Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Rugby: Mixed bag for All Blacks Sevens on day one of Canada Sevens in Vancouver

Kristin Macfarlane
Kristin Macfarlane
Bay of Plenty Times·
9 Mar, 2019 10:26 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Joe Ravouvou passes the ball while playing France during day one of the Canada Sevens at BC Place in Vancouver. Photo / Getty Images

Joe Ravouvou passes the ball while playing France during day one of the Canada Sevens at BC Place in Vancouver. Photo / Getty Images

After a shock loss to Spain, the need for New Zealand's sevens team to win their final pool match against Australia was huge.

They went into that final match playing a safe game, careful in their passes, not wanting to give up any ball to their opposition. That game plan worked well for the Kiwi side who took the win with a final score of 36-12.

A loss to Australia would have meant breaking their 100 per cent record of making Cup quarter finals.

The first minute of the that All Blacks Sevens vs Australia game, the Kiwis remained patient with Joe Ravouvou finding an opening about 90 seconds in to score the first try of the match, followed up less than a minute later with a second try by Sam Dickson.

New Zealand's co-captain Tim Mikkelson impressively steals the ball and sprints his way to the try-line with ease, securing the team's third try of the match. At the end of half time, New Zealand's dominance is clear with a 19-point lead.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Back on the field Ravouvou scores his fifth try of the day, countered by Australia finally putting points on the board. New Zealand scores twice more before fulltime - Vilimoni Koroi paces it straight to the try-line from a line-out, backed up by Ngarohi McGarvey-Black who claims the points, before Koroi again sets up another try.

Australia manage one more try before fulltime but it's too late - come Monday New Zealand head into the Cup quarterfinals and Australia go into the Challenge Trophy.

New Zealand's dominance in the final of pool play was in contrast to their second, suffering a shock 26-24 loss to Spain - the first time the European nation had claimed victory over against the All Blacks Sevens.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
RE:LIVE: Spain's historic first win against New Zealand

What a moment! Last play of the game. A try to needed to win it. Up steps Federación Española de Rugby's Pol PLa to beat New Zealand for the first time EVER #Canada7s #DHLRugby

Posted by World Rugby Sevens on Saturday, 9 March 2019

It was a game that started slow. New Zealand scored first, again through Ravouvou and his powerful speed, and then through Andrew Knewstubb. However, an unintentional knock on by Dickson going in to tackle meant he was sent off, providing Spain with the opportunity to get some points on the board - and they did, with two tries, ending the first quarter 14-12.

Still with six on the field, New Zealand just could not stop Spain, who increased their lead 21-12. There was slight relief when both Dickson and Ravouvou score taking a three-point lead 24-21 but that was shut down in extra seconds when Spain scored again and claimed their first win over the Kiwi side.

In New Zealand's first match of the tournament, they dominated from start to finish, only allowing France to score once. With some impressive work on the field, including a steal by Tone Ng Shiu, they finished with a 45-7 victory.

RE:LIVE: Pick pocket central for NG Shiu

"Pick pocket central. NG Shiu, I'll have that thank you very much!" NG Shiu burgles a beauty to set up this try for NZ7s #Canada7s #DHLRugby

Posted by World Rugby Sevens on Saturday, 9 March 2019

On Monday, New Zealand will play Fiji at 7.30am.

Discover more

All Blacks Sevens confident for series opener

30 Nov 04:00 AM
Rugby Sevens

Black Ferns Sevens take two from two in world series

30 Nov 01:42 PM
Rugby Sevens

All Blacks Sevens break nine year drought in Dubai

01 Dec 04:20 PM
Rugby Sevens

AB Sevens hit by injuries ahead of Cape Town

01 Dec 10:48 PM
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Rotorua Daily Post

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour

30 Dec 04:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride

16 Dec 08:01 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch

05 Dec 04:00 AM

Sponsored

The Bay’s secret advantage

07 Dec 09:54 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour
Rotorua Daily Post

'Have you got the right person?': League stalwart stunned by top honour

Jenny Nahu has spent 50 years driving rugby league in Rotorua.

30 Dec 04:00 PM
'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride
Rotorua Daily Post

'I'm just stoked': Rotorua cyclist sets record time on non-stop Auckland-Wellington ride

16 Dec 08:01 PM
From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch
Rotorua Daily Post

From farm lanes to fast lanes: Rotorua bowlers ready to shine in Christchurch

05 Dec 04:00 AM


The Bay’s secret advantage
Sponsored

The Bay’s secret advantage

07 Dec 09:54 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP