South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji remain perfect at the Vancouver Sevens

Vancouver, British Columbia (AFP) – Rugby Sevens leaders South Africa once again signaled they are the team to beat, advancing to the Vancouver Sevens’ quarter-finals after winning their three group matches on Saturday.

New Zealand and Fiji were also perfect at BC Place in Vancouver, where Argentina and France also set unbeaten pool records.

South Africa won six consecutive tournaments, including the only two held last season, before losing to eventual winner Fiji in the quarter-finals of the seven-man tournament in Singapore last week to end the sequence.

The Blitzboks beat Spain 31-12 in the opening game with Siviwe Soyizwapi scoring two attempts, before a tougher test against the hosts as they trailed 14-12 at the end of the second half before Selvyn Davids only attempted to close the match. South Africa. .

South Africa then outnumbered Australia on nearly identical conditions and needed a late bid from JC Pretorius to beat the Australian 22-19 and secure the quarter-finals with Samoa.

New Zealand, who returned to the series last week in Singapore after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, also won three pool matches by beating Wales 38-5 and Japan 40-14, but escaped a fright against Samoa. In the final the home returns 31-24.

New Zealand will face popular rivals Australia, with Fiji playing France and England playing Argentina in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Blitzbox leads the standings with 98 points after winning its first four tournaments. Australia and Argentina tied for second place with 83 points.

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