Rugby: New-look NZ thrash Fiji in Uruguay sevens final

PUNTA DEL ESTE - New Zealand thumped favourites Fiji 42-19 in the Uruguay sevens rugby final yesterday to regain their lead in the abbreviated game's new international circuit.

The two teams were tied going into the two-day, 16-team tournament after a win each in the first two tournaments in Dubai and South Africa.

Yesterday's victory was the biggest by New Zealand over the Fijians by far, and even surprised Fiji manager Epeli Lagiloa.

"New Zealand were far better organised than us today," he said. "I would have to say the better team won, but we were a bit disappointed with the scores.

"We've always had tight games with New Zealand before, but this one opened up in New Zealand's favour in the end."

New Zealand captain Eric Rush said the win was dedicated to their coach Gordon Tietjens, who rejoined the team just hours before yesterday's play started. Tietjens left the team in Uruguay and returned to New Zealand for his father's funeral during the week.

"This was for Gordon, he's put in so much for New Zealand sevens and we were a bit sad when he was leaving us to attend his dad's funeral," Rush said.

"We all wanted to be with him for the funeral, but he told us he'd be happy if we played well."

The Fijians were favourites since leading players such as Rua Tipoki, Rico Gear, Brad Fleming and Dallas Seymour withdrew from the New Zealand squad due to injuries or Super 12 commitments.

"The newer blokes in the side have given us a lot of hope for the future," said Rush. "We asked them for their best - that's all we could ask them for - and they delivered it superbly."

Tietjens was amazed with the enthusiasm in the side to do well: "They were very keen to win this one."

Craig Newby and Justin Wilson, two of the newer members of the squad, played consistently.

New Zealand used runners off the battering rams such as Craig de Goldi with great success, with Karl Te Nana scoring tries regularly in the tournament.

The Fijians were involved in a bit of drama before the kickoff yesterday when one of their players was accused of shoplifting. Security and police investigated the allegation that the player stole a pair of sunglasses, but no charges were laid.

Lagiloa denied his team had threatened to pull out of the tournament if charges were laid. He said it did not affect their performance yesterday.

The battle in yet another final of the two sevens giants drew about 20,000 into the ground, and Fijian speedster Filimone Delasau lit the game with a scorching try after just two minutes.

No sooner had Wilson levelled the scores with a try for New Zealand, than Delasau was off again for his second try, which Waisale Serevi failed to convert.

Te Nana stepped past Delasau to level the scores again and Tony Monaghan put the Kiwis ahead 14-12 with the conversion.

Newby stretched New Zealand's lead to 21-12 with a converted try less than a minute from the restart but Delasau, the player of the tournament, crossed for his third try of the final and 16th of the tournament to close the gap to 19-21.

Dazzling footwork by New Zealand's Fijian-born Amasio Raoma enabled Rush to crash through for a try before the Fijians pulled out their star player Serevi.

Then de Goldi, a forward but playing everywhere on the park, and Wilson each scored. Monaghan converted all six New Zealand tries.

In the semifinals, New Zealand beat South Africa 33-7 and Fiji beat Samoa 19-7.

- NZPA