New Zealand accounted for Fiji 29-7 in a rainy London Sevens rugby final at Twickenham on Sunday.
By winning their second tournament in the eight-leg world series, New Zealand closed the gap on series leader Fiji to 10 points going into the final leg at Murrayfield next weekend.
Fiji would retain the championship by reaching the semifinals in Edinburgh, but they were fortunate even to make the quarterfinals in London. In the overall standings, Fiji have 120 points, New Zealand 110 and Samoa 106.
New Zealand promised to make it tough for Fiji after an imperious weekend in which they conceded only one try on each day. The Kiwis blanked South Africa in the quarterfinals and Samoa in the semifinals, and cruised in the wet final.
”I’m delighted to win the final,” New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said. ”We had to do it really the hard way, no easy games, and I thought we adapted to the conditions very well. We go to Murrayfield with a glimmer of hope. We’re going to keep them honest and have a crack in Scotland.”
Afeleke Pelenise scored his tournament-leading 11th try for New Zealand to open the final, and with superb control of the ball in the slop, tries followed by Zar Lawrence with a pair, Roy Kinikinilau and Adam Thompson.
Fiji’s William Ryder scored the only try New Zealand conceded on Sunday.
”Our goal was to reach the semifinals and we did that,” Fiji coach Waisale Serevi said. ”We’re just five games away from taking the series back home.”
South Africa won the plate final from Australia 14-5, and hosts England consoled itself with the bowl after beating Portugal 10-0. — Sapa-AP