From the kick-off, Fiji exerted pressure and pressed their opponents back. But when Waisale Serevi missed his man, New Zealand came charging out, took advantage of referee Bruce Robertson’s lack of ruling on a lost-forward, and DJ Forbes dived over to score.

From the re-start, Naqelevuki was put through with plenty of space, but Volavola’s pass went forward; and then instead of hitting the try-line Nabuliwaqa tried a Hail Mary pass inside only to see New Zealand win possession and score a second from Nigel Hunt.

In the process, Volavola got injured and had to be stretchered off.

At 10-0, one had the feeling that Fiji would still find their feet and come back strongly. Yet on the stroke of half-time, Napolioni Nalaga threw a casual pass inside that was intercepted by Zar Lawrence, who ran home unchallenged.

Down 15-0, Fiji needed to convert every opportunity in the second half. Moving the ball across the backline with no undue pressure, Nabuliwaqa took his eye off the ball and dropped a simple pass. Things just weren’t going Fiji’s way.

Fiji lost a scrum on their own put-in following an ambitious pass attempt from Serevi, and another missed tackle saw a fourth try to New Zealand.

And it didn’t get any better. Epeli Dranivasa lost possession and Ed Cocker ran in under the posts to make it 29-0 as Fiji fell off their tackles once more.

Fiji finally regained some respectability with good tries from Naqelevuki and Ryder in the last minute of play, but this was New Zealand’s day.

The Kiwis held off the strong challenge of South Africa, and the vociferous home crowd in George, to win a pulsating final.

The win leaves New Zealand and South Africa tied on 36 points at the top of the IRB 7s World Series with Fiji and England in third on 24 points.

Schalk van der Merwe put the Boks ahead in the first minute but Alfred Pelenise and the outstanding Nigel Hunt hit back for the men in black and New Zealand led 10-5 at the break.

The South African side looked nervous and buckled in the second half under the heavy pressure of the New Zealand defence and the expectant home support.

Lawrence's try was cancelled out by Philip Burger's, but Pelenise's second made van der Merwe's late score nothing more than a consolation.

South Africa had battled from behind to overcome a competitive young England side 10-7, Burger grabbing the decisive score to the delight of the home crowd.



Wales clinch Plate

Wales outclassed Tunisia, playing their first ever plate final, to build on a 14-0 lead and run out 26-7 winners. Tries for Jenkins, Thomas, McAtee and Selley rendered Lotfi Nino's well worked try nothing more than a consolation and Wales take eight Series points to Tunisia's six.

Earlier, Tunisia made it through to their first ever Plate final, Nino inspiring the side to beat Samoa 19-7, before Wales beat France in a thrilling sudden-death extra time win. Fabien Grammatico's try brought France level on the final whistle but after four energy-sapping minutes of extra time Martyn Williams went over in the left corner to seal a win for Wales.


Australia take Bowl

Australia's newlook squad heaped the pressure on their seasoned players back at home by seeing off Kenya 41-7 with Cummins and Cornforth each scoring a brace.

Australia and Kenya earlier won through to the final with respective wins over Canada, 31-5, and Argentina, a last-ditch try for Horace Otieno sealing a fine comeback win for Kenya against Argentina.
 
Portugal won the Shield in their second event as a tour team on the Series, coming from behind to beat Zimbabwe 14-12 with second-half tries from Aderito Estevez and Francisco Moreira.

Portugal and Zimbabwe won through to the final of the final with respective wins over Uganda and Scotland.


Saturday 9 December 2006
George 7s results Day Two

Shield
Semi-finals: Portugal 31 Uganda 5, Scotland 19 Zimbabwe 26; Final: Portugal 14 Zimbabwe 12

Bowl
Quarter-finals: Canada 19 Portugal 12, Australia 36 Uganda 0, Kenya 15 Scotland 10, Argentina 19 Zimbabwe 14; Semi-finals: Canada 5 Australia 31; Kenya 19 Argentina 17; Final: Australia 41 Kenya 7

Plate
Semi-finals: Wales 29 France 24, Tunisia 19 Samoa 7; Final: Wales 26 Tunisia 5

Cup
Quarter-finals: Fiji 33 Wales 7, England 24 Samoa 0, South Africa 38 Tunisia 0, New Zealand 29 France 0; Semi-finals: Fiji New 12 Zealand 29
South Africa 10 England 7; Final: New Zealand 24 South Africa 19

Digicel Fiji 7s Squad to George
Mosese Volavola (capt), Amenasi Nava (Nadi), Epeli Dranivasa (Namosi), Sireli Naqelevuki (South Africa), Lepani Nabuliwaqa (Suva), Napolioni Nalaga (Nadroga), Neumi Nanuku (Nadroga), Senirusi Rauqe (Australia), Setefano Cakau (Namosi), Vima Tuidraki (Nadi), Waisale Serevi (Suva), William Ryder (Bua)

Results + Report Day One

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