Rugby: NZ still in the hunt for sevens crown

Kurt Baker was a standout performer for New Zealand during the tournament. Photo / Getty Images

All eyes turn to Edinburgh this weekend where New Zealand and Samoa will duke it out to determine the winners of the International Rugby Board sevens series crown.

Both teams crashed out short of the final in London this morning (NZT) meaning the eighth and final tournament in Scotland will determine the championship.

New Zealand, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals 19-10 by Samoa, trail the Pacific islanders by seven points. Samoa ruined any chance of extending that advantage when they lost 24-12 to South Africa in the semifinals.

World champions South Africa then went on to lose the final 19-14 to Australia, handing the winners their first IRB tournament title since 2002.

James Stannard was the hero for Australia, scoring a try, two conversions and pulling off a try-saving tackle in the final play of a pulsating final.

Australia climb level with Fiji in third place on the standings but neither can overhaul the two competition leaders, who could well meet in the quarterfinals at Edinburgh.

That would suit nine-time champions New Zealand as Samoa would claim their first world series simply by reaching the final.

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens praised his team for recovering from today's setback - a sixth loss from six against Samoa this season - and bouncing back to win the Plate competition. They pipped England in 22-19 the Plate semifinals and Fiji 26-24 in the final courtesy of a try on the final hooter to speedster Sherwin Stowers to secure 12 crucial competition points.

"Two wins, one at the death against England and one here with Fiji, that is what sevens is all about, it is not over until the final whistle," Tietjens said.

"To score those points as we did was a great confidence booster going into next week.

"We are probably lucky in some ways with South Africa doing us a favour beating Samoa."

Centre Kurt Baker was a standout performer for New Zealand, scoring the matchwinning try against England and 11 through the tournament.

Tietjens said overcoming their awful record against Samoa would be a challenge in Edinburgh. He felt they came closer to achieving it today.

"I don't like the word voodoo, I think we are good enough (to beat them) if we play well enough, but we didn't play well enough today.

"We made two crucial errors, one was an intercept try, and we missed a crucial lineout when we were leading the game. A team like that will punish you and they did that today."

Samoa coach Stephen Betham said he couldn't feel comfortable, despite continuing their dominance over New Zealand.

"Unfortunately we don't have enough points to be relaxed and we have to get up and do it all over again," he said.

"We don't have an easy pool there and it looks like it will be quarterfinals against New Zealand or South Africa, so just psyching ourselves up from tonight."

- NZPA