Fiji break NZ sevens hearts in overtime

Fiji have proved the New Zealand sevens team’s nemesis once more, knocking them out of the Las Vegas tournament in the quarterfinals in dramatic fashion.

After Fiji sent the Kiwis packing in the semifinals of the most recent World Series tournament, in Hamilton last month, and also in the semis of the USA event last year, they again broke Kiwi hearts yesterday, scoring after the siren to run out 14-10 victors.

t was Jerry Tuwai who stole the match for Fiji, as he strolled in under the sticks after his side had worked their way upfield for the stunning climax, in a match which finished at two tries apiece.

New Zealand had been in front for the entire second half until that point, having worked their way back after Fiji opened the scoring through Vatemo Ravouvou, when he latched onto an offload close to the line after Vilimoni Koroi had made an early try-saver on Tuwai.

But just as Fiji looked set to extend their lead, they had a ball go to ground and Koroi swooped five metres from his own goal-line and went on a stunning run upfield to score a superb solo try and get the Kiwis back in the contest. Koroi was then dangerous on the right-hand touch and slid a nice grubber through to the goalline, with Fiji conceding a penalty for a late tackle on him. From the resulting lineout, New Zealand went on to produce a surprise powerful rolling maul and it paid massive dividends, with Sione Molia crashing over the line to give them a 10-7 halftime advantage.

Earlier Fiji had been upset 17-14 by Kenya but still managed to top their pool, while New Zealand avoided any embarrassment of a first-ever miss of the quarterfinals finishing second in their pool after a 26-17 win over Scotland after an opening day where they had beaten Uruguay 28-7 and then lost 26-19 to Argentina.