Fiji knock NZ sevens out in semifinal
Fiji knocked New Zealand out of the Hamilton Sevens after winning 14-12 in an enthralling semi-final on Sunday.
The crowds filled up every stand at FMG Stadium Waikato for the titanic tussle this weekend in Hamilton had been waiting for, and the contest delivered.
It was frantic, frenetic and loud, as the entire stadium brought all the energy of both days of partying together at once, but it was light blue Fijian flags waving with joy when the final hooter sounded.
New Zealand faced Australia in the bronze medal match while Fiji played South Africa in the final.
South Africa beat Australia 24-5 in the second semi-final.
Fiji flew out of the blocks and went ahead early when Josua Vakurunabili rounded off a scintillating move that New Zealand just couldn’t keep out
despite some heroic defence from the outstanding Vilimoni Koroi.
The hosts then hit back after Fiji twice lost the ball and an initial break from Regan Ware stretched their defence, New Zealand switched the play, and Sam Dickson scored in the corner.
The old foes met twice in Sydney last week, with Fiji winning a tense pool game 19-17, and New Zealand then won 31-7 in their clash for fifth place.
Fiji led 7-5 at the break after a tense exchange of possession, but New Zealand hit the front for the first time when Koroi broke clear to score under the posts.
The defeaning noise raised the roof and Fiji came roaring back again to reclaim the lead through Mesulame Kunavula, and after having one try ruled out, the Fijian defence kept New Zealand out in the final minutes.
New Zealand had left it late again but reached the semi-finals after overcoming England.
After securing top spot in the pool stages with Joe Ravouvou’s last-minute try beating Argentina
17-12 on Saturday, the hosts trailed 7-0 when England’s Ruadrih McConnochie finished off their first chance in the corner.
But New Zealand struck back when Tim Mikkelson scored his
200th try in the World Series during day two’s second quarterfinal.
New Zealand then won a crucial turnover with England attacking their line and Vilimoni Koroi burst through a gaping hole with great speed to claim a 12-7 lead at the break.
McConnochie scored his second to level the scores, but Scott Curry later ran clear for the match-winning try after England had lost Phil Burgess to the sinbin in the final two minutes.
In the other quarter-finals, Fiji were given an almighty scare by Pacific Island rivals Samoa, and needed an incredible last-gasp try from Kalione Nasoko to snatch a dramatic victory.
Samoa, who are coached by New Zealand sevens legend Sir Gordon Tietjens, led 10-7 with time up but were turned over and punished as Nasoko gleefully dashed 60 metres down the right flank to break Samoan hearts.
Only Amenoni Nasilasila’s touchline conversion separated Samoa from Fiji, whose faithful, dotted around the ground in colourful white and blue, went wild as their team scraped through to the last four.
Australia downed Kenya convincingly 33-12 and South Africa accounted for Scotland 22-0 equally comfortably so both reached the semi-finals.