Video: Ryan looks ahead to All Blacks showdown

14 April 2012

England coach Ben Ryan is relishing the prospect of gaining revenge over New Zealand at the Hong Kong Sevens after booking a quarter-final meeting with the table-topping All Blacks.

Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand, who top the World Series table alongside Fiji after four events, have edged out England in consecutive quarter-finals in Wellington and San Diego prior to heading to Hong Kong.

But Ryan is expecting the passionate support from the large band of England supporters in Hong Kong to make the difference against the All Blacks this time around, in particular the legendary South Stand at the Hong Kong Stadium.

New Zealand, who booked their place in the last eight of the Cup with a 100 per cent record following victories over Kenya, Russia and Italy, beat England 41-7 in Wellington on the way to winning the tournament before claiming a 19-7 triumph in San Diego.

"Playing here makes so much difference than playing in Wellington, said Ryan. "It always makes a difference having a home support behind you. You could see when we were defending on our heels in the last half a minute against Argentina, the South Stand were cheering us on and singing Swing Low (Sweet Chariot), and all those things are positives for England.

"We are in the quarter-final and to win any tournament you have to beat everyone and we've got to take it the hard way and go through New Zealand and Fiji to get to the final on our route.

"I keep telling the lads, we've got to keep learning, so hopefully we have learned enough from those two defeats."

England, who had already disposed of hosts Hong Kong yesterday, beat Korea 38-14 earlier in the day in Group E and headed into their final group game against Argentina with qualification already assured.

But England were pushed to the limit by an Argentinian side who also needed a victory to progress to the Cup quarter-finals after wins over Korea and Hong Kong.

Ryan's side held a 19-7 lead heading into the final two minutes, but a David Seymour missed tackle allowed Mariano Dobal to cross under the posts to set up a thrilling finale after captain Simon Amor and a James Brooks brace had put England ahead.

Argentina dominated the closing stages and over two minuets of injury time and came close on several occasions to grabbing a dramatic win but the England defence stood firm.

"Argentina played with a lot of determination. We started pretty well, they came back at us as we expected, but we got the result," added Ryan.

"It's good the lads took a bit of pressure in the last game, we knew we were going through as winners if we won or as runners-up if we lost, so there was a little bit less pressure for me at the buzzer."

Scotland could be waiting for England in the last four, but face the ominous prospect of attempting to stop San Diego winners Fiji after securing their place in the Cup quarter-finals as second-best placed runner-up by the virtue of goal difference.

Stephen Gemmell's side beat Sri Lanka 53-12 in their second group game today, but the points conceded against the rugby minnows almost proved costly as Scotland crashed to a 26-0 defeat by Fiji in their last game.

But they secured their place in the last eight for the second consecutive tournament by virtue of just three points over Italy.

"We set out a goal to be there and that's what we have achieved," Gemmell said. "To get there is credit to the players and we will give it our best shot."

Samoa face Australia and Tonga face South Africa in the bottom half of the Cup draw.

Wales will get the chance to defend the Plate crown they won last year despite rounding off their group campaign with a 31-0 defeat by South Africa.

Gareth Colin Baber's side claimed a place in the Plate as the best third placed team courtesy of their 61-0 demolition of Chinese Taipei earlier on today.

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