Rugby Sevens: NZ close in on S Africa but Fiji rule in Vegas

All Blacks Sevens Beaudine Waaka clears the Canadian defence to score a try during their match at the HSBC Sevens World Series. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The All Blacks Sevens are closing the gap on World Series leaders South Africa, but Gordon Tietjens' men will be licking their wounds after defeat to Fiji in yesterday's Las Vegas Cup final.

Fiji were too physical and too fast and clinched the decider 35-19 after racing out to a 21-0 halftime lead over the depleted New Zealanders. It was their first USA Sevens title since 2007, but second in this series after their October triumph on the Gold Coast.

The win leaves the Fijians two points behind New Zealand on the overall standings. New Zealand in turn have closed the gap to five behind the Blitzbokke.

Before more than 30,000 fans at the narrow Sam Boyd Stadium, New Zealand had to work hard to overcome hosts USA 26-12 in the cup semifinal, but they paid a high price, with both Joe Webber and Murphy Taramai ruled out, the former with concussion. Gillies Kaka was already sidelined with a broken arm, meaning they were down to nine men from which to choose.

The highlight of the win against the USA was a superb, long cutout pass by Sherwin Stowers for 17-year-old Rieko Ioane to score. He found the going tougher than in Wellington, scoring just a double in this clash. It was a red-letter day for the USA, who had last contested a cup semifinal in Adelaide in 2010.

New Zealand finished second in their pool after narrowly losing 14-12 to Fiji on day two, but they showed their quality with a 28-7 defeat of Australia in the Cup quarter-finals.

Fiji looked full of running from the get-go of the final, and harried New Zealand into errors with their physical approach. Jerry Tuwai struck twice early in the encounter, his first thanks to a delightful piece of skill by Vatemo Ravouvou, who scooped the ball up one-handed to fire the movement. Starved of the ball, New Zealand started to fall off tackles, allowing the rangy Fijians free rein.

Semi Kunatani's second-half double shut the door on New Zealand, but they rallied gallantly with Sam Dickson setting up replacement Jack Goodhue and Ambrose Curtis zipping in for a double. But it was too little and far too late as the celebrating Fijians received the silverware from one of their greats, the US-domiciled Waisale Serevi.

Australia won the plate final over England to hold the all-important fourth place, which will ensure automatic Olympic qualification come May. The next tournament is the Hong Kong Sevens late next month.