Eagles soar above BlitzBokke
The United States and Kenya both topped their pools, to reach the quarterfinals at the fourth round of the 2014/15 Sevens World Series.
Hosts New Zealand and Fiji also topped their respective pools after an enthralling Day One's action - at the Wellington leg of the World Series - on Friday.
Mike Friday's US side beat France and Japan to finish on top of Pool A, only the second time the United States have won a pool on the series and the first since 2001, also in Wellington.
Kenya topped their pool to reach the Cup quarterfinals for the first time this season, with fifth placed Argentina and Gold Coast runners-up Samoa moving into the Bowl. It is the first time they have topped a pool since 2013 - also in Wellington, when they went on to beat New Zealand and reach the Final.
The current Series leaders South Africa suffered a shock 5-22 defeat to France in the opening match of the day, but bounced back to beat Japan and United States to move into the Cup quarterfinals on points difference ahead of Les Bleus.
In the Cup quarterfinals the United States will play Scotland, hosts New Zealand await Australia in a trans-Tasman match, Ben Ryan comes face-to-face with his old side as Fiji meet England and Kenya's reward for winning Pool D is a match with South Africa.
Cup quarterfinals:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT plus 13 hours)
United States v Scotland (13.218)
Fiji v England (13.49)
Kenya v South Africa (14.10)
New Zealand v Australia (14.31)
Bowl quarterfinals:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT plus 13 hours)
France v Samoa (12.00)
Wales v Papua New Guinea (12.21)
Argentina v Japan (12.42)
Canada v Portugal (13.03)
We look at the Day One action!
POOL A
(South Africa, United States, France, Japan)
The United States and South Africa wrapped up top eight spots with wins in their final pool matches.
Despite going down to South Africa (14-26) in the final round of matches on day one, Mike Friday's men qualified on top of Pool A.
After finishing equal on points with both US and South Africa, France will rue their earlier 7-38 loss to the United States which cost them a place in the Cup quarters on points difference after Zack Test scored two of his side's six tries.
The BlitzBokke were pushed all the way by a spirited United States team after the score was locked 14-14 at half time. Tries to Seabelo Senatla and Albertus Smith were matched by a sensational double to Perry Baker. Cecil Afrika broke the deadlock two minutes into the second stanza before Smith's second confirmed his side's place in the quarters.
After consecutive wins in Dubai and Port Elizabeth the BlitzBokke sit on top of the series standings and in poll position to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but could not stop the French in the first match of the day before Werner Kok, Senatla and Philip Snyman got them back on track with a 24-7 win over Japan.
In a highly entertaining match Japan's Lomano Lemeki gave the Cherry Blossoms the early lead against United States before speedster Carlin Isles and Danny Barrett crossed for converted tries to lead 14-5 at the break. An Isles in-and-away special down the right flank extended the lead to 21-5 opening the flood gates in the second half for a 40-5 win.
South Africa 26-14 United States
France 35-17 Japan
United States 38-7 France
South Africa 24-7 Japan
United States 40-5 Japan
South Africa 5-22 France
Standings (under headings played, won and points):
1 United States 3 2 7
2 South Africa 3 2 7
3 France 3 2 7
4 Japan 3 0 3
POOL B
(New Zealand, England, Papua New Guinea, Canada)
New Zealand booked a Cup quarterfinal berth against Australia, after defeating England 24-5 in their final pool match - despite going behind to a James Rodwell try early on.
New Zealand responded immediately scoring in the opposite corner, through young Rieko Ioane - to lock the scores.
Scott Curry broke the deadlock for the All Blacks two minutes into the second half, carving his way through the England defence on the way to the line. Sherwin Stowers and Ioane posted further tries for Gordon Tietjens' men in the final minute.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand's title defence started strongly with a 26-5 win over Canada. Stowers got the home side off to a good start scooting over for the first five pointer before a neat inside ball from Gillies Kaka sent 17-year-old debutant Reiko Ioane across the stripe.
