Kiwis in sevens heaven

Dec 10 2007 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

NEW ZEALAND maintained their perfect start to the IRB Sevens World Series with a 34-7 defeat of Fiji in the final of the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens at Outeniqua Park in George.

The defending champions raced into a 29-0 lead with tries from Lote Raikabula, Victor Vito (two), captain DJ Forbes and James Kamana before Neumi Nanuku scored Fiji’s only try of the match.

Fiji, just as in the Dubai final last weekend, had two players sin-binned in a match which the Kiwis controlled with Israel Dagg completing the scoring with his first touch after coming on as a replacement.

The title is New Zealand’s fourth consecutive in the IRB Sevens World Series after victories in London, Edinburgh and Dubai and gives them a maximum 40 points from the opening two tournaments of the 2007-08 campaign, eight more Fiji.

South Africa, semi-finalists in both Dubai and George, are third with 24 points, four more than Argentina, who followed up their plate victory in Dubai with a cup semi-final in George. England and Kenya are next, both with 12 points.

Tries from Richie Pugh and James Lewis saw Wales recover from 19-7 down to beat England 21-19 in the bowl final.