KEY POINTS:
William Ryder produced a virtuoso performance, sparking Fiji's 24-17 semifinal win over New Zealand in the Adelaide Sevens last night.
Fiji remain New Zealand's bogey side, with last night's loss the fourth in a row to them in the sevens series.
They went on to beat Samoa 21-7 in the final and extend their lead in the series with two tournaments remaining.
Fiji head the competition on 104 points with Samoa second on 94 and New Zealand third with 90.
With the scores tied 17-all after a late converted New Zealand try, Ryder, the heir apparent to Fijian sevens legend Waisale Serevi, jigged his way through the New Zealand defence for the winning try.
He also engineered Fiji's fightback, after New Zealand led 10-5 at halftime through tries to Steven Yates and Afeleke Pelenise.
Crucially Fiji scored first after the break, which came from a Ryder break, and the Fijian added a conversion for a 17-10 lead.
New Zealand rallied and hard defence saw Yates collect a loose ball and dash to the line.
The conversion with seconds to go levelled the scores, but from the kick-off Fiji regained possession and then Ryder performed his magic.
"We set ourselves up nicely in that game with an early lead, but that's the sign of a good side when someone like Fiji can bounce back," New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said.
"They have that X-factor in William Ryder that got them out of trouble this weekend."
Tietjens highlighted Fiji's composure under pressure as an influential factor as they conjured a last minute try to avoid defeat in the quarter-finals against South Africa.
"They don't panic and they're very composed. They have so much sevens experience and when you play it weekly in Fiji you get used to pressure situations in close games."
For New Zealand to win the series the equation is basic, Tietjens said. "We have to win the next two. It's as simple as that if you want to be in with a chance to win the world series."
The next leg is in London on May 26-27 and Tietjens expects to lose some players when the NZ Maori and Colts teams are named.
Injured skipper Tafai Ioasa should play in London, and some Super 14 players could be available.
- NZPA
