England finish third at Gold Coast Sevens
With head coach Simon Amor coming taking the reins just three weeks before the start of their campaign, this is a fine performance to build on as they were going into the tournament unsure of what they could achieve.
Focusing mainly on their defensive shape, they will now be confident they can compete against the best especially after their spirited semi-final against the eventual winners New Zealand.
With the Blizbokke going through two extra times in their semi-finals against Australia, England went for the jugular from the kick-off using their physical presence in the middle of the field.
James Rodwell and Phil Burgess went over early as England had South Africa under the pump.
Dan Bibby made it 21-0 at the break with a solo try through the middle as Tom Mitchell converted all three tries.
Rodwell, Bibby and Burgess all secured their double in the second half to extend the gap to 40-0 with Mike Ellery rounding up a fine display.
Earlier, England’s hopes to win the tournament were dashed by New Zealand and a narrow 14-5 defeat.
The Kiwis, who hadn’t conceded a single point up until this point, were made to work hard against a much improved England side.
England started the game brilliantly while in defence and when they eventually got the ball, Ellery crashed over to put Simon Amor’s men 5-0 in front.
But as tempers flared, player of the year Tim Mikkelson was sent to the bin but the Kiwis managed it superbly and even went into half time 7-5 in front with Scott Curry going over under the posts.
The second half proved to be very tight but Mikkelson showed his class breaking a couple of tackles to score the winning try with two minutes to go.
Ellery scored twice as they beat Fiji 26-12 in the quarter-finals
Samisoni Viriviri gave Fiji an early 5-0 lead but Mat Turner put England in front soon after with a try of his own.
Ellery rounded up a strong first half going over just before the break to take a 14-5 lead at the interval as Tom Mitchell converted both tries.
The next score was going to be crucial and it came from Ellery again who grabbed his double to send Simon Amor’s men to the Cup semi-finals.
Rob Vickerman even added a fourth try for good measure from the restart while Vuniani Vucago Bainitabua scored a consolation for the defending champions.
England made it to the quarter-finals thanks to wins over Spain (54-7) and France (26-12) in the opening day but a defeat in the last game to South Africa (22-14) meant they finished second of their pool.
Mitchell got England on the board early against South Africa making a quick break through the middle to lead 7-0 but the Blitzbokke hit back through Stephan Dippenaar and Cornal Hendricks to go 10-7 in front at the break.
Justin Geduld extended the lead on the first play of the second half as England struggle to control the restart before Kyle Brown wrapped it up from close range two minute from time.
Rodwell went over for England on the last play of the game but it was too little too late.
Earlier, Mitchell struck twice in the opening three minutes against Spain before Bibby and most-capped forward James Rodwell made it 26-0 at the interval.
Amor used all five substitutes in the second half – including a first appearance at this level for former Cornish Pirates flanker Burgess – and the tries kept on coming.
Spain were hustled into mistakes and former Fylde playmaker Bibby completed his hat-trick with replacements John Brake and Turner also touching down.
Christian Lewis-Pratt converted all four second-half scores and Spain didn’t get on the board until Jacobo Martin struck in the final two minutes.
France offered a more physical challenge in game two as England changed their line-up with starts for Burgess, Turner, Lewis-Pratt, Ellery and captain Tom Powell.
Turner and Dan Norton struck early on but France had levelled the scores by the break through Vincent Inigo and Renaud Delmas.
Lewis-Pratt’s first try of the tournament pulled them away again before Norton sealed the deal 90 seconds from time.
Check out our Exclusive column from Tom Mitchell giving you access behind the England Sevens‘ scene.
