WELLINGTON: Australia upset reigning Sevens World Series champion Samoa and Fiji was held to a shock draw by South Africa on the opening day of the New Zealand leg of the tournament Friday. Australia and the top two teams in this year's series so far — England and New Zealand — were the only sides to go through pool play with perfect records, although Australia and England both struggled at times. Host New Zealand was the top points scorers with 108 from its three games and unveiled a new star in Frank Halai, although it was arguably in the easiest group with Argentina, Scotland and Papua New Guinea. In Pool D its hopes of a 100-percent pool record were stifled by South Africa. It cruised past France (42-0) and Canada (38-0) but its ambition was thwarted by a desperate South African side which needed at least one point to ensure a place in the quarterfinals after being upset by France (12-14). Tight defense kept South Africa at bay until the final minute when Branco du Preez scored and converted to level the match 7-7. Fiji will meet Samoa in the quarterfinals while South Africa will play Australia, which whipped the Samoans 29-5 in their pool match. It was a remarkable turnaround for the Australians, who came from behind to beat a six-man Kenyan side 21-19. Samoa had also struggled against plucky Kenya, sealing the match 24-21 on the back of two tries by Ofisa Treviranus. England was untroubled in its main pool match, against Wales, running away with a 33-7 win to set up a quarterfinal clash against Argentina. In the remaining quarterfinal, Wales will play New Zealand, which was patchy in its opening game against Scotland, which it won 29-12 before stepping up several gears to beat Papua New Guinea 45-0 and Argentina 34-7.