Kaka was at it again shortly after, this time setting up Sam Dickson for the easiest of tries and a 19-0 lead at half time. New Zealand's fourth try came at the hands of another on debut in Beaudine Waaka before Wales posted their sole try after the siren.
New Zealand 24-5 England
Canada 41-0 Papua New Guinea
Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 38-7 Papua New Guinea
England 27-5 Canada
England 29-0 Papua New Guinea
New Zealand 26-5 Canada
Standings (under headings played, won and points):
1 New Zealand 3 3 9
2 England 3 2 7
3 Canada 3 1 5
4 Papua New Guinea 3 0 3
POOL C
(Australia, Fiji, Wales, Portugal)
While their quarterfinal places were already assured, bragging rights and first place in the pool was up for grabs as Fiji faced Australia in the Pool C decider.
Ben Ryan's Fiji side came out firing - with Semi Kunatani striking first for the Pacific islanders, followed by the returning Samisoni Viriviri scoring his third try of the day to help secure a 14-5 win.
After accounting for Wales in their opener, Australia led 10-0 at half-time against Portugal, before putting their foot down in the second half posting a 29-0 win.
Second half tries Cameron Clark, Pama Fou and Greg Jeloudev helped continue Australia's good form on day one while four first half tries including a double from Kunatani set Fiji on their way to a 42-19 win over Wales.
Viriviri ignited the crowd with a try either side of half time stamping his return to the World Series in his side's 31-19 win over Portugal.
Australia 5-14 Fiji
Wales 20-12 Portugal
Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington
Fiji 42-19 Wales
Australia 29-0 Portugal
Fiji 31-19 Portugal
Australia 36-5 Wales
Standings (under headings played, won and points):
1 Fiji 3 3 9
2 Australia 3 2 7
3 Wales 3 1 5
4 Portugal 3 0 3
POOL D
(Argentina, Kenya, Samoa, Scotland)
Kenya defied their recent form in the series, assuring their passage to the Cup quarterfinals with a strong 28-14 win over Samoa.
Trailing 0-7, a first half double to Kenya's Daniel Sikuta was the catalyst for his side's 21-7 half-time lead - before Colin Injera put the result beyond doubt early in the second half.
Meanwhile, Scotland also qualified for the top eight after defeating Argentina 21-14 in their final pool match.
After leading 14-7 courtesy of runaway tries to Colin Gregor and Damien Hoyland, both players among the Scots best on day one, Gregor's second just after the break gave Scotland enough breathing space to hold out a late finishing Los Pumas.
Earlier, Hoyland's second brace in two matches gave Scotland a 14-7 half time lead over Kenya, before a quick-fire double from Billy Odhiambo gave Kenya a five-point buffer, a lead they held onto for the remaining minutes.
In a tight round one contest Argentina and Kenya traded early five-pointer's through Rodrigo Etchart and Bush Mwale respectively, before Segundo Tuculet's converted try gave the Los Pumas a five point advantage at the break. German Schulz extended the lead to 12 before two late tries put the result beyond doubt for Argentina with a strong 31-7 result.
Hoyland's first brace of the day had the Scots up 14-0 at the break over the Pacific islanders, eventually holding out a strong finishing Samoa for a two point win.
With his side on the comeback late in the second stanza Samoa Toloa brought the crowd to their feet breaking a tackle on half way before outpacing the defence to score then Gregory Foe crossed in the corner but it was too little too late as the siren sounded.
Argentina 14-21 Scotland
Kenya 28-14 Samoa
Scotland 14-19 Kenya
Argentina 21-21 Samoa
Scotland 14-12 Samoa
Argentina 31-7 Kenya
Standings (under headings played, won and points):
1 Kenya 3 2 7
2 Scotland 3 2 7
3 Argentina 3 1 6
4 Samoa 3 0 4
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