NZ take first Gold Coast title
World champions New Zealand overpowered hosts Australia to win their first Gold Coast Sevens crown 40-19 in the final on Sunday.
The Australians began strongly and led 12-0 inside the opening 90 seconds, but the Kiwis took charge, posting the next unanswered 33 points before the home side scored again.
New Zealand scored six tries to three to win the opening round of the Sevens World Series in defence of their title.
New Zealand, who won in Adelaide in 2011, had finished runners-up to Fiji in the past two years. This year, the Fijians were knocked out in the quarterfinals by England 26-12.
The hosts stormed to a 12-0 lead in the final following tries from captain Ed Jenkins and James Stannard, but once New Zealand got into their stride they brushed the Aussies aside.
Speedster Ambrose Curtis scored a double and Tomasi Cama landed two conversions from wide out for a 14-12 lead at halftime.
Veteran Cama scored a third try for New Zealand after the break, before Waisake Naholo and Joe Webber put them out of reach.
Cameron Clark finally broke the Kiwi flow of points with a runaway try, but New Zealand's David Raikuna went over under the crossbar as the final siren sounded.
It capped a dominant tournament by Gordon Tietjens' New Zealanders, who did not concede a point on their way to the semifinals, and were only really challenged by England in a narrow 14-5 semifinal win.
England beat South Africa 47-0 to take third place in the tournament, running in seven tries with two each from forwards Phil Burgess and James Rodwell, a brace from flyhalf Dan Bibby and a fourth of the day from Mike Ellery.
The Blitzbokke's challenge ended when Australia beat them in extra time, and they were well off the pace in their thrd-place play-off with England.
Fiji, who also lost to Wales this weekend, beat Kenya 36-0 to win the Plate final.
The next stop in the world series is the Dubai Sevens on November 29-30.
All of the Day Two results:
Quarterfinals
New Zealand 40-0 Samoa
Fiji 12-26 England
Australia 24-12 Kenya
South Africa 28-21 Wales
Semifinals
New Zealand 14-5 England
Australia 24-19 South Africa
Final
New Zealand 40-19 Australia
Third place
England 47-0 South Africa
Plate final
Fiji 36-0 Kenya
Bowl final
France 19-14 Canada
Shield final
United States 22-0 Portugal
