New Zealand sevens captain DJ Forbes. Herald file photo
New Zealand exacted some revenge on England with a 20-7 win to top pool C after the opening day of the International Rugby Board sevens tournament at George, South Africa, this morning.
New Zealand were beaten 14-19 by eventual champions England in the semifinals of the season-opening tournament at Dubai
last weekend but today they ran in four unconverted tries to England's sole reply through Dan Norton to score a comfortable win, having led 10-0 at halftime.
Series rookies Declan O'Donnell and Frank Halai, so impressive in their debut tournament at Dubai, got the scoring underway for New Zealand with first-half tries while captain DJ Forbes and substitute Jackson Ormond rounded off the win after England had struck back early in the second half to trail by just 7-10.
Tomasi Cama, accurate with the boot in first up wins over Russia and Kenya, missed all four conversion attempts but his errant radar did not prove costly.
New Zealand will play pool D runners up Argentina in the quarterfinals early tomorrow morning (NZT) while England, runners up in pool C, will play pool D winners South Africa.
Wales play Samoa and Australia meet Fiji in the other two quarterfinals.
Earlier this morning, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens rested Forbes, Halai and O'Donnell from the starting team for the opening match against Russia.
North Harbour fullback Jack McPhee made the most of his opportunity to score two tries in the opening four minutes, but a try to Nikolay Goroshilov meant the Russians trailed by just five points, 7-12, at halftime.
Second half tries to Bryce Heem, Lote Raikabula and Toby Arnold, all converted by Cama, saw New Zealand ease to a 33-7 win.
Forbes, Halai and O'Donnell all returned for the second match as New Zealand blew away Kenya 47-0, Waikato flyer Tim Mikkelson bagging a brace of tries with Forbes, Halai, Heem, Cama and Scott Curry also getting their names on the scoresheet in the seven-try romp.
Cama added six conversions for a personal haul of 17 points.
In other pool C matches, Russia beat Kenya 34-5 and then further proved their competitiveness in a 5-19 loss to England, who later beat Kenya 21-5.
- NZPA
