Paris Sevens: BlitzBoks & Kiwis sent packing

The only one of the tournament's top three teams that made it through to the semifinals is Fiji, but barely by the skin of their teeth.

Argentina beat the Kiwis 19-17 in the first of the third day's Cup quarterfinals at the Paris leg of the Sevens World Series – Round Nine of 10 tournaments.

And immediately afterwards Samoa caused an equally big upset when they produced a power game of note, disposing of an error-prone BlitzBoks team 21-10.

"We're a team that needs to believe in ourselves," Samoa coach Damian McGrath said of a team that less than 24 hours earlier had lost 5-42 to a rampant Fiji.

"We did a bit of soul searching [after the loss on Saturday], because we felt we let ourselves down a little bit against Fiji.

"We got our tactics right in this match."

France gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate, as they produced their own version of a power play to blow Kenya away – winning 24-5, after leading just 7-5 at half-time.

Fiji had to come from 10 points down with two converted second-half tries to edge a willing and vastly improved Australia 17-15.

Fiji made just five passes to Australia's 53, but they are the ones through to the last four much to the relief of coach Ben Ryan.

"Sometimes you've got to win ugly. We can win the series now this weekend," Ryan said.

Cup quarterfinals:

In the first quarterfinal New Zealand conceded an early penalty at the breakdown and Gaston Revol took a quick tap. In-form Fernando Luna was up in support and cruised home for the first try of the opening match on the day in the Cup competition. A handling error from Argentina, when on the attack inside the New Zealand half, proved costly as Gordon Tietjens' side pounce on the loose ball and launch a deadly counterattack that involves several players and ends in a score for Sione Molia.

An inside flick from Gillies Kaka opened up the Argentina defence and Teddy Stanaway was the man to benefit with New Zealand's third try. With just under four minutes to play and Argentina were given a lift as Kurt Baker is sent to the touchlines for a temporary breather, following a high tackle. Los Pumas took advantage of the extra man as they worked an opening for Juan Pablo Estelles to score. A jinxing run from Rodrigo Etchart the got Argentina right back in it. The conversion was good and it was 19-17 with 60 seconds left. The Pumas' defence held out for a famous win.

In the second of the quarterfinals South Africa scored the opening try against Samoa, Ruhan Nel stretching out to score after the BlitzBoks loaded the short side from a free kick. Ed Fidow responded with a 60-metre run in and the conversion goes over to give Samoa a two-point lead going into the half-time break.

An uncharacteristic error from Kyle Brown cost South Africa the chance to get the first points of the second half. The BlitzBoks skipper knocked on attempting a quick tap when the Samoans were struggling to get back on their feet. Alefosio Tapili made them pay, stepping inside South Africa's press defence and running 60 metres for his side's second try. With the conversion Samoa were nine points up with four and a bit minutes to play. Moments later, captain Faalemiga Selesele muscled his way over from close range. South Africa pulled five points back when Ruhan Nel put in Cecil Afrika for a try with a minute to go, but it is too little too late and it was Samoa who will face Argentina in the last four.

In the third quarterfinal The Parisian crowd went wild as Terry Bouhraoua combined with Virimi Vakatawa and scored with the match just a minute old. The same double act threatened the Kenyan line again, but this time the Africans were able to bundle the Fijian-born wing into touch. Collins Injera beats Vakatawa and then freed his arms to get the pass away to Billy Odhiambo, who did the rest to send the large Kenyan contingent in the Stade Jean Bouin crowd into raptures. Samuel Oliech was unable to land the conversion from wide out and Les Bleus had a two-point lead at the break.

Superb counter-rucking from one side and then the other eventually saw the ball come back on France's side. Pierre Gillies Lakafia headed towards the line, before being hauled down five metres short. He still managed to get the ball away to Terry Bouhraoua, who spilled a difficult pass with the line at his mercy. Bouhraoua, however, atoned for the error when his quick-thinking opened up a gap that Manoel Dall Igna exploited. Further salt was rubbed into Kenyan wounds when Vakatawa, who is having a superb game, broke away to score in the corner. There was no stopping Pierre Gillies Lakafia this time as the big man finished off yet another turnover with a 40-metre sprint to the line. Lakafia delivered the knockout blow and celebrated with a power punch.

In the fourth quarterfinal footwork from James Stannard opened up Fiji and almost resulted in a score for Ed Jenkins, but a desperate cover tackle forced the 29-year-old into touch just short of the line. However, there was no stopping big Pat McCutcheon, who added to his brace against England with the first try of the game moments later. Australia continued to dominate possession and deservedly took their points tally into double figures, after Stannard fired out a pass to Henry Hutchison and the youngster had the time and room to dot down in the corner.

Leone Nakarawa started and finished a move to get Fiji foothold in the game, but Australia responded immediately to fashion a second score for Hutchison out wide. It was good handling from the Aussies who were well worth their 10-point lead.

Fiji started the second half strongly and crossed for their second try with four minutes to go when aggressive counter-rucking forced a turnover and the impressive Jasa Veremalua raced away. Australia were unable to recycle the ball cleanly when attacking on the Fiji 22 and the Islanders did what they do best and counter attacked with deadly effect, Samisoni Viriviri sprinting clear to put his side two points up and secure yet another late winner.

Results:

New Zealand 17-19 Argentina

South Africa 10-21 Samoa

France 24-5 Kenya

Fiji 17-15 Australia

Bowl quarterfinals:

James Fleming grabbed a hat-trick as Scotland overpowered Brazil in the last of the Bowl quarterfinals.

They will play the United States in the semifinals, after the Eagles Sevens edged Portugal 19-17.

In the other ties, England narrowly avoided an upset against old rivals Wales, for whom Luke Morgan became their leading try scorer, and they will now play Russia – who beat Canada 33-0.

Results:

Russia 33-0 Canada

England 17-12 Wales

United States 19-17 Portugal

Scotland 38-14 Brazil

Source: @WorldRugby

??SNAP REACTION: @axelmusher reacts to @unionargentina's 2nd win over @nz7s in their last 3 meetings ???? #paris7s pic.twitter.com/VHkBewmgnE

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 15, 2016