NZ leave it late to progress unbeaten
New Zealand finished day one of the Hamilton Sevens with a perfect record after beating France, Scotland and Argentina with plenty dazzle, flair and guts on show yesterday.
In the first New Zealand leg of the World Sevens Series staged outside of Wellington, New Zealand started in electric form before a packed out FMG Stadium Waikato, and Etene Nanai-Seturo showed a glimpse of what the code-hopping teen can do.
But the hosts required a last-gasp Joe Ravouvou try to sneak a 17-12 victory against Argentina in the day’s final game.
So much talk has surrounded 18-year-old Nanai-Seturo, who is at the centre of an ugly contract row between the Warriors and New Zealand Rugby, since his controversial New Zealand sevens debut in Sydney last weekend.
But two stunning plays – one a ruthless fend on France’s Paulin Riva, and two sidesteps that left Scottish defenders for dead – caught the eye as New Zealand topped Pool C to reach the cup quarter-finals.
New Zealand hammered France 52-7 in their opening match, then cruised to a 24-5 victory over Scotland, and they rounded off the day by scraping past Argentina as revellers in and out of their the seats kept a lively atmosphere going from morning until night.
Fiji’s faithful – many catching their closest glimpse of the their seven stars revered so highly by the Pacific Island nation – made the loudest racket as the Olympic champions edged past Australia in their Pool A decider when the sun was coming down on Hamilton’s big day.
South Africa and Kenya also won their respective pools and New Zealand, who face England in the last eight, know their work is far from done ahead of today’s finals.
And the hosts got out of jail after a lacklustre display against Argentina, who will feel aggrieved not to have beaten Clark Laidlaw’s side. Co-captain Tim Mikkelson surpassed 1000 points for New Zealand in the World Series when scoring against France and another 18-year-old, Caleb Clarke, made his mark with some fierce running as France shipped over 50 points against the hosts.
Vilimoni Koroi was impressive running with the ball and when converting New Zealand’s tries, nailing several drops kick from near the touchline.
The frightening pace New Zealand played at was too good for France and Scotland, who also both lost to Argentina.
Two wins apiece for Fiji and Australia secured their spots in the quarter-finals from Pool A after both securing victories over Spain and Wales.
New Zealand’s pool results: Won 52-7 v France, Won 24-5 v Scotland, Won 17-12 v Argentina.
Cup quarter-finals: Fiji v Samoa at 12:36pm, New Zealand v England at 12:58pm, Kenya v Australia at 1:20pm, South Africa v Argentina at 1:42pm.