Auckland's Rush hour leaves them in sevens heaven

The transition from player to coach hasn't been too difficult for sevens rugby legend Eric Rush.

Rush guided Auckland to an unbeaten record on the opening day of the national tournament in Queenstown and now has the province's first title since 1991 in sight.

Auckland eased to wins over North Otago 28-12, Manawatu 38-0 and Hawke's Bay 28-17 in front of a 3500-strong crowd.

With sevens stars Orene Ai'i and Amasio Valence running freely, Auckland look to have the pace and power to go all the way, although they must first get past a dangerous Wellington side in today's feature quarter-final.

Wellington could only draw with Southland and Counties-Manukau but walloped Waikato 40-0.

North Harbour and Northland completed the northern domination today when they, like Auckland, won all three pool games. North Harbour, the defending champions, hammered the Sassenachs, an Otago-based team who replaced Marlborough, and Canterbury, and were too good for Bay of Plenty in the game that decided pool A.

Northland pipped Otago and thrashed Taranaki and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Dark horses could be Counties-Manukau, who had two wins and a draw, or Hawke's Bay. The major disappointments were Waikato.

The pre-tournament favourites who were soundly beaten in all three pool games as they had to make do without injured New Zealand sevens captain Liam Messam.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY