Rowing: Coxless four in semis

The New Zealand men's coxless four are through to today's semifinals at the world rowing championship in Gifu, Japan.

The crew of Donald Leach, Carl Meyer, Steve Cottle and Eric Murray needed a top-three placing in their repechage to advance, winning in a slick 5m 48s, the fastest recorded by a New Zealand crew in the event.

They will be one of three New Zealand crews in semifinals action, alongside Mahe Drysdale in the men's single sculls and the men's pair of George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle.