Laidlaw frustrated as Fijians down NZ
All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw has been left frustrated and disappointed after Fiji struck late to beat New Zealand 14-10 in the quarterfinals of the Las Vegas rugby sevens tournament.
Jerry Tuwai’s last-gasp try was enough to see Fiji home after the Kiwis had scored twice in the first spell to lead 10-7 at halftime.
Vatemo Ravouvou had opened the scoring for Fiji after two minutes, set up by a perfect offload from Amenoni Nasilasila.
New Zealand responded through Vilimoni Koroi two minutes later, then grabbed the lead right on halftime when a rolling maul barrelled through for Sione Molia to touch down.
The scoreline stalled at 10-7 after the restart until Tuwai burst through the flagging Kiwi defence nearly two minutes after the final hooter had sounded.
The result means the evenlymatched New Zealand and Fijian teams have both beaten each other 47 times in sevens.
“It was frustrating and disappointing,” Laidlaw said. “I thought tactically we were really smart and executed our game plan, and we thought we’d done enough to win the game.”
On day one of the three-day Las Vegas tournament, the New Zealanders started with a 28-7 win over Uruguay before a surprise 26-19 defeat to Argentina.
It was just the 10th time in 82 matches that the Kiwis have lost to Argentina, who scored late to secure the win.
The All Blacks Sevens went on to win their third pool match on day two against Scotland 26-17 yesterday.
With the Commonwealth Games looming, Laidlaw says his team have to find ways to clinically close out tight games.
“We’ve grown, we’re getting better and we’re stronger every time we play,” he said.
“[Day one] wasn’t good enough — the way we played was frustrating. So [day two], we came back and we’ve been better, but again just not quite enough.”
New Zealand play England in the first of the fifth-place semifinals at 9.28am today on day three of the tournament, followed by Kenya facing Australia in the second.
Fiji play the United States in the first of the morning’s Cup semifinals which follow, while Argentina take on South Africa in the second.
New Zealand are second on the World Series ladder behind South Africa, having won just one 2017-18 event in Cape Town.
The All Blacks Sevens are just seven points ahead of third-placed Fiji, who won last month’s Hamilton event. — NZN Jono Lance 3, James Tuttle 3 pen Isireli Naisarani, Joe Powell tries. Halftime: 6-5. Penalty try, Jack Maddocks 3, Amanaki Mafi, Sefanaia Naivalu tries; Reece Hodge con, Jack Debreczeni pen Ed Quirk, Will Tupou tries; Ryoto Nakamura 2 con, pen. Halftime: 10-10. George Bridge 2, Bryn Hall, Billy Harmon, Richie Mo’unga, Seta Tamanivalu, Codie Taylor tries; Mo’unga 5 con JC Janse van Rensburg, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, JD Schickerling tries; SP Marais 3, George Whitehead con Halftime: 31-7. Lukhanyo Am 2, Robert du Preez tries; du Preez 3 con, pen Jake Gordon, Michael Hooper, Mitch Short tries; Bernard Foley 3 con, pen Halftime: 10-10. Penalty try, Ross Cronje, Ruan Dreyer, Sylvian Mahuza, Malcolm Marx, Marvin Orie, Jacques van Rooyen tries; Elton Jantjies 6 con Lizo Gqoboka, Travis Ismaiel, Johnny Kotze, Handre Pollard tries; Francois Brummer 2, Marnitz Boshoff con, Boshoff 3 pen Halftime: 21-14. Ben Lam, Ngani Laumapi, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Blade Thompson tries; Beauden Barrett 3 con, Jackson Garden-Bachop pen Nicolas Sanchez 3 pen. Halftime: 12-6. Highlanders v Stormers, Dunedin, 7.35pm Rebels v Brumbies, Melbourne, 9.45pm Hurricanes v Crusaders, Wellington, 7.35pm Reds v Bulls, Brisbane, 9.45pm Sharks v Sunwolves, Durban, 2.05am Lions v Blues, Johannesburg, 4.15am Jaguares v Waratahs, Buenos Aires, 10.40am
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