Preview: Sevens, Day Two
World Sevens Series leaders Fiji and Australia also maintained 100 percent records with impressive displays at the Westpac Stadium, as the third round continued to entertain.
Sir Gordon Tietjens' side will now meet Kenya in the quarter-finals, a repeat of the dramatic semi-final from two years ago in which Oscar Ouma scored in sudden-death extra-time to put the African side into the final.
Ben Ryan's Fiji scored 17 tries, including four from Savenaca Rawaca to take his tally for the season to 14, and will face USA in a mouth-watering quarterfinal, while Australia will meet South Africa in their quarterfinal after Sam Myers scored at the death to beat Kenya 17-12 in the Pool D decider, adding to two earlier tries from Greg Jeloudev.
Despite a defeat to Samoa, England were the other side to finish top of their pool. Finishing ahead of Mike Friday's USA, having beaten them in their second match of the day. England will play Cape Town runners-up Argentina. Simon Amor's side return to the quarterfinals having missed out in Cape Town, in the only change from the final eight in South Africa.
"The effort of the guys out there was great. We missed one or two tackles against NZ and also did not finish them off when we had the chance to do so. However, I am very pleased with the overall effort.
"They [Australia] never give up and will try until the very last minute. They are very determined and have some good individual players and they are a very difficult team to play in the knockout stages," Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell said.
In the Bowl section, Scotland kicks the days play off against Portugal before France take on Japan. Canada will have a tricky match against Russia while the fixture of the section is between Wales and Samoa.
Schedule – Sunday, January 30:
(Kick-off is local time – GMT plus 11 hours)
Bowl quarter-final fixtures:
Scotland v Portugal – 11.30
France v Japan – 11.52
Canada v Russia – 12.14
Wales v Samoa – 12.36
Cup quarter-final fixtures:
New Zealand v Kenya – 13.02
England v Argentina – 13.24
Australia v South Africa – 13.46
Fiji v USA – 14.08
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