CW GAMES SEVENS: NZ strike gold at the Gold coast
It was the fifth time out six occasions the Sevens have been played at the Commonwealth Games that New Zealand has won the title, their only loss being in Glasgow four years ago when they lost in the final to South Africa.
Fiji, the reigning Olympic Sevens champions, fielded a team that had played at Hong Kong's Sevens last week while New Zealand had sent a different side and looked by far the fresher side in Queensland as a consequence.
Twice the Fijians, in the second half, had chances to score from breakouts in their own half, and normally they would have scored, but firstly Scott Curry and then Tim Mikkelson, the side's co-captains, each pulled off try-saving tackles which seemed to lower the spirit of the Fiji side.
The @nz7s bring the fire with a fierce HAKA after their Commonwealth Games gold medal win! #GC2018RugbySevens pic.twitter.com/0OOfdQarvr
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 15, 2018
They were down 14-0 at the break with a Fijian Sevuloni Mocenecagi in the sin-bin after a dangerous tackle on Sam Dickson.
New Zealand's tries came to Etene Nanai-Seturo after a kick through by Vilimoni Koroi which was taken by Curry who flicked an offload to Nanai-Seturo who stepped into a gap to run in the try.
And then halfway through the first half Regan Ware made the most of a Mikkelson turnover to create something almost out of nothing in a run which ended up beating tackle attempts from at least six of the Fijian side.
The defending champions South Africa went down 14-21 to England in the bronze-medal match.
The BlitzBoks looked set to get a podium finish, especially after tries by Branco du Preez and Ruhan Nel handed them a 14-0 lead at the break.
However, a brace by England's Phil Burgess and a Tom Mitchell set up a marvellous comeback victory.
Sunday's results:
Semi-final:
South Africa 19-24 Fiji
England 12-17 New Zealand
Bronze-medal:
England 21-14 South Africa
Gold-medal:
New Zealand 14-0 Fiji
Source: @AllBlakcs
