South Africa, playing at perhaps their favourite tournament given recent form in the USA, were the victors, winning 21-7. Williams’s side were hampered by a yellow card, but another try from Wales’ record try-scorer Luke Morgan after an eight-month injury absence bodes well.
Morgan, clearly making up for lost time, scored another two tries in quick succession against the Scots. Although a narrower defeat than against South Africa (28-21, with Wales’ other try coming from Morgan Williams), it was still a result that got away from Wales.
“It is a very strange feeling. We have lost four of our games, but have been in positions to win all four,” explained Williams. “It is hugely frustrating as the majority of our play is very good. We are guilty of giving momentum back to teams with uncharacteristic errors.”
Despite not registering a win so far in Vegas, Williams declares it a better showing than the one in Wellington just over a month ago.
“The results themselves may be worse than they were in New Zealand, but our level of performance and quality of play this time around is much higher than that tournament.”
He is impressed by the team he has to work with, and confident about building a game plan around their abilities. “We want to compliment the exciting things this young side is capable of – refining the tempo and management of game scenarios – and that will be key to their development and progression moving forward.”
This will start later on this evening, when Wales take on Russia (“a very good side,” according to Williams) at 19:46 (GMT).
More information on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Las Vegas can be found here.
