KEY POINTS:
New Zealand 31 Canada 0
DUBAI - New Zealand stormed into the semifinals of the Dubai sevens rugby tournament tonight after brushing aside Canada 31-0 in a rain swept Dubai.
For the first time in the tournament's history a torrential downpour wreaked havoc, but the conditions didn't stop New Zealand producing a dominant display against the Canadians.
Livewire Nigel Hunt opened the scoring in the first minute, showing deft skills and pace to burn.
The slippery conditions made handling difficult but the New Zealanders adapted better and tough tackling forced the Canadians into errors. Hunt ran in for his second try after Lote Raikabula forced a turnover on Canada's 22.
New Zealand scored their third try through Alfred Pelenise after a move starting inside their own 22. The Cantabrian showed a huge turn of speed to outpace the Canadian defence.
New Zealand led 19-0 at halftime and extended that lead early in the second half when rookie Solomon King crashed over out wide. Replacement Rene Ranger added a fifth try just before fulltime.
It only rains a few times a year in Dubai, but today's rain was heavy it kept more than half the sellout 32,000 crowd away and caused chaos for organisers with electrical faults and leaks in the temporary stadium.
New Zealand will play Fiji in the semifinals.
The Fijians outclassed France 46-7 in the first quarterfinal to confirm their favouritism for the title.
New Zealand 31 (Nigel Hunt 2, Alfred Pelenise, Solomon King, Rene Ranger; Hunt 3 con)
Canada 0.
- NZPA
