Fiji promise real test for Tietjens' men

Amasio Valence (left) dodges Mikaele Senio of Samoa during New Zealand's 26-0 win yesterday. Picture / Reuters

New Zealand face Fiji in today's quarter-finals after sweeping aside the challenges of their pool opponents on the first day of the Los Angeles tournament.

Their line was crossed just once in three pool games yesterday and though the scores indicated a breeze for them, coach Gordon Tietjens said his team worked hard to ensure a settled approach to the playoffs.

Without captain Liam Messam and try-scoring winger Roy Kinikinilau, both injured in last week's Wellington tournament, the New Zealanders beat Scotland 43-0, Uruguay 31-5 and Samoa 26-0.

"Fiji always get better as the tournament progresses and they showed that in Wellington last week," Tietjens said. "It's going to be a real test for us [today]."

New Zealand beat Fiji 26-7 in pool play last week before the Fijians' progress was halted by Argentina in the semifinals.

New Zealand beat Argentina in the final to maintain their lead in the International Rugby Board series with 52 points.

Fiji were second with 44, followed by England 36, Argentina 34 and South Africa 32.

Tietjens said he allowed all the players in his squad, including newcomers Jason Hona (Bay of Plenty) and Brent Wilson (North Harbour), at least one full game yesterday.

"They did step up, as I had expected them to," Tietjens said.

Though reluctant to single out players, Tietjens said Tamati Ellison, who displayed his sevens potential last week, appeared to go from strength to strength each time he stepped on the field.

In the other quarter-finals England play Samoa, Australia - who upset South Africa in pool play - meet France and Argentina face South Africa.

New Zealand will play the winners of the Australia-France match in the semifinals if they beat Fiji.

England and Fiji qualified from pool A, New Zealand and Samoa from pool B, Australia and South Africa from pool C and Argentina and France from pool D.

Australia perhaps pulled off the result of the day when they thumped South Africa 26-0.

Earlier Tonga had almost caused the upset of the tournament against Fiji in both sides' second matches when leading 17-10 with seconds to go. But Fiji managed to get themselves out of jail with a last-gasp converted try to level 17-17 and keep their chances alive.

Tonga were ruing a simple missed conversion later.

Tonga's strong performance against Marika Vunibaka's Fijians did put England's earlier tight victory in some perspective, and Pete Richards later led England to a 52-7 win over the West Indies, with James Bailey showing an impressive turn of pace to be among the scorers.

Argentina got their title defence off to a sound start with victories over Kenya, 19-0, and Mexico, 59-0.

But experts judged New Zealand to be the class act of the day with a comprehensive win in their pool.

South Africa survived a scare against Canada (21-14) before improving to beat the hosts, the United States, 43-7.

Quarter-finals

England v Samoa, Argentina v South Africa, Australia v France, New Zealand v Fiji