Defending champions Fiji stepped up a level to put France to the sword in their final pool game at the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament on Friday and set up a quarter-final clash with Kenya.
In-form sides England and South Africa, currently joint leaders of the IRB World Series Sevens, separate from this World Cup, and New Zealand also all progressed into the last-eight of the Cup with wins over Kenya, Scotland and Tonga.
The Cup line-up sees the Kiwis up against Wales, England playing Samoa and the Springboks facing a tough tie against Argentina.
The Fijian team, boasting five members of the squad that won four years ago in Hong Kong, followed up on their 26-12 win over the US by beating the French 38-5, Napolioni Nalaga bagging a brace of tries as the Islanders showed their superior Sevens class.
The elusive Neumi Nanuku, Vereniki Goneva and Jone Daunivucu all added scores for Fiji, who were also awarded a penalty try after France playmaker Laurent Ferreres prevented release of the ball in a tackle on his own line.
Ferreres was also sin-binned for the offense, but came back to score France’s consolation try.
Fiji’s veteran flyer Vilimoni Delasau said: “We are happy for the win and we are very happy to be through to the final stages. Everything has gone to plan so far and the coach has been testing the players in the first two pool games. We have played well for two days, but we have to come prepared for tomorrow because that is the big day.”
South Africa, who had earlier struggled past Canada 15-7, topped Pool C after overcoming Scotland 19-14 with a try in the last play of the game.
In a see-saw match, the Springboks failed to get into their groove against a spoiling Scottish team who scored tries through Andrew Turnbull and Roddy Grant.
The South Africans overcame the sin-binning of Ryno Benjamin to score through Paul Delport, Renfred Dazel and, finally, Mpho Mbiyozo.
Springboks captain Mbiyozo said he was not too concerned about his side’s lack of form.
“You never know, in a World Cup anything can happen. We just have to go out there and stick to what we do best,” Mbiyozo said, adding that Argentina would be a tough proposition.
England, who had beaten Tunisia 26-24 earlier in the day, scored a four tries to one in a 26-7 victory over Kenya, scoring an early touchdown through Kevin Barrett.
But Humphrey Kayange got Kenya back on level terms when he drove in a try under the posts.
International winger Tom Varndell showed his gas to bag England’s second try on the stroke of halftime, motoring away from the covering defense.
Fiji-born British soldier Isoa Damudamu then bagged two individual tries in quick succession in the second half to wrap up the game.
Samoa also remained unbeaten in Pool D after their 19-0 win over Australia, who surprised Portugal by taking second spot in the group.
The Islanders scored tries through veteran Uale Mai, captain Ofisa Treviranus and Morgan Salesa.
New Zealand, defending World Series Sevens champions, scored a scrappy 24-7 win over Tonga to seal their position on top of Pool A.
Argentina beat Wales 14-0 to claim top spot in Pool F, but Wales qualified for the Cup quarters with Kenya after finishing as the two sides with the best points differential.
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