NZ seal Sevens win with 24-point burst
A withering burst of 24 unanswered points in five minutes set New Zealand up for a 24-7 win over arch-rivals Fiji in the final of the fourth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Wellington on Saturday.
The triumph gave New Zealand a clear lead in the series with 73 points, ahead of Fiji on 70 with five rounds remaining after both sides went into the tournament as co-leaders on 51 points.
New Zealand, who were defending their home title, took five minutes to get their first points on the board but thereafter they never looked like losing.
After finding the Fijian defence impenetrable in the opening stages, Tomasi Cama set the game alight with a delicate chip kick which Tim Mikkelson latched on to and took play up to the line, where DJ Forbes finished the move.
Frank Halai then scored twice and Cama touched down on the stroke of halftime to give New Zealand a solid 24-0 lead at the turn.
The loss of the inspirational captain Forbes with a cheek injury saw New Zealand take a more defensive role in the second half and they were able to hold Fiji out until the final minute when Waisea Nayacalevu scored.
Coach Gordon Tietjens said it was New Zealand's defensive effort that made the difference.
"Our defence was outstanding. We turned it into a lot of pressure and forced them into mistakes," said Tietjens who sees New Zealand on track to claim a remarkable 10th world crown in the 13-year history of the tournament.
"We've been in four tournaments (in this series), won a couple of finals and beaten in another so consistency is right up there and we've got to keep that now," he said.
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It had earlier looked as if tournament favourites New Zealand would not make the Wellington final when they were 0-12 down at halftime in their semifinal against England who had put Tonga out in the quarterfinals 26-7.
But a try to Charlie Piutau and one to Hosea Gear, when England were reduced to six men with James Rodwell in the sin bin, levelled the score at 12-12 and Halai settled the outcome with a try 86 seconds into extra time.
Fiji, surprisingly beaten by Tonga in pool play, had to come from behind to beat South Africa in the quarterfinal.
They trailed 0-5 early in the second half before finding form with tries to Nemani Negusa, Osea Kolinisau and Emosi Vucago in a late scoring burst for a 21-5 win, which they followed with a 28-5 semifinal demolition of Samoa.
In the play off for third, a late try by Isoa Damu sealed a 21-12 win for England over Samoa.
England are now third on the points table with 64, ahead of South Africa on 61 and France on 49.
The fifth leg of the series will be played in Las Vegas next weekend.