Sydney Sevens: Savea earns NZ a dramatic draw
Ardie Savea scored the vital try at the death in that game to give his side the draw and top spot in Pool A. They will play the United States in the Cup quarterfinal. Australia will play England in the last eight.
England finished top of Pool D after their win against the USA, with the Americans in second place.
South Africa also won their pool after beating Kenya and will play Argentina, who finished second in their pool in the quarterfinals.
Kenya's reward for finishing behind South Africa sees them play Fiji in the last eight. Fiji topped Pool C after their win against Argentina.
Cup quarterfinals:
New Zealand v United States
Fiji v Kenya
England v Australia
South Africa v Argentina
Bowl quarterfinals:
Portugal v Japan
Samoa v Russia
Wales v Canada
Scotland v France
Click here for latest pool standings!
We take a look at the action!
Pool A
(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal)
It was a blistering start from New Zealand as they looked to get the first score in their Australasion derby with Australia. They did just that when the ball was sent wide to Rieko Ioane who sprinted in for the first try.
Australia Captain Ed Jenkins then sent the home crowd wild when he ran in for an equalising try in the corner. After three minutes it was 5-5.
Australia then took the lead two minutes later when Lewis Holland crashed over for a try from five metres. The try was converted and the home team had a seven-point advantage.
There was no let-up from the hosts who then went further in front after the ball was spread wide to the veteran James Stannard who dived over for a try. At half-time Australia led 17-5.
New Zealand got the first to score in the second half when Augustine Pulu finished off a great build-up to bash his way over the line.
New Zealand worked hard in the final minutes to get a try to at least draw the game and after some great passing they eventually got it when Ardie Savea found himself in space to sprint in for the score.
The try was converted and the game ended 17-17
Portugal put in one of their best performances in Sevens rugby when they beat Canada 26-17 in their final Pool game.
There was nothing to choose between the two in this match with both taking turns to score. Canada led at 12-5 at half-time, but Portugal was not about to give up.
The Europeans were the first to score in the second half to level matters before Migual Lucas put the Portuguese in front with a well-worked try.
Portugal, now full of confidence, extended their lead when Vasco Ribeiro sprinted in to give Portugal a 14-point lead.
Philip Mack thought he got Canada back in it with try at the death, but the conversion meaning they could not steal a draw. It was morale boosting win for the Portuguese.
Earlier in the day, Australia beat Portugal 24-7 and Canada 26-12, while New Zealand bagged a 27-12 win over Canada before PortugalCanada 40-5
Results:
Australia 17-17 New Zealand.
Portugal 26-17 Canada
Australia 26-12 Canada
New Zealand 40-5 Portugal
New Zealand 27-12 Canada
Australia 24-7 Portugal
Pool B
(South Africa, Kenya, Russia, Scotland)
South Africa ensured they finished the pool phase on top of Pool B after they beat Kenya 26-19.
Kenya started the brighter of the teams and they were rewarded when Collins Injera went over for try to give his team a 5-0 lead after two minutes.
It was not long before Seabelo Senatla got his sixth try of the tournament with Cheslin Kolbe converting to give South Africa a two-point lead.
It was that man Kolbe who got his team's second try after a swift move as the BlitzBoks took a 12-5 lead with three minutes left in the first half.
The Blitzboks were growing in confidence now and the scoring continued with playmaker Rosko Specman gathered a kick to canter in for an easy try. Willy Ambaka got a try back for Kenya just before half-time with the score reading 19-12 in favour of the Boks.
South Africa were the first to score in the second half through Juan de Jongh which gave them that safety buffer from the Kenyans.
However, Oscar Ayodi ensured that the game went down to the wire after he sprinted down field for a try. But there was just not enough time on the clock with the BlitzBoks hanging on for the win.
Both Scotland and Russia were looking for redemption after both teams lost their first two games against South Africa and Scotland.
Russia opened the scoring, but their lead did not last long after Gavin Lowe sprinted in for a score, which was converted to give Scotland a 7-5 lead.
