BlitzBoks face arch-rivals NZ in semis

In monsoon-like rain that started coming down midway through the bowl quarterfinals New Zealand beat Wales 19-7 after a Kurt Baker hat-trick to progress into the Cup semifinals.

South Africa joined the Kiwis in the Cup semis, after they convincingly beat the United States 28-0 – coping with the conditions much better than the Yanks.

Fiji required a last-second try to edge Kenya 12-10, with Osea Kolinisau slotting a pressure kick for the win.

Some incredible Australian defence gave them the Cup quarterfinal win (14-5) over England and a place in the semifinals.

* Scotland joined France, Samoa and Argentina in the Bowl semifinals.

We look at all the quarterfinal action!

Cup quarterfinals

In the first quarterfinal it was New Zealand who opened the scoring – from a line-out New Zealand won possession and Kurt Baker hit a good line to score the opening try as rain continued to fall steadily. Sione Molia got yellow-carded for taking a man out without the ball, but Wales were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage and trailed by seven points at the break.

Ben Roach stepped off the bench to score for Wales and put them back in the contest. New Zealand found an immediate response, however, with a second – and then a third, as New Zealand make it into the last four.

Playing a pressure game South Africa forced the United States into errors in the testing conditions, with Seabelo Senatla opening the scoring four minutes into the opening half – after he punched on a stray pass. Ruan Nel went over for a second soon afterwards, after a quick tap-and-go from a penalty – giving the BlitzBoks a 14-0 lead at the break.

Senatla scored his second of the match after he intercepted a loopy pass from Garrett Bende midway through the second half, with the BlitzBoks ten capping an impressive display with a fourth try – Albertus Smith having made a nuisance of himself at the breakdown and the ball was worked wide to Siviwe Soyizwapi, who scored with his first touch.

In the third quarterfinal defending Hong Kong champions Fiji spent the first four minutes in Kenya's half, but were unable to find a way through. It got worse as Vatemo Ravouvou limped off with what looked to be a bad knee injury – the teams going into the half-time break deadlocked at 0-all.

Fiji struck first after the break, Jerry Tuwai burst through two defenders before finding Kitione Taliga with an out-the-back offload. Kenya went from defence to attack to take the lead, Collins Injera scoring his first try of the weekend – after collecting his own chip kick ahead. The conversion was good and Injera then added a penalty from in front of the posts.

However, Savenaca Rawaca powered down the left flank and touched down to level the scores just as the hooter sounded. Nerveless captain Osea Kolinisau nailed the conversion to send Fiji through.

In the fourth quarterfinal a brilliant cover-tackle from Dan Norton denied John Porch, as the Australian was taken out in the corner four minutes into the opening half. Australia ended the first half on top – as they were rewarded with a try in the corner for Cameron Clark. With points at a premium, James Stannard's conversion was crucial.

After the break Australia continued to have the momentum and scored again, as Stephan van der Walt powered through a couple of despairing tackles. Brilliant work from Boyd Killingworth prevented Ruaridh McConnochie scoring a try. Killingworth contorted his body to get a leg between the ball and the floor to stop it being grounded. England were then held up over the line again with 40 seconds left. Eventually, Dan Norton crossed on the left, but the conversion dropped short as the hooter sounded – the Aussies advancing with a 14-5 win.

Results

New Zealand 19-7 Wales

United States 0-28 South Africa

Fiji 12-10 Kenya

England 5-14 Australia

Bowl quarterfinals

Korea were never going to be a match for the French team, with Virimi Vakatawa getting a second-half double on the way to a seven-try rout.

In the second match it was also one-way traffic, a combination of Russian errors and Argentinean endeavour, as four the tries being shared by Los Pumas – Nicolás Bruzzone, Rodrigo Etchart, Javier Ortega Desio and Gaston Revol all touching down.

In the third quarterfinal Teofilo Fidow, Falemiga Selesele and Belgium Tuatagaloa raced over to give Samoa a 19-0 half-time lead – before Canada produced an improved second half with tries to Nathan Hirayama and Michel Fuailefau. However, in the heavy rain the Canadians could not close the big lead.

By the time the fourth quarterfinal arrived the weather had turned nasty and puddles of water had formed all over the pitch, making playing conditions rather tricky. Neither Scotland, nor Portugal were able to control the ball well enough to score in the first half, with James Fleming aqua-planing his way over the line with 90 seconds remaining for the only score of the match and the match-winning try.

Results:

France 45-0 Korea

Argentina 22-0 Russia

Canada 10-19 Samoa

Scotland 5-0 Portugal

Source: @WorldRugby7s

FUN: Who wouldn't do this on the way to score at the #HK7s. @flemjames leading the way: https://t.co/Y06R3hsF5f

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 10, 2016