New Zealand player Tim Mikkelson. Photo / Icon Sportswire.
A depleted All Blacks Sevens should be pleased with their day one work in Paris.
They went 3-0 to top Pool B and set up a Cup quarter-final with France tonight at 9.34pm NZT.
New Zealand had to work hard for their three wins but, led by four tries on
the day to the explosive Regan Ware, they finished strongly in each match. There was some early uncertainty against Wales before they asserted themselves with some confident sevens and a 26-7 win, led by Tim Mikkelson and Trael Joass. DJ Forbes scored his 150th World Series circuit try. Argentina was subdued 21-14, though not without some difficulty after a brace to Franco Sabato.
New Zealand coach Scott Waldrom opted to rest several of his key men for the final match against USA to decide the pool. Other than the searing pace of Perry Baker, who scored a double, New Zealand were untroubled. Regan Ware crossed twice and Lewis Ormond continued his good form as they laid on three tries in as many minutes to close the match.
There were several upsets on day one, notably Scotland downing series leaders South Africa 19-12, but defending Paris Cup champions Samoa were the big movers, Gordon Tietjens charges awakening from their long slumber to beat Fiji 19-17 and knock out Australia 21-14, thus qualifying for their first Cup round of the season.
