Classy Blitzboks hammer Aussies to reach Hamilton Sevens final

The current World Series champions departed Cape Town three weeks ago in second place, but after a relatively successful Australasian leg - losing finalists in Sydney and Hamilton - they top the series and it is an achievement all the more commendable as they suffered a raft of injuries ahead of the New Zealand tournament.

Fiji have beaten South Africa 24-17 to win the Cup final in Hamilton.

Fiji would have to come through a nervy encounter with Pacific rivals Samoa in the quarter-finals, with their opponents having appeared to have scored a late winning try through Eroni Sau.

While speedy as always in attack, it was the Fijians' defence that secured them the Waikato crown, repeatedly dominating the breakdown against both the All Blacks Sevens and the Blitzbokke and keeping them on the back foot.

New Zealand were denied in the bronze medal match, after they were edged 8-7 by rivals Australia.

But if so, nobody told the Fijians - who had already fought back to win their quarter-final against Samoa and semi-final against New Zealand at the death.

SPORT New Zealand's Joe Ravouvou is consoled by Fiji's Eroni Sau

Fiji were crowned the champions after coming from behind to beat series leaders South Africa 24-17 in the Cup final.

Kenya Sevens managed to collect 12 points and a sixth-place finish in the just-concluded Hamilton Sevens in New Zealand. "We were good in the contact area, the tackle and then we finished with lovely tries".

The next tournament will be held in Las Vegas next month.

McConnochie got England's day off and running as he crossed for the first of two tries against Russian Federation inside the first minute in a 47-0 win, with 19-year-old Ryan Olowofela also scoring twice in that match - his first every tries at the World Series.

England beat Russian Federation 47-0 and Papua New Guinea 27-0 before falling to South Africa in the pool decider.

Seabelo Senatla, who scored eight tries at the tournament, said the players are pleased with the weekend's effort, despite defeat in the final.

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