Scotland went in search of another score before half-time and they got it when Scott Wight dummied his way through the Russian defence. At the break Scotland led 14-5.
Scotland then made it 21-5 in their favour after Jamie Farndale beat two defenders to sprint in for a try after half-time. James Johnstone then got a quick brace as Scotland raced to a 35-5 lead.
There would be one more score after that with Scotland wining 40-5.
In Pool B's opening games, South Africa thrashed Scotland 33-7 before easing past Russia 40-0. Kenya notched up a 24-10 win over Russia before edging Scotland 17-14
Results:
South Africa 26-19
Scotland 40-5 Russia
Kenya 17-14 Scotland
South Africa 40-0 Russia
South Africa 33-7 Scotland
Kenya 24-10 Russia
Pool C
(Fiji, Argentina, France, Samoa)
Fiji topped Pool C after a hard-fought 19-14 win over Argentina.
Argentina made a promising start as they attacked with intent, however, it was Fiji who got the early lead after a try by Savenaca Rawaca.
The game was played at fast pace with Argentina staying in touch with Fijians. They were then given an advantage when Pio Tuwai was sent to the sin bin.
Argentina took advantage of the extra-man with Franco Sabato diving over for a score. At half-time the scores were all level at 7-7.
The Fijians were the first to score in the second half when Rawaca set up Semi Kunatani for a try. Argentina then found themselves even further behind after Rawaca showed some great power to run in for his second of the game.
Argentina tried desperately to find a way back in the game and they did just that with Axel Muller scoring just before the full-time hooter.
However, they could not secure possession from the restart allowing t Fiji to end the game with a kick in touch.
Samoa secured third place in Pool C after their 29-14 win over France.
The Samoans outscored their opponents five tries to three although France were only five points adrift at half-time.
Tila Mealoi was the star of the show for the Samoans after he scored two tries in that game.
The win was Samoa's first in Sydney after defeats to Argentina and Fiji earlier in the day.
Results:
Fiji 19-14 Argentina
Samoa 29-14 France
Argentina 14-12 Samoa
Fiji 49-5 France
Fiji 31-0 Samoa
Argentina 17-7 France
Pool D
(England, Japan, USA, Wales)
England showed off their physicality when they held-off a determined USA side to win 17-14 and top Pool D.
England made the perfect start when Alex Gray found a gap in the USA defence to sprint away for the opening try.
Perry Baker then made a big mistake when he stepped over the dead-ball line when he was about to score an easy try. It would have also brought the United States level with England.
That mistake ultimately proved costly when England's Alex Davis extended his team's lead with a fantastic try.
USA did get a try back just before half-time through Zack Test to bring the scores a bit closer before half-time.
However, England extended their lead once again, this time from turnover ball with Tom Mitchell showing a clean pair of heels to make it 17-7 to England.
With just two minutes left, Danny Barrett gave the USA a big chance when he crashed over the tryline. Madison Hughes converted to bring his team within three points of England.
In the end there was just not enough time left for USA to complete a comeback.
Wales completed a great comeback in their match against Japan to win 26-21.
Both teams were on the board in the first three minutes after some great attacking rugby. With the clock counting down to half-time, it was Japan who got the lead after Lomano Lemeki's try.
Kameli Soejima increased Japan's lead in the second minute after half-time as Wales struggled to get out of their own half.
Wales reduced the deficit with three minutes left to play when Luke Morgan evaded a Japanese tackler to get his team's second try. It was then the turn of captain Like Truharne to show his skill – he dummied to get past the Japanese defence and score a great try.
With the scores level and with just seconds left on the clock, Wales went on one last attack with Kristian Phillips scoring to cap off a great comeback for the Welsh.
The win was USA's second after their convincing 42-0 demolition of Wales. They also went on to beat Japan 33-17. England beat Japan 26-5 in their first game before doing just enough to beat Wales in their second game.
Results:
England 17-14 USA
Wales 26-21 Japan
USA 33-17 Japan
England 21-5 Wales
England 26-5 Japan
USA 42-0 Wales
Click here for Round One match reports and Round Two reports!
