Frank Halai of New Zealand breaks the line on his way to scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand are through to the semifinals of the Cup competition at the Australian leg of the IRB sevens rugby world series after trouncing Argentina 47-7 at the Adelaide Oval today.
Gordon Tietjens' squad had too much power and panache for the South Americans in the first quarterfinal on day
two, scoring seven tries to record their biggest winning margin of the tournament so far.
Elusive runners Frank Halai and Solomon King bagged doubles as the New Zealanders zeroed in on their first ever tournament win in Australia.
The series leaders next face Samoa - the defending champions who eliminated New Zealand at the quarterfinal stage last year (6.30pmNZT).
Samoa, who topped pool D yesterday, fought back from a 14-7 halftime deficit to shade Australia 19-14.
New Zealand crunched Wales, the Cook Islands and Kenya in pool play yesterday and were just as clinical today against an Argentine side that pushed England close last night before succumbing 21-19.
However, New Zealand were a class apart in perfect conditions.
Halai made the most of the game's first turnover when he beat two would-be defenders while skipping down the right hand touch line.
King did likewise on the left flank while Toby Arnold and a second unstoppable surge by Halai had the New Zealanders out of range at 26-0 by halftime.
Javier Ortega Desio broke Argentina's duck after the restart before Tomasi Cama, Lote Raikabula and King crossed in quick succession to complete the rout.
Fiji play South Africa and England meet Wales to determine the semifinalists on the other side of the draw.
New Zealand 47 (Frank Halai 2, Solomon King 2, Toby Arnold, Tomasi Cama, Lote Raikabula tries; Cama 6 con)
Argentina 7 (Javier Ortega Desio try; Gonzalo Gutierrez Taboada con)Halftime: 26-0
- NZPA
