IRB Rugby Sevens World Cup: Breaking Down the Day 1 Results
The International Rugby Board's (IRB) Sevens World Cup officially kicked off its men's competition in Moscow Friday, with its first round of fixtures.
In one of the great mysteries that continue to surround IRB scheduling, the first day of international competition was chalked full of mismatches. On Day 1, all of the world's top 10 ranked teams won their matches handily; visibly demonstrating the importance or maintaining core status on the IRB Sevens World Series.
The expanded six-pool, 24-team format of the Sevens World Cup means that such results were always going to be present within the tournament, as the giants of the sport made their way past minnows in the opening pool stages.
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In one of the only Day 1 fixtures that had the potential to be a great contest, reigning Series champions New Zealand downed a disappointed Canada side by a score of 31 - 12. Canada captain Nathan Hirayama expressed his feelings on Twitter, shortly after the loss.
What the 24-team format also changes, however, is the means by which teams can qualify for the all-important cup quarterfinal rounds.
To advance to the cup stages, teams must either win one of the six pools outright or have one of largest point differentials among second place finishers. With a formula such as this, the makeup of a particular pool can be all-important.
If the 2012-13 World Series standings are used as a predictor, this is likely to leave teams like France, Wales, Argentina, Kenya and Canada battling it out for the only two remaining qualification berths.
If an upset is to occur, it is likely to happen on Day 2 of the men's competition, when the two highest-ranked teams within each pool will face off against each other.
Teams like Canada and Portugal that have already been dealt a defeat will be frantic to post big winning margins Saturday in order to give themselves the best chance of qualifying for the cup round.
Day 1's limited schedule at the Sevens World Cup is over, having yielded little in the way of surprises.
Will New Zealand's men be able to maintain their dominance from the 2012-13 World Series season?
Will Wales be be able to pull off another astonishing run and defend its title as world champions?
What storylines will the women's competition bring?
The IRB will certainly be hoping that Saturday's action proves a more compelling spectacle, one which will perhaps keep more fans in their seats.
Jeff Hull is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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