Rugby: NZ crash out of Las Vegas sevens

New Zealand sevens player Lote Raikabula. Photo / Getty Images

Fiji punished an error-ridden New Zealand performance with a powerful display of running rugby in recording a 26-7 semifinal win at the world series rugby sevens tournament in Las Vegas today.

New Zealand was starved of possession for much of the match, as an uncompromising Fijian defence forced a series of errors and turnovers.

After an opening spell of end-to-end running rugby, Seremaia Burotu powered through for Fiji's first try in the fifth minute, with Emosi Vucago adding the extras for a 7-0 lead.

Vucago left the field soon after with a serious shoulder injury, but the Fijians continued to control the game and Joeli Lutumailagi crossed right on the halftime whistle to secure a 14-0 lead at the break.

Turnovers continued to plague New Zealand in the second half, as the Gordon Tietjens-coached team weren't allowed the space or possession which saw them overwhelm Argentina 47-7 in the quarterfinals yesterday.

Mitieli Nacagilevu crossed for Fiji's third try three minutes in the second stanza, and some excellent Fijian defence kept New Zealand scoreless for until the sixth minute, when Tomasi Cama finally broke through.

He added the extras with a quick conversion, but New Zealand's hopes of a resurgence were brief as Fiji responded almost immediately, stretching the New Zealand defence wide for Nikola Matawalu to slice through and touch down to underline a dominant performance.

The loss cut short New Zealand's hope of a hat-trick of tournament titles, after they won in Wellington last weekend and South Africa late last year.

Fiji will meet South Africa in the final later today, after they supset England 17-10 in the other semifinal.

- NZPA