie centre Tom Carter dropped a simple pass 20m out with Australia on the attack from a penalty.

Deflated Australian coach Bill Millard was full of praise for his squad's commitment. But he conceded Brock's ill-discipline proved crucial. I thought we fought tremendously well, but one guy's had a bad game and it's impossible to win a Sevens game against a side like Fiji with six men." He said.

"We'd played perfect Sevens rugby then had the disallowed try and then down to six men. It was a nightmare."

The Australian camp, including the players, did not dispute O'Brien's red-card ruling despite the ball being thrown back by a spectator and no time being lost by James's petulant display.

"We were all warned before the tournament not to throw the ball away and waste time, and that anyone who did would be penalised," Australian team manager Glen Ella said.

Flyhalf James' two yellow cards spell end for Australia

Jim Tucker
Courier-Mail, Monday February 3rd 2003

Two yellow cards against ill-disciplined flyhalf Brock James sent Australia crashing to its earliest exit at Brisbane's World Rugby Sevens yesterday. Not even a brave effort from six exhausted men for half the game could undo the damage in a a shattering 12-7 quarter-final loss to Fiji.

The Fijians could not capitalise on the let-off because they came unstuck in the final to impressive giantkillers England (28-14). Pocket livewire Ben Golling scooted clear for the clinching try in the final to fully justify his honour as player of the tournament.

The home side had the 10,840-strong crowd on their feet at Ballymore when they led Fiji 7-0, yet the quarter-final lead should have been doubled. In the third minute, James's hassling defence looked to have set up a dream opening try for Wallaby Chris Latham. Instead, the try was disallowed for the over-eager James stomping on the back of Nasoni Rokobiau in his effort to free the ball.

The Sydney University youngster was sin-binned for two minutes but the second half was no sooner under way than he was off for good. Flinging the ball into the crowd as a delaying tactic earned a second yellow card and a red-card exit from Kiwi referee Paddy O'Brien.

There could be little sympathy for the villain of Ballymore because team manager Glen Ella had stressed a refereeing crackdown on just that offence before the tournament.

Amazingly, the Australians still had possession and a chance with just 40 seconds to play but tired forward Tom Carter split a simple pass.

The Australians won a memorable final last year and reached the decider in 2000 so they nursed the hurt of coming up short. The salve was seven tries and a comprehensive 47-12 win over Samoa in the Plate final.

"It's a nightmare. To have that try pulled back kills you in sevens." Australian coach Bill Millard said. "For the same guy to do it twice (with yellow cards), simply just let his team-mates down."

James was contrite: "The second call (for throwing away the ball) was tough but it was ill-discipline. "I let everyone down."

... the rest of the article talks about Marshall Milroy, Lote Tuqiri and England's defeat of New Zealand in the semi-final

IRB WORLD SEVENS SERIES - BRISBANE

2 February, 2003

Fiji fall at final hurdle
Hong Kong champions England once more got the better of Fiji at the Brisbane 7s at Ballymore on Sunday, running out 28-14 winners in the final.

The young Fijian side had ousted home favourites Australia in the quarters then accounted for surprise semi-finalists France, but found the energetic English just too organised and too composed.

However, England did Fiji a favour in the semis by knocking out New Zealand, thus reducing the Kiwis' lead in the IRB table to four points.

In the final, Mes Davu and Sailosi Naiteqe touched down for Fiji, who had been reduced to six men for two minutes in the first half when playmaker Nasoni Roko was sin-binned as the penalty count mounted up against Fiji.

But by half-time, Fiji had pulled level. And two minutes into the second period, Naiteqe put Fiji 12-7 up before a touchline conversion from Roko made it 14-7.

England speedster Ugo Monye changed the course of the game with a brace of tries to return the advantage to England. Then, Ben Gollings finished matters off with England's fourth try of the final to complete the scoring.

Fiji had turned in their best performance of the tournament to defeat France 26-19 and move into the final showdown with England.

Skipper Sireli Bobo powered his way to two tries as Fiji entertained the Ballymore crowd with some majestic running rugby. Roko and Ray Rodan also chipped in with tries as the Fijians built up a 26-5 lead.

To their credit, the outclassed French chased hard and managed a couple of late consolation tries to narrow the margin. But this was Fiji's match all along.

Fiji earlier stunned Australia in the quarter-finals, knocking out the star-studded defending champions 12-7 to silence the large, vocal crowd.

The Aussies dominated the first half, and had one try disallowed when play was brought back after skipper Rob McDonald had touched down. Brock James was adjudged to have rucked a man on the deck and was sin-binned.

But Australia held firm, and went onto the lead just before the break when Chris Yates converted his own try for a 7-0 advantage.

And for once, the refereeing of Paddy O'Brien gave Fiji some assistance as the New Zealander showed James a red card early in the second half for throwing the ball away.

Moments later, Fiji halfback Jone Daunivucu scored in the corner to narrow the deficit to 7-5.

Then, as Australia held on, retaining possession well with a man short, nippy Nawaka winger Rodan intercepted a stray pass and darted over for what turned out to be the winning try.

A few nervous minutes remained when Roko was also sin-binned for killing the ball as Australia went forward. But a knock-on by Tom Carter ended any chance Australia had of snatching a win.