Crunch time for Kiwis

New Zealand, who are just two matches away from breaking their record for the most consecutive victories in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series, will face Fiji in their Cup quarter-final in San Diego on Sunday.

New Zealand, who are just two matches away from breaking their record for the most consecutive victories in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series, will face Fiji in their Cup quarter-final in San Diego on Sunday.

Fiji lost to their Pacific Island rivals Samoa in the Pool B decider on Saturday, setting up what should be another classic clash between the only two teams to have won the IRB Sevens World Series in its nine-year history.

New Zealand, who got through their Pool absolutely unscathed – not one team scored a point against them – will have the psychological edge over their next opponents, who have now lost twice to Samoa in as many weeks.

It should be a thrilling encounter between two great teams nevertheless.

Samoa did themselves a huge favour when they beat Fiji, ensuring they have much friendlier path in the play-off's where they first meet Scotland – who managed to squeeze into second position in Pool A – in the Cup quarter-finals.

As was expected the race for second position in Pool A was indeed a lottery and it was eventually points difference that separated Scotland from France and Wales.

A rejuvenated England, who beat South Africa in the Pool D decider will play against Kenya in the second Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Although England seem to have found their rhythm once again, they will be wary of a Kenyan team that is very capable of causing upsets in the abbreviated format of the game.

South Africa meet Argentina in the play-off's for the first time this season and they too will not take the opposition lightly. Argentina have already played in a Cup semi-final in the 2007/08 Series.

Argentina, much like England were severely wounded in Wellington and will have a point to prove to the rugby fraternity on Sunday.

Day One: Saturday, 9 February

Pool A:
(New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, France)

New Zealand maintained their proud record of never losing to Wales ever, when they ran in three unanswered tries to get their San Diego campaign off to a winning start on Saturday.

Scotland kept their Cup quarter-final hopes alive when they scored three tries to secure a 19-12 victory against the French on Saturday.

New Zealand upped the tempo when the defeated a hapless France 39-0, as their quest for glory in San Diego continued in match nine of the tournament.

Wales edged out Scotland 14-12, taking their tally to nine wins in eight matches against their rivals, in what was their second meeting in two weeks.

France caused the biggest upset in Pool A with a 26-7 defeat of Wales. Wales were completely outplayed by the French in a match that might very well have cost them a place in the last eight.

New Zealand once again coasted to victory n Pool A, when they made little work of Scotland in their final match of the day.

Match 1: New Zealand 19-0 Wales
Match 2: Scotland 19-12 France
Match 9: New Zealand 39-0 France
Match 10: Scotland 12-14 Wales
Match 17: Wales 7-26 France
Match 21: New Zealand 27-0 Scotland

Pool B:
(Fiji, Samoa, Australia, West Indies)

Fiji showed defence qualities when they merely conceded one try against Australia in their opening Pool B fixture of the San Diego Sevens.

The West Indies struggled to keep up with the class and the strength of the Samoans in their opening Pool B clash, going down 5-33 in match eight of the San Diego Sevens.

Fiji shifted their San Diego campaign into second gear when they humiliated the West Indies 66-7 in the highest scoring match of the day thus far.

Samoa shattered Australia's hopes of making the Cup quarter-final when they ran in three tries to one to book their place in the last eight.

Australia ended their Pool B account on a high note with a 45-5 victory over the West Indies, securing their first win in what was a tough group indeed.

It was yet another closely contested match between the Pacific Island rivals, but it was Samoa who emerged victors after converting all three of their tries, which was ultimately the decisive factor.

Match 7: Fiji 26-7 Australia
Match 8: Samoa 33-5 West Indies
Match 15: Fiji 66-7 West Indies
Match 16: Samoa 15-7 Australia
Match 20: Australia 45-5 West Indies
Match 24: Fiji 17-21 Samoa

Pool C:
(Argentina, Kenya, Canada, Chile)

Argentina, whose form has dipped considerably since their semi-final exploits in George, had a narrow escape when they beat Canada 22-19 in their opening match of the San Diego Sevens.

Kenya got their San Diego campaign off to a fantastic start with a resounding 38-0 win over Chile in their opening Pool C fixture on Saturday.

A 35-0 defeat of Chile, was the ideal confidence booster for Argentina, as the South Americans qualified for the Cup quarter-final in the San Diego leg of IRB Sevens World Series, making up for a disappointing tournament in Wellington last week.

Kenya made light work of Canada, when they secured a Cup quarter-final berth with a 19-7 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Africans scored three tries to Canada's one.

Canada joined their North American neighbours the USA, by finishing the Pool stages with at least one victory when they crushed Chile 40-7.

Argentina booked themselves a date with south Africa when they beat Kenya 19-12 in their final Pool match of the day.

Match 5: Argentina 22-19 Canada
Match 6: Kenya 38-0 Chile
Match 13: Argentina 35-0 Chile
Match 14: Kenya 19-7 Canada
Match 19: Canada 40-7 Chile
Match 23: Argentina 19-12 Kenya

Pool D:
(South Africa, England, USA, Mexico)

South Africa made their intentions very clear when they put 36 points past the hosts USA to get their campaign off to a winning start. The USA just had no answers on the day and now have to beat England and Mexico to keep their Cup quarter-final hopes alive.

England beat Series minnows 48-0, giving an indication that they might just be able to bounce back from after two disappointing performances in George and Wellington. The win would have given the team the confidence it needs to advance to the Cup quarter-final.

South Africa became the first team to pass the 50 point mark on Saturday, when they thrashed Mexico 53-0, further stamping their authority in Pool D.

England managed to hold on to a 28-21 victory over the USA to secure a place in the Cup quarter-final for the first time since Dubai in 2007, which is perhaps a sign that the team is finally starting to gel again.

The USA ended their Pool D campaign on a very high note with an emphatic 52-0 defeat of Mexico, which is some consolation for not making the last eight in the main competition.

Conversion once again proved to be the telling factor, when England upset Paul Treu's South Africa 14-10 to book a date with Kenya in the Cup quarter-final.

Match 3: South Africa 36-0 USA
Match 4: England 48-0 Mexico
Match 11: South Africa 53-0 Mexico
Match 12