Source: Radio New Zealand
Brady Rush photosport
The All Blacks Sevens were the only men’s team to make it three wins from three on day one of the world series opening tournament in Dubai, while the Black Ferns Sevens also topped their pool.
Coming off a substandard seventh placing overall in last season’s world series, the New Zealand men have showed early signs of a vast improvement with wins over Great Britain (21-14), Australia (21-17) and Spain (24-7).
The highlight was a last-gasp try-saving tackle from Kele Lasaqa to hold up Australian Ben Dalton over the line in a result which decided the pool, with New Zealand having looked like squandering a 21-0 lead.
“I actually didn’t watch the last bit of that game,” team-mate Rob Rush told the host broadcaster post-game.
“I actually had my head down. I was just saying, ‘I trust the boys, I trust the boys’. I should have said, ‘I trust the TMO, I trust the TMO’.
“It was good that the boys could finish real hearty like that. It was mean.”
New Zealand’s semi-final opponents are Fiji, while France and Australia will contest the other semi.
Meanwhile, the series defending champion Black Ferns Sevens produced wins over the France (24-21) and Fiji (31-12) but they were stunned 21-17 by the United States – the first win by the Americans over New Zealand in 15 matches.
Jorja Miller. photosport
The Black Ferns Sevens lost concentration late in the contest after leading 17-7
The women’s semi-finals will see New Zealand face surprise packets Japan and unbeaten Australia play Fiji.
Australia are chasing a sixth successive title in Dubai.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
