KEY POINTS:
New Zealand paid for a clumsy first half against England to be eliminated in the semifinals of the Dubai International Rugby Board sevens tournament yesterday.
Down 0-21 at halftime, the defending champions surged back with three tries of their own in the second spell but it wasn't enough.
A glut of handling errors and defensive mistakes gifted victory to England, who went on to lose 12-19 to South Africa in the final.
Rob Vickerman, Ollie Phillips and Josua Drauniniu scored the tries which ultimately ensured New Zealand wouldn't make the same start to the IRB series as last year, when victorious in their first five tournaments.
As with the 15-a-side Twickenham test, New Zealand were all over England in the second half and crossed through Lote Raikabula, Nafi Tuitavake and Solomon King.
Tuitavake's try was in the right-hand corner, from which Tomasi Cama's missed conversion proved the difference.
Captain DJ Forbes said New Zealand let themselves down badly in the first seven minutes: "England played really well tonight but I think the key for us is that we played a game of two halves.
"We just didn't fire any shots in the first half and England stuck to their guns."
Forbes was pleased four new players were blooded at the tournament - Kurt Baker, Paul Grant, Tim Nanai-Williams and Julian Savea.
It would be important when they play the second tournament at George, South Africa in a week.
- NZPA
