Boks to face Fiji again
The Blitzbokke will take on Fiji in the Wellington Sevens Cup quarterfinal on Saturday while New Zealand, who also went unbeaten on Day One, will square up to France.
Hosts New Zealand cruised through their pool with convincing victories over Scotland, Japan and Samoa while South Africa put together a gritty performance to secure a 14-10 victory in their decider against England.
The surprise package of the day was Tonga, who also got through the pool phase unbeaten after edging out powerhouses Fiji and drawing with Wales.
Canada topped Pool D thanks to victories over France and Kenya, while Australia were relegated to the Bowl competition after drawing with France and losing to Kenya.
Bowl quarterfinals:
Scotland v Kenya
Wales v United States
Australia v Japan
Cook Islands v Argentina
Cup quarterfinals:
New Zealand v France
Tonga v England
Canada v Samoa
South Africa v Fiji
Pool A
New Zealand ended day one with a 100% record after beating Samoa 19-7 in the final match of day one after Tomasi Cama had scored 24 points as the hosts demolished Japan 54-0.
The defending champions began their campaign against Scotland, recovering from a 7-0 deficit at half-time to secure a 29-7 victory thanks to a hat-trick from DJ Forbes.
The hosts have welcomed Hosea Gear back into their squad, alongside Ardie Savea and Mark Jackman who will make their Sevens debuts on day one.
Samoa also overturned a half-time deficit, coming from 14-10 behind to record a 29-14 victory against Japan thanks to two tries from Lolo Lui. In their second match they also came from 14-7 behind to beat Scotland 21-14 and book their place in the Cup quarterfinals. Michael Fedo also scored a hat-trick against Japan, helping Scotland beat them 55-0 to finish third in Pool A.
Results:
New Zealand 29-7 Scotland
Samoa 29-14 Japan
New Zealand 54-0 Japan
Samoa 21-14 Scotland
Scotland 55-0 Japan
New Zealand 19-7 Samoa
Pool B
South Africa maintained their 100% record on day one with a 14-10 victory against England in the Pool B decider.
England’s Tom Mitchell scored the only try of the first half before Mark Richards and Branco du Preez crossed for Paul Treu’s side in the second, but it was du Preez’s two conversions that proved decisive.
Earlier they became the first side to win both of their opening two pool matches, adding a 43-0 victory against the Cook Islands to an earlier defeat of the USA.
England also made it two wins from two as they beat the USA 29-0, adding to an earlier 27-12 win against the Cook Islands.
Dan Norton scored twice, Mat Turner added his 16th of the season and Mitchell scored on his World Series debut, ensuring there was no repeat of the upset caused in 2008. Arthur Mui and Sean Fletcher crossed for Ramsey Tomokino’s side.
Cecil Afrika scored 14 points in South Africa’s 21-0 victory against USA in the day’s first match ensuring they have won all of their 20 encounters with Al Caravelli’s side.
And in the pool’s penultimate match, the Cook Islands made matters worse for the Eagles one week out from their home event in Las Vegas, coming from behind to beat them 26-22 through Jerome Vogel’s late winner.
Results:
South Africa 21-0 United States
England 27-12 Cook Islands
South Africa 43-0 Cook Islands
England 29-0 United States
United States 22-26 Cook Islands
South Africa 14-10 England
Pool C
Tonga defeated Argentina 24-14 to book their place in the Cup quarterfinals as Pool C winners, ending day one unbeaten thanks to two tries from Vaea Poteki and setting up a quarterfinal clash with England.
Earlier they stunned Pacific neighbours Fiji, beating the current joint-Series leaders 17-14 with Jack Ram scoring two tries in the victory in Pool C.
Fiji won in Wellington two years ago and got their campaign off to a flying start with a 31-0 victory against Argentina, thanks to 11 points from Osea Kolinisau, but were unable to cope with Tonga. In their final match they beat Wales 19-0 to finish second in the pool.
Wales, who beat Fiji 48-0 in the Plate final in South Africa, met Tonga in their first match which ended in a thrilling 14-14 draw before they beat Los Pumas 19-7.
Argentina have struggled for consistency this season, reaching a Cup semifinal in Dubai but otherwise flattering to deceive, and they now enter the Bowl competition having finished fourth in Pool C.
Results:
Fiji 31-0 Argentina
Wales 14-14 Tonga
Fiji 14-17 Tonga
Wales 19-7 Argentina
Argentina 14-24 Tonga
Fiji 19-0 Wales
Pool D
Canada booked their place in the Cup quarter-finals with a 21-14 victory against Kenya. Despite trailing 14-7 at half-time, Nayak Dala and Conor Trainor, scoring his second of the match, crossed to secure their place in the last eight on day two.
Geriant John’s side stunned France recording a 19-14 victory against the Dubai Sevens runners-up in their opening match. Sean Duke and Nathan Hirayama had given Canada a 14-0 lead but they were pegged back to 14-14 before Ciaran Hearn struck the final blow.
France, who were able to win their second match 26-17 against Kenya thanks to two tries from skipper Vincent Deniau before a 10-10 draw with Australia was enough to put them through as pool runners-up.
Australia beat Canada 14-12 to ensure each side in Pool D sat on four points after the first two rounds of pool matches but their defeat to France meant they finished day one third in Pool D.
Earlier Collins Injera had scored his 125th and 126th tries in another surprise result in Pool D as Kenya scored five tries in a 35-10 victory against Australia. Captain Sidney Ashioya also scored twice before former captain Humphrey Kayange completed the victory.
Results:
France 14-19 Canada
Australia 10-35 Kenya
France 26-17 Kenya
Australia 14-12 Canada
Canada 21-14 Kenya
France 10-10 Australia
