Blitzbokke take title in Las Vegas

Champions: South Africa

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Teams

• New Zealand
• South Africa

Also see

• Treu credits hard work for victory
• Las Vegas Sevens: Day 2 wrap

South Africa have won the Las Vegas Sevens title after comfortably defeating New Zealand 40-21 in the Cup final played on Sunday.

Recalled playmaker Branco du Preez put in a sparkling performance for the Blitzbokke, combining brilliantly with Paul Delport to inspire the team to victory. South Africa scored six tries in all to lead 40-7, before a late rally from the Kiwis.

In winning the Las Vegas title, their first since 2011, the South Africans become the fifth different nation to win a Cup title from five events played, as the nine-round HSBC Sevens World Series edges past the halfway stage.

Heading into rounds six and seven in Hong Kong and Japan, South Africa have climbed to second in the Series standings on 73 points, 23 behind New Zealand (96) and ahead of Samoa (71) and Fiji (66).

The two island nations combined to put on a thrilling curtain-raiser to the final in the 3rd/4th play-off, the Samoans winning 36-31 in extra time. In the other trophies, Canada beat hosts USA and then Scotland to claim the Plate, France edged Argentina to the Bowl and Australia were too strong for Uruguay in the Shield.

Cup Semi-Finals
Fiji 14-19 New Zealand
Samoa 7-12 South Africa

Gordon Tietjens' side had reached the final after beating 2011 finalists Fiji 19-14 in sudden death extra time through a David Raikuna try in the corner while it was Seabelo Senatla who dived into the opposite corner for 2011 winners South Africa against Samoa.

The defending champions narrowly beat Fiji to finish third in USA, winning 36-31 against their pacific island neighbours in one of the matches of the tournament. Leading 21-12, before trailing 31-26, Robert Lilomaiava scored to take the match to sudden death extra time, before also adding the winning try.

Plate Final
Canada 22-5 Scotland

Canada won the Plate title with a 22-5 win over Scotland. Tries from Nanyak Dala, Conor Trainor and a 20th career try for John Moonlight helped them to a fine win.

Canada captain Dala had earlier come off the bench to secure a dramatic 24-19 victory in the first Plate semi-final against USA in sudden death extra time. Scotland reached the final after Stephen Gemmell's side recorded their highest ever victory against Wales, winning 35-14.

Bowl Final
Argentina 12-17 France

France won the Bowl title with a 17-12 win over Argentina. Tries from Terry Brouhroua, Renaud Delmas and Vincent Deniau helped France to a narrow win in a physical contest

Argentina defeated Spain 21-12 to reach the Bowl final while Julien Candelon scored two great tries against last week's winners England in a 40-7 win, Les Bleus' highest score against England in the history of the Series.

Shield Final
Uruguay 0-41 Australia

Michael O'Connor's side collected three Series points to end a disappointing campaign in Las Vegas. They beat Uruguay 41-0 in the final with Sean Mcmahon scoring two tries and Lewis Holland his eighth of the tournament in the widest ever margin in a Shield final.

Uruguay beat Portugal in the semi-final, the first match of day three, with Ian Schmidt scoring his fifth World Series career try in the win. Holland completed a hat-trick as Australia beat last week's finalists Kenya 38-7.