Coach Gordon Tietjens pronounced himself “pretty happy” as IRB World Series champions New Zealand secured three comfortable victories on the first day of the Dubai Sevens to book a quarter-final clash with Kenya.
Wins over Wales and Zimbabwe were followed up with a solid 33-7 success over Australia as the Dubai trophy holders stepped up a gear in their final outing of the day.
New Zealand are on course for a semi-final meeting in the opening leg of the new world series with England, who were arguably the most impressive performers of the day with a 28-5 defeat of Fiji capping a fine series of displays.
PHOTO: AFP
Tietjens said: “We were a bit scratchy at times but we also did a lot of good things. “You always have to be happy with three wins, and we put on a good performance against Australia.”
Tomasi Cama claimed two tries in the defeat of Wales while Tim Nanai-Williams finished with a personal tally of 26 points, thanks to four tries and three conversions, in the 43-7 success against Zimbabwe.
England were without world record points scorer Ben Gollings, who rested a calf injury, but still had too much expertise for Portugal, the USA and then Fiji.
Coach Ben Ryan said: “Self-belief has gone through the roof. It was a real gamble not to play Ben Gollings but he will be fit for tomorrow [Saturday].”
Fijian-born players Isoa Damu and Josua Drauniniu both played important roles for England who now meet Argentina in the last eight. In the other half of the draw, South Africa booked a quarter-final against Australia on the back of three comfortable victories.
Two tries from Ryno Benjamin helped power Paul Treu’s squad to an opening 31-10 defeat of Scotland before South Africa then eased past hosts the Gulf and then Kenya.
Coach Rudi Moors said Samoa need to “step up a level” despite recording three victories in pool play to secure a quarter-final against rivals Fiji.
He said: “We got the results but we did not perform well. We know the second day is a different tournament and we must now raise things and be more consistent.”
A try in time added on from Lolo Lui spared Samoa’s blushes in their opening game against France before Mikaele Pesamino touched down twice in the 33-7 defeat of Georgia.
Lui, Ofisa Treviranus and Apelu Fa’aiuga were the try scorers in Samoa’s last outing of the day, against Argentina.
Earlier, Santiago Gomez Cora became the first man in World Series history to reach the 200-try mark with a hat-trick for Argentina in the 26-7 win over Georgia.
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