New Zealand confirmed their domination of sevens rugby with a 26-12 win over South Africa in Sunday's Hong Kong Sevens final.
Kiwis continue world sevens domination
New Zealand confirmed their domination of sevens rugby with a 26-12 win over South Africa in Sunday's Hong Kong Sevens final.
There was a certain inevitability about the outcome of a one-sided final after the All Blacks took the lead after only a minute through Lote Raikabula.
Raikabula who was also instrumental in creating their second, offloading to Steven Yates after bursting through the Bok defence.
A breakaway try by Mzwandile Stick gave the Boks hope, but it proved forlorn as Raikabula barged over from close range at the death of the first half.
And after Zar Lawrence went over on the left wing less than two minutes into the second half, the Boks were unable to overturn a 19 point deficit and had to settle for only a consolation try from Fabian Juries.
History
The result, a record 42nd straight win, kept the Kiwis on course for an eighth IRB World Sevens Series title in nine years.
New Zealand captain DJ Forbes said: "We had come here for victory and the way we've done it, it's something to be proud of.
"This team will be remembered - we've made history."
A slim quarter-final defeat at the hands of Samoa halted England's bid for a fifth Hong Kong Sevens title in seven years.
The defending champions notched up a 17-12 victory over Ben Ryan's men, who had won four out of five of their previous Hong Kong encounters, one of them in Pool B on day two where they won 7-5.
Scores from Anthony Elliot and skipper Andrew Vik were not enough to cancel out the threat from the Pacific Islanders as Mikaele Pesamino and Alatasi Tupou cancelled out England's points.
But it was Alafoti Fa'osilvia's touch down and a frantic but stalwart Samoan defence in the dying seconds that made the difference between the two teams to set up a semi-final showdown against South Africa.
Proud
Ryan however was upbeat about the result. "I'm proud of the guys, as I was yesterday," he said.
"They've come through very quickly. We've had very little preparation - only the time in Hong Kong - and there are youngsters out there who are putting their hearts and souls into the England shirt.
"It was a very good performance and a typical Hong Kong quarter-final."
Wales crashed out to an unstoppable New Zealand who extended their record winning run to 40 matches.
The All Blacks overwhelmed the Welsh 26-7 to set up a last-four clash with Fiji as they go in search of their eighth IRB World Sevens Series triumph in nine years.
Wales Captain Jonathan Edwards said: "New Zealand showed their class.
"There were one or two bounces of a ball, one or two poor passes - you can't afford to do that against a team like them.
"But I'm very pleased with the boys and how we've performed over the weekend."
