Rugby sevens: Flying start for young guns

Charles Baxter sails through to score in the tackle of Kenya's Allan Makaka in Wellington yesterday. Marty Melville / Getty Images

New Zealand's group of no-name sevens players passed their first test with ease by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the International Rugby Board tournament in Wellington yesterday.

The young New Zealand team accounted for Kenya 28-5 and in an improved performance downed the Cook Islands 41-7 to advance regardless of the result of their final pool match against Samoa.

A colourful Westpac Stadium warmed to the enthusiasm and skill on show from coach Gordon Tietjens' latest group, who include seven newcomers to the international game.

Although they lacked the authority of tournament favourites England and Fiji, New Zealand showed they will be a force when they chase a fourth successive Wellington title today.

One of the newcomers, Auckland loose forward Onosai Tololima-Auvaa, indicated that his lengthy name could yet become a household one with a hat-trick of tries against the Cook Islanders.

The former New Zealand under-19 player showed tremendous power to carry two tacklers with him 10m after stealing a lineout throw to open the scoring for the home side.

He had another before halftime as the New Zealanders shot clear 26-0 by the break.

The other tries went to fellow debutant Lote Raikabula, veterans Amasio Valence and Tafai Ioasa, while halfback Nigel Hunt rounded out the scoring to follow his double from the win over Kenya.

They looked a little impetuous early against the Kenyans but a solid hand from captain Ioasa and tries to newcomers Charles Baxter and Alando Soakai proved enough.

The Samoans were also unbeaten, downing the Cook Islands 26-19 and Kenya by an impressive 50-10 to also book a quarter-final berth.

The upset of the opening matches saw Tonga topple last year's beaten finalists Argentina 21-12.

The Argentines need a healthy win over the unbeaten South Africa tonight to keep their hopes of advancing alive.

All the other opening matches went to seeding, with Fiji, England and South Africa the most impressive performers.

England produced the most lopsided result and the most impressive individual performance in their 64-0 thumping of Papua New Guinea.

Speedster Dave Strettle scored five tries, all in the first half, before he was substituted. It left him one short of the IRB tournament record in a game, held by Fiji's Vilimoni Delasau.

The English didn't find life so easy against Scotland earlier, scraping home 12-5.

Australia beat the Scots 22-12 to join England with a two-from-two record. Fiji barely raised a sweat in downing Niue 52-0, with captain Jone Daunivucu crossing three times.

Like most of the big guns, they were scratchy in their first outing, only pulling clear of Canada with two late tries to win 28-14.

France beat the same two opponents comfortably to advance.

- NZPA