The Digicel Fiji 7s team showed lots of improvement from last weekends Hong Kong 7s but a last minute try from New Zealand was enough for them for a finals berth at the Adelaide 7s.
The Gordon Tietjens side came from behind to pip Fiji 17-14 in a nail biting encounter. Fiji led 14-5 at the breather.
In the second semifinal South Africa came from behind to level terms 12-all till the final whistle as the game was forced for extra time.
Fabien Juries brilliance in extra time booked South Africa’s place in the final for a showdown against NZ, a repeat of last weekends final.
In the Plate final, Tonga overcame Kenya 14-12. In the semifinal, Tonga beat Australia 21-7 while Kenya beat Cook Islands 26-14.
In the Bowl final. Argentina beat USA 26-2. In the semifinal USA defeated Scotland 29-14 and Argentina beat France 24-12.
In the Shield final, Wales defeated canada 12 - 7. In the semifinal Canada beat Japan 24-19 while Wales upset England 19-14.
South Africa went on to win the Adelaide 7s and ending New Zealands dominance by beating them 15-7. Fabien Juries was named the player of tournament.
Before the semifinals:
The Digicel Fiji 7's team will have another showdown against New Zealand in the semi-final of the Adelaide 7's after beating Australia 28-7 in the quarter final this afternoon.
The Marika Vunibaka led side made a slow start to the game scoring only one try in the first half to winger Timoci Matanavou for Fiji to lead 7-0 at half-time.
Matanavou once again showed his class on the wing when he scored his second try in the second minute of the second half before Nasoni Roko crossed over for the 3rd to increase the lead to 21- 7.
It was Roko's 100th try in the IRB 7's series making him the highest try scorer for any Fijian player in the IRB series.
Viliame Maya scored the last try for Fiji which was converted by William Ryder for the final score to read 28-7.
And this how the commentator wrapped up Fiji's quarter final performance.
In the first quarter final New Zealand had to come from behind to beat a strong Tonga outfit 19-14. Tonga was leading 14-7 at half-time. The 3rd quarter final South Africa beat Kenya 19-5 and they will face Samoa in the semi-final. Samoa thrashed the Cook Islands 48-0 in the last quarter final.
The semi final of the Adelaide Sevens kicks off at 6.38 this evening while the final will kick off at 9pm.
Meanwhile, the tournament is running slightly behind schedule after there was a big mix up in the Shield quarter final between the USA and England when at the end of full time, Officials could not verify who had won the match.
US players thought they had won while, England officials maintained that it was a draw. After much delay and verification by officials it was determined that the match had ended in a draw, which required the players to suit up again the play in extra time. USA eventually won the match 26 - 19.
Earlier on:
The Digicel Fiji 7's has shown alot of improvement from their last outing in Hong Kong last weekend as they came through their pool unbeaten in the Adelaid Sevens last night.
The Marika Vunibaka led side scored 5 tries in each pool game beating England 31-12 before handing France a 33-12 thrashing in their second outing.
Fiji was tested in the last pool game by Kenya who led them at half-time 14-7 but Fiji showed that they mean business in the second half scoring four more tries.
Lepani Nabuliwaqa scored two tries before he was replaced and also new find Timoci Matanavou crossed over with two tries and captain Marika Vunibaka scored his first try of the tournament.
The only set-back for the Fiji 7's as they head into the 1/4 final against Australia is that live wire hooker Setefano Cakau will miss the game after he was shown a red-card for stamping on a Kenyan player in the last minute of play.
The coaching staff will also wait for the medical report on Lepani Nabuliwaqa and Tomasi Mawi before making a decision on who will start at rover against Australia.
Coach Josateki Savou was pleased with the out-come of the sides performance as they were grouped in a tough pool.
Fiji's 1/4 final opponents Australia's technical adviser David Campese believes that his side will have to put together a better team after they lost to South Africa earlier.
For IRB 7's series points leader New Zealand, Coach Gordon Tietjeans maintain that the opening day was a very tough one for his side.
The first quarter final today at 2.36pm will see New Zealand take on Tonga, at 2.58 Fiji will play Australia, at 3.20pm South Africa faces Kenya and at 3.42pm Samoa will be up against the Cook Islands.
Results from the last round of pool games last night,
South Africa 19 - Australia 7, Samoa 14 - Tonga 12, New Zealand 38 - Scotland 10, Cook Island upset Argentina 40 - 21 and France 19 - England 17.
