Wellington Sevens: It is NZ v SA in Final
In the first semifinal New Zealand completed dominated England, overpowering them with brute force, to win 25-5 – despite being unable to slot a single conversion.
Fiji, who won five of their last six encounters with South Africa, could not handle the BlitzBoks' greater energy or penetrate their rock-solid defence – the SA team winning 31-0 in a game that turned very spiteful once the Pacific Islanders realised they could no longer win.
Argentina will play Australian in the Plate Final, after Los Pumas beat Kenya 35-14, while the Aussies were made to work a bit harder for their 17-5 over the United States.
The Bowl Final is between Scotland and Samoa, while Russia will meet France in the Shield Final.
* For all the quarterfinal action CLICK HERE!
Cup semifinals
New Zealand 25-5 England
Ben Lam used his power to fend off a couple of would-be tacklers and sprinter over for the opening score inside a minute. Lam scored a second in the third minute, but this time Akira Ioane was the provider with his power.
England tried desperately to get into the game, but great breakdown work saw New Zealand win some crucial penalty turnovers. Ioane then set up a try for Sonny Bill Williams, as the first-half rout continued – 15-0 at the break.
Kurt Bakers started the second-half scoring, again inside a minute, while England's error rate started to rise alarmingly.
Jack Wilson eventually got a consolation score for England, with just over a minute remaining on the clock, but Rieko Ioane joined his brother on the scoresheet to complete the rout.
South Africa 31-0 Fiji
Fiji got off like a house on fire, but some great scrambling defence and a knock-on by Pio Tuwai cost the Pacific Islanders. The resulting scrum became free kick and a great grubber allowed Seabelo Senatla to sprint clear for the opening try.
The Fijians continued to be their own worst enemies, conceding a string of penalties, with a sublime line-out move opening the gap for Cheslin Kolbe to go over for the second try. That saw the BlitzBoks take a 12-0 lead into the break.
The second half started with more Fijian mistakes, with a kick-and-chase giving Rosco Spekman the third BlitzBok try.
Albertus Smith thought he got the crucial fourth try, with the rattled Fijians resorting to foul play, but the BlitzBokke retaliated and the try was turned over.
Still, the error rate continued to climb and Fiji – now also a man down as a result of their foul play – struggled to get out their half. Smith did eventually get the fourth, a minute from time, from yet another turnover. There was even time for Kolbe to get a fifth try, his second of the match.
Plate semifinals
Kenya 14-35 Argentina
It was a Kenyan error that gifted Nicolas Gonzalez the opening try, before Biko Adema drew the African team level. It required a referee video review to deny Argentina a try – the ball held up over the line twice – before Bautista Ezcurra eventually got the ball down right on the stroke of half-time.
Santiago Alvarez stretched the lead for the South Americans soon after the restart, German Schulz then getting his team's fourth try – as the Kenyan defence disintegrated. Collins Injera pulled one back, but Axel Muller put the seal on a convincing win for Argentina.
Australia 17-5 United States
Allan Fa'alava'au opened the scoring for the Aussies, only for Madison Hughes to use his pace to get the Americans on the board straight after. Sam Myers gave the Aussies the lead right on the stroke of half-time.
The Americans found themselves on the wrong side of a few of the referee's rulings, lost their cool and got marched 10 metres on one penalty. Those errors kept handing possession back to the Aussies at crucial stages in the half, with Henry Hutchinson sealing the win for the men from Down Under.
In the process James Stannard became the top Aussie Sevens points scorer, overtaking Peter Miller with 632.
Bowl semifinals
Scotland 31-26 Japan (in extra time – teams were level 26-all after regulation time)
Nick Grigg opened the scoring for Scotland, but Katsuyuki Sakai hit straight back for Japan. Jamie Farndale reclaimed the lead for the Scots, but again Japan hit back – this time through Sai Ozawa .Farndale scored late in the first half to make it 19-14 at the break. Kameli Soejima again levelled the scores, before Soejima put Japan into the lead for the first time with under two minutes left on the clock. Nick McLennan got Scotland level with time up and the game went into sudden-death extra time.
Lote Tuqiri thought he had scored the winner, but his arm went touch-in-goal before he grounded the ball. It was then Joe Nayacavou who used his power go secure the win for the Scots.
Canada 7-26 Samoa
Belgium Tuatagaloa opened the scoring, but Admir Cejanovic pulled one straight back. Phoenix Hunapo scored right on the hooter to give Samoa a 12-7 half-time lead. Tuatagaloa then scored his second, for a 10-point lead, before Tila Mealoi put it out of reach for Samoa.
Shield Semifinals
Portugal 17-22 France
It required a Julien Candelon try deep into referee's optional time for France to overcome a willing Portugal, who is showing some progress.
Russia 17-0 Wales
Russia raced into a 12-0 half-time lead against a Welsh team that looked decidedly off the pace – not to take anything away from the determined Russians, who sealed a deserved win with a second-half score by Dmitry Perov.
RE:LIVE! Power personified, Ben Lam goes Jonah Lomu on England in the Cup semi-finalshttps://t.co/WIIUjMc9Mv
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) January 31, 2016
