South Africa, Fiji shine while Kiwi teen stars
WELLINGTON: New Zealand showed why Etene Nanai-Seturo is at the centre of a tug of war between rival rugby codes as they emerged unbeaten on day one of the World Rugby Sevens series in Hamilton on Saturday.
South Africa and Fiji dominated pool play but it was the 18-yearold New Zealander who was the centre of attention.
Nanai-Seturo has been selected for the All Blacks Sevens side, while the Warriors rugby league club say they have him on a fiveyear contract and there have been reports of possible legal action to keep him in their ranks.
Rugby union bosses claim their legal advice is that the teenager -- who has been likened to Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau - can play for the All Blacks, and he showed his worth with eyecatching performances either stepping around or bullocking over defenders.
New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji were the only unbeaten sides in pool play but the home side needed a late try by Joe Ravouvou to maintain their clean record.
The conversion for Ravouvou's try in the dying seconds of a 17-12 win over Argentina in the final pool match allowed Scotland to emerge from a three-way tie with Argentina and France and scrape into the quarter-finals on points differential.
Series leaders South Africa were untroubled in their wins over Papua New Guinea and Russia before convincingly putting away England 28-7.
It put South Africa into a semifinal against Scotland on Sunday while England will face New Zealand.
Fiji had a moment of concern against Spain with the score locked at 12-12 inside the last three minutes before a late scoring burst by Amenoni Nasilasila saw them home 24-12.
The Olympic champions then rallied to beat Australia 26-15 in the battle for the top spot in Pool A where the lead changed five times.
Australia did not have the same fluid game that saw them win in Sydney last week and were scratchy in the first half against Spain, leading just 7-5 at the turn, and were held to 0-0 at half-time by Wales before recovering to win 21-5 and 26-7.
They led Fiji 15-12 early in the second half before fading away and will now face Kenya in the quarter-finals while Fiji will play Samoa.
Kenya topped Pool D with two wins and a 19-19 draw against the United States in a result that allowed Samoa to sneak into the quarter-finals ahead of the Americans